Is it really possible that Therion
has been around for 20 years now? Believe it or not, they were founded in
1987 but it wasn’t until 1991 when they released their debut “Of
Darkness…” “Gothic Kabbalah” is the bands latest
creation and once again it is a double disc release. I think this may be
Therion13th album. Unlucky 13? No…but this for me is a little different
than I expected. “Gothic Kabbalah” is dynamic, and the feeling
you get from the music changes from track to track. One may argue it could
be so dynamic that each song almost sounds like a different artist. It’s
not quite to that extent, but you can see where I am coming from. Once again
you will find the band’s great music writing ability. Being progressive
and experimental they weave their layers of music together nicely. There
were 4 session vocalist hired for the 2 disc set, added in addition to Petter’s
vocals. These 5 main vocalists use many different vocal forms including,
gothic, death, operatic, and the normal stylings you should be akin to.
As the title may suggest, there are gothic influences prevalent on the discs,
more so than previous works; almost similar to HIM or Moonspell. Symphonic
metal with a gothic touch you might say. Also don’t forget the elaborate
atmosphere that sets the mood for most songs along with a folk touch. Gothic
Kabbalah is a good album but many extra elements may make it harder to digest
than other Therion albums. It is more surprising than anything for me. This
is far from a bad album, just different and more challenging than I expected.
Rating: 82
Reviewed By: Jeffrey D. Adkins |
