History AwesomeMusic / Therion

Music/{{Therion}}, the symphonic metal band who started it all, has been rocking out since 1987 and has produced some mind-shatteringly amazing work. Let's put this in perspective, shall we? You know all those [[AwesomeMusic/{{Nightwish}} CMOA entries]] for Nightwish? Nightwish is ''following in the footsteps'' of Therion. Yeah.

** "Secret of the Runes" is actually [[BookEnds bookended]] by CrowningMusicOfAwesome in those special editions which feature "Summernight City", as "Ginnungagap" is a [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome CMoA]] ''opener''.

----

** Christofer Johnsson was also once quoted as saying the direction of their ''entire next album'' will be taking after "Adulruna Rediviva".

{{Therion}}, the symphonic metal band who started it all, has been rocking out since 1987 and has produced some mind-shatteringly amazing work. Let's put this in perspective, shall we? You know all those [[AwesomeMusic/{{Nightwish}} CMOA entries]] for Nightwish? Nightwish is ''following in the footsteps'' of Therion. Yeah.

So then, from the top:

{{Therion}}, the symphonic metal band who started it all, has been rocking out since 1987 and has produced some mind-shatteringly amazing work. Let's put this in perspective, shall we? You know all those [[CrowningMusic/{{Nightwish}} CMOA entries]] for Nightwish? Nightwish is ''following in the footsteps'' of Therion. Yeah.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubvT-eCIzi8 "The Voyage of Gurdjieff"]]. The final track of ''Sirius B''. Yeah, Therion knows how to do big finishes.

** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xTa6jiKAZY "TOF: The Trinity"]].

** Probably one of the best, and certainly one of the catchiest, examples is "Vedi! Le Fosche Notturne Spotigle" from Verdi's "Il Trovatore." [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1KC7J8pe5I Here, have a listen.]]
** What about the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzPzF1LNZLM excerpts]] from "Dvorak's 9th Symphony"?

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmSo1OFsBP0 Eternal Return]]. Be patient, this one takes time, but it's worth it.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBZsbKFs-j8 Via Nocturna]], the grand finale from the same album (Deggial). Most people think "Beauty of the Beast" and "Ghost Love Score" were impressive. Then you hear this one. Then you don't think that as much anymore.
* Adulruna Rediviva is most likely the best example.
** Christofer Johnsson was also once quoted as saying the direction of their ''entire next album'' will be taking after Adulruna Rediviva.
* Summernight City (you won't recognize it as an ABBA song after Therion's expert workover)
** Secret of the Runes is actually [[{{BookEnds}} bookended]] by CrowningMusicOfAwesome in those special editions which feature Summernight City, as Ginnungagap is a [[{{CrowningMusicOfAwesome}} CMoA]] ''opener''.
* Kali Yuga, especially the way the song explodes as it transitions from the methodical, chugging, tension-building part 1 into the all-out frenzy of part 2.
* The Draconian Trilogy from Vovin.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubvT-eCIzi8 The Voyage of Gurdjieff]]. The final track of Sirius B. Yeah, Therion knows how to do big finishes.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRlKI9KZsQA Kali Yuga]]. This is a two-parter from Sirius B. One of those songs whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts, its first (not-exactly-)half uses its slow, chugging, methodical rhythm to build up a lot of tension, and then hits critical mass and explodes into Part 2.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLKKiHoM9Pc Ginnungagap]]. Their "Secret of the Runes" album ''opens'' with this. Of particular interest is the deceptiveness of the song's introduction. The listener is led to expect an explosion of ripping death growls, and is instead given an epic choir, and ''doesn't feel cheated at all''.

* Their 2007 album "Gothic Kabbalah" is rife with CMOA from start to finish.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY-EOYJQMMY Son of the Staves of Time]]. The video is a bit weird (Medieval teleprompters?) but that's not the focus here anyway.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xTa6jiKAZY TOF: The Trinity]].

** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-0zOuvabm8 The Falling Stone]]: Keys to eternity, indeed.
** And finally, saving the best for last, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeUGxPwfRyY Adulruna]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CepQjkjoLso Rediviva]]. The Falling Stone, in all its splendour, was ''just a lead-in'' for this song. As a bonus, the song, as it exists on the album, is exactly thirteen minutes and thirty-seven seconds long. 1337. Yes, Therion, yes you are. Whether this was an intentional geek joke or just a happy coincidence is as yet uncertain.D

Oh, but that's not all. Their original work is incredible, but they've done wonderful things with other material as well.

* Recognize [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPqVFfT4Kck&a=25riioHMRIQ&playnext_from=ML this]] as an ABBA song? The usual answer is "just barely."
* The entire first disc of their 2009 live album "The Miskolc Experience" is comprised of classical pieces ''re-composed from scratch by Christopher Johnsson himself'' to incorporate metal instruments into their core sound (as opposed to other bands playing their instruments alongside the unchanged original piece as it's being performed by an orchestra).
** Probably one of the best, and certainly one of the catchiest, examples is Vedi! Le Fosche Notturne Spotigle from Verdi's "Il Trovatore." [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1KC7J8pe5I Here, have a listen.]]
** What about the excerpts from Dvoraks 9th symphony? [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzPzF1LNZLM Listen to it if you don't belive me]])

** Christofer Johnsson was also once quoted as saying the direction of their ''[[{{UpToEleven}} entire]] [[{{BeyondTheImpossible}} next]] [[{{SoCoolItsAwesome}} album]]'' will be taking after Adulruna Rediviva.