Leviathan (Therion album)

Leviathan is the seventeenth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. It was released on 22 January 2021 by Nuclear Blast Records.[4] It is the first part in Leviathan trilogy, its sequels Leviathan II and Leviathan III were released on 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Leviathan
Image of a sea monster and the text 'Leviathan'
Studio album by
Released22 January 2021 (2021-01-22)
GenreSymphonic metal[1][2][3]
Length45:32
LabelNuclear Blast
Therion chronology
Beloved Antichrist
(2018)
Leviathan
(2021)
Leviathan II
(2022)

Two music videos were released for the album: Die Wellen der Zeit and Tuonela; also a lyric video was released for the song Leviathan. A few months after the release of the album, a third music video was made for Eye of Algol.

Vocalist Thomas Vikström confirmed that the band indeed aimed to make a more "normal" album again.[5] Christofer Johnsson has described the Leviathan trilogy as "hit albums" deliberately drawing influence from the most popular and beloved elements of their back catalog, with Leviathan I being bombastic and catchy.[6]

Lyrical themes

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As with most Therion albums, all songs are based on various mythologies. All lyrics are written by Per Albinsson except "Psalm of Retribution", which was written by Christofer Johnsson.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [7]
Blabbermouth.net          [1]

Critical reception of Leviathan was mostly positive; many critics compared the album to Therion's albums of 2000s and considered it a band's "return" after two softer and more complex concept albums.[8][1][9][10][11][12]

Track listing

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Leviathan - Standard edition
No.TitleMusicLength
1."The Leaf on the Oak of Far"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström3:38
2."Tuonela"Christofer Johnsson4:37
3."Leviathan"Christofer Johnsson4:01
4."Die Wellen der Zeit"Nalle Påhlsson3:46
5."Aži Dahāka"Christofer Johnsson3:06
6."Eye of Algol"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström4:03
7."Nocturnal Light"Thomas Vikström5:37
8."Great Marquis of Hell"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström2:36
9."Psalm of Retribution"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström5:02
10."El Primer Sol"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström3:37
11."Ten Courts of Diyu"Thomas Vikström5:29
Total length:45:32
Leviathan - Digipak Special Edition[13]
No.TitleMusicLength
12."Eye of Algol (Alternative Vocals Version)"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström4:05
13."Tuonela (Full Marco Vocals Version)"Christofer Johnsson4:41
14."Tuonela (Alternative Vocals Version)"Christofer Johnsson4:41
15."Tuonela (Instrumental Version)"Christofer Johnsson4:40
16."Tuonela (Orchestral Version)"Christofer Johnsson4:33

Personnel

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Guest vocalists

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  • Rosalia Sairem – lead vocals (1, 6 and 10), mezzo-soprano (6)
  • Chiara Malvestiti – soprano (3, 5 and 7)
  • Taida Nazraić – lead vocals (2, 4 and 11)
  • Noa Gruman – lead vocals (11)
  • Marko Hietala – lead vocals (2)
  • Mats Levén – lead vocals (9)
  • Hellscore – choir

Guest instrumentalists

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  • Jonas Öijvall – hammond organ (5 and 6)
  • Snowy Shaw – drums (4, 5, 7, 10 and 11)
  • Björn Höglund – drums (1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9)
  • Ally Storch – solo violin (2)
  • Fabio Amurri – keyboards, programming

Charts

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Chart performance for Leviathan
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] 45
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 173
French Albums (SNEP)[16] 162
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 11
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[18] 15
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[19] 25
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 12

References

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  1. ^ a b c CD Reviews - Leviathan Therion - Blabbermouth
  2. ^ Therion - Leviathan (Album Review)
  3. ^ ALBUM REVIEW: Leviathan - Therion - Distorted Sound Magazine
  4. ^ "THERION - Release Single And Music Video "Tuonela", New Album Leviathan Out Today!". www.nuclearblast.de. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. ^ Therion Prove That Even In Symphonic Metal, Less Can Mean More — Knotfest
  6. ^ "Interview: Therion's Christofer Johnsson talks pleasing fans with new album 'Leviathan;' looks back on thirty years of 'Of Darkness…' | Metal Insider". metalinsider.net. 2021-02-08. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  7. ^ Leviathan at AllMusic
  8. ^ Therion — Leviathan — Album Review
  9. ^ Therion: Leviathan album review | Louder
  10. ^ Review: Therion «Leviathan» (Nuclear Blast) | ANTICHRIST Magazine
  11. ^ Therion — Leviathan (Album Review)
  12. ^ Therion — Leviathan • GRIMM Gent
  13. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/17439172-Therion-Leviathan [bare URL]
  14. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Therion – Leviathan" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Therion – Leviathan" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Lescharts.com – Therion – Leviathan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Therion – Leviathan" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2021. 4. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Therion – Leviathan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 January 2021.