[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvOypQOzY3M[/youtube]
Metal Insider contributor Anthony Maisano is listening to a different metal album that was released on that day every day.
This is Therion’s second to most recent album. This is a much more simple, straightforward Therion album, but they pull it off pretty well. This one is really all about the singing, and the orchestral score backing it. The operatic singing, especially by the female vocalists, is especially impressive. Even though the album is much more focused on vocals, the band still breaks out dark riffs ever now and then, such as on “Unguentum Sabbati.” Some of the solos across the album are really spectacular too.
It’s unfortunate to see that a band that was really incredibly interesting has now cut back on a lot of that for a more streamlined symphonic metal approach. There are still elements of what they used to be here and there, but now, all of it has became rare trace elements. This album is definitely a much more safe, by-the-book approach to symphonic metal, with just a touch of the Therion style of old.
Favorite Tracks: “Unguentum Sabbati,” “Land of Canaan,” “2012.”
At the end of the day, I still enjoyed listening to this album. I might not have enjoyed it as much as I felt I should have, compared to albums like Vovin, but it was still a good listen. I was a bit disappointed at the more basic direction this album took, but there were plenty of interesting elements throughout it. There may be Therion albums I’d recommend before this one for sure, but this is one you may want to check out if you’re a Therion, or symphonic metal fan.
