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Leviathan (Therion album)

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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)

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.

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

[edit]

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.