The Old Gods Return | Schwarzalbenheim - Therion (Miskolc Experience)

[@GODSPEEDseven]

Saw Therion live when they came to Montreal quite some years back. It was a tiny show, absolutely incredible experience.

[@matheussalgado1956]

Schwarzalbenheim is german for Svartalfheim (some might remember it from the second Thor's movie), it's the realm of the dark elves. This song is from the same album as Ginnungagap that you reacted before, "The Secret of the Runes" (and personally not only my fave album from the band but also the entre genre of SM). Each song is named and based after from all the realms of Norse mythology. Its almost a history class (accurate as the band is swedish)

[@BabylonZeus]

Thank you so much for this analysis! Even if it is a classical experience, it sounds very close to the studio album. Know that this song has been analyzed on cairn in France (publishing houses association associated with the French National Library). The analysis is incredible and deeps dive into the classical style of composition of this song,going nearly second by second. It concludes that Christofer Johnsson has a writing style close to Richard Wagner. You can search "cairn" and "therion" for the analysis. With a translator, it should be readable even if it is in French. I won't put the link since it has been deleted and I had to retype this whole message!

[@BabylonZeus]

BTW, the right/left issue is not normal, there must be a technical issue somewhere.

[@lkesha82]

I like Therion very much! Every couple of months I'm getting back to their live version of Thor(Manowar cover) 🤘

[@rafaelsmerdoufranke6157]

And this song proves that what THERION does is powerful, magnificent and unique... No other band sounds like THERION... Classical music with metal... Also want to inform that this songs you're reacting to are the second part of the concert.When they started with "Blood of Kingu" they had already been playing for an hour classical music covers (Mozart, Saint Saens, Verdi and mostly Wagner, since it's Christopher's favorite composer). And the Gods they are talking in this song are from de Nordic Mythology, since is a song from the album "Secret of the Runes), which deals entirely with that mythology... By the way, did you notice that this song was in german????

[@SunOfTheSun]

My favourite song from Therion is Abraxas. Another demon god ;)

[@geuseliohulk8661]

My TOP 10: 10 - An Arrow from the Sun (Lemuria album) and Clavicula Nox (Crowning of Atlantis); 9 - Helheim (Secret of the Runes); 8 - Soeur Angelique (Les Fleurs du Mal); 7 - Abraxas (Lemuria); 6 - La Maritza (Les Fleurs du Mal); 5 - Muspelheim (Secret of the Runes); 4 - Adulruna Redivivia (Gothic Kabbalah - 12'29"); 3 - Land of Canaan (Sitra Ahra - 10'33" ); 2 - Raven Of Dispersion (Vovin); 1 - To Mega Therion {Crowining of Atlantis (Live)}.

[@geuseliohulk8661]

The date of 1996 (August 9) is due to the release of the album Theli, the band's fifth album. But we already found the symphonic elements in the 1992 album, Beyond Sanctorum. It is on track 4th Symphony of the Dead (1'21") and track 9th Paths. Still, what is called symphonic metal started with the extreme metal band (even inspired by the satanic and pagan metal) Swiss Celtic Frost. In the 1984 album Morbid Tales where we heard in the songs Return to the Eve a woman in narration and Danse Macabre, this looks like a movie score with violin and something atmospheric (can be confused with gothic). Most people mention the 1985 album To Mega Therion, because there is opera and orchestra here. IMPORTANT -- From To Mega Therio album from Celtic Frost, Christopher got the name for his band, THERION, is considered the father of symphonic metal, They mix classic metal (Accept & Judas Priest) the 70's prog and classic composer Richard Wagner. I believe that this band is in fact symphonic for the great choirs and great orchestras, using many opera singers. The DNA would therefore be Uriah Heep, Celtic Frost and Therion. The band started in 1987 and released 17 albuns. It started like death metal and has always used themes geared towards paganism. Most of its lyrics are written by Thomas Karlsson, head and founder of the magical order of Dragon Rouge (Richard Wagner é importante para os adeptos da Dragon Rouge.), which Johnsson is a member. Therion (Christopher) is the father of symphonic metal and the starting point is the song Symphony of the Dead (features more atmospheric keyboard sounds as well as soprano vocals and classically styled clean male vocals by two guest musicians.) from album Beyond Sanctorum (1992 ) and the song Paths. Finally, and very importantly, Christofer invented symphonic metal as opera. the Symphonic Term was not created by him. In fact, Christofer recognizes that Nightwish made the genre popular, but criticizes those bands that came later, because the idea is to compose operas and not just orchestrations.

[@luBazan1206]

Yes guys, I also listen to more than one side, it is seen that the recording is wrong in this one. I think my favorite Therion song is "Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah"

[@SunOfTheSun]

They have reacted to this song if you look back :)

[@agnaldosilva4114]

✌️

[@lkesha82]

I'll suggest reaction to Menhir - Hildebrandslied. A beautiful song.

[@Jim.G]

This song is about the realm of the Dark Elves (often conflated with Dwarves). The feeling of the lyrics is of hammers on anvils deep in the earth, the lure of gold, and the beautiful treasures the dark elves forged for the gods, like Draupnir, Mjolnir and Gullburste. To me, the song absolutely evokes that imagery, even when you don't understand the German language of the lyrics, which is why it is one of my favorites on this album. Do I want to live in the ancient world? Absolutely not. It was pretty horrible. Women were treated like garbage for the most part, life was short and brutal, sickness and minor injuries could claim anyone's life, slavery was everywhere, and warfare was a yearly occurrence. Do I think there's value in studying or practicing the ways of the old gods, people returning to some form of pre-christian religion? Sure, though the efforts to recreate these religions exactly as they were historically are of limited value, imo, except for the sake of history itself. The idea of the gods were always fluid, changing over time as cultures interacted with one another and changed. The main takeaway for these religions is how they are/were always intimately tied to the cycles of nature and the realities of human behavior. They center around harvests and plant life, the cycle of birth, life, and death of people and animals, change of seasons. They acknowledge times for love, for baby-making, for remembering the dead, celebrating life's bounty and community togetherness, preparing for hard times and war. The ancient way is a very reciprocal relationship - in Latin "Do ut Des", "I give so that you give"...in ancient Greek you might read someone say something like "If ever I have sacrificed to you, Athena, hear my prayer and come to my need now". You don't just ask the gods for help unless you've given the gods what they want- proper ritual and sacrifice. Since we don't live in agrarian society anymore, for the most part, sacrificing animals is a thing we aren't going to do, which is why there's no need to recreate the historical form of these religions. But we can still pour out wine, make symbolic sacrifices, keep the gods in prominent places in our home and remember what they symbolize, and appreciate the cycles of the natural world. I keep an altar in my home with Athena, Aphrodite, and Hermes/Odin, and they receive attention, incense, and wine. They symbolize for me wisdom, love, my craft, passion, the ability to move between realms and protection on travels, magic and hidden knowledge.