THERION — Sirius B (review)

THERION — Sirius B album cover Album · 2004 · Symphonic Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
AtomicCrimsonRush
A mind blowing blast of symphonic operatic prog metal like no other

Therion were first introduced to me through listening to a variety of tracks streamed online and I was quite taken with the blend of metal and opera on their latest albums, so without hearing anything from 'Sirius B' I took the plunge into the world of Therion.

I was immediately blown away by the album cover work and booklet. The lyrics are dangerous, edgey interglactic hyper nonsense about some great interplanetary cult that is going to cause mass destruction.

Forget all that, I am not going to pretend to understand the strange lyrics, the real star here is the beautiful female operatic vocals and choirs over a soundscape of orchestra and metal riffs. It shouldn't work but it does! Every track adds to an overall grand concept that is headphone music bliss. Reminiscent of Ayreon's albums in some ways.

The first few songs are quite heavy. Track 1 is the heaviest and I love that chugging riff and urgent vocal style. The pictures in the booklet actually enhance the experience and make some sense of what the lyrics are professing. I hope nobody takes thus stuff seriously. The true majesty of the blend of orchestra and crunching guitars is amazing - a spectacle of sound on every track. Track 2 is wonderful with the female soprano shining again. Everytime she sings the album lifts to another level. There are huge instrumental breaks, violins, cellos, piano, mandolin, over 170 musicians creating a masterfully executed album.

Highly recommended. Not a masterpiece in my opinion, but so close.

To Polo!
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