It’s also fair to say that musically and technically “Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas” is one step ahead of “Beyond Sactorium.” Songs are more polished with more interesting and well played tracks. Maybe a reflect of the new line-up “Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas” was released under changed line-up; only Christofer Johnsson remained. During the playing “Beyond Sactorium” tour, band ran into a few personnel problems. Oskar Forss decided to leave the band, Peter Hansson quit the band after health problems. Piotr Wawrzeniuk, from the band Carbonized in which Johnsson also played, took up drumming duties. The guitar was taken up by Magnus Barthelsson, an old school friend of Johnsson’s, while Andreas Wahl took up the bass. With all the experience on albums I have it’s also fair to say that this album is clearly a transition album. Therion were making some experiences to really define their current style. Fun fact is that there are no tracks here that remotely remind their previous album. Maybe “Powerdance” does. But still the track has some Progressive elements that drives it away from Death Metal thing. In “A Black Rose” vocals, for instance, sounds a bit Industrial. By the way, vocals are the element that had the most changes. R=They changed from standard gutural to unique.
I don’t know but for me this album sounds as a band that still doesn’t know exactly their business. In some senses, “Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas” sounds a little lost in all the influences Therion wanted to deliver. On the other hand, the album is a typical product of the 1990s with all the loose ends it has and the musical hodgepodge. Remember that “Ho Dracon Ho Megas Act 2 – Fire and Ecstacy” is exactly this. Ok, it’s also fair to say that by this album the fan will know where the inventive drive of the band came from.
P.S.: The album cover looks like a much more produced Desolation Angels debut album cover. On second thought, “Dawn of Perishness” sounds a lot like Desolation Angels. The same unpolished guitars with a better production. I could even hear the Oh-oh-oh chorus. To be continued…
Therion “Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas” will be released on April 08th via Hammerheart Records.
Track Listing:
- Baal Reginon
- Dark Princess Naamah
- A Black Rose
- Symphoni Drakonis Inferni
- Dawn of Perishness
- The Eye of the Eclipse
- The Ritual Dance of the Yezidis
- Powerdance
- Procreation of Eternity
- Ho Dracon Ho Megas Act 1 – The Dragon Throne
- Ho Dracon Ho Megas Act 2 – Fire and Ecstacy
Watch “Ho Drakon Ho Megas” official video here: