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Beloved Antichrist

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Beloved Antichrist
Studio album by
Therion
Released9 February 2018 (2018-02-09)
GenreSymphonic metal
Length182:50
LabelNuclear Blast
Therion chronology
Les Fleurs du Mal
(2012) 		Beloved Antichrist
(2018) 		Leviathan
(2021)

Beloved Antichrist is the sixteenth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. It is a triple album and was released on 9 February 2018 by Nuclear Blast Records.[1] The album is the soundtrack to a rock musical by the band, who are accompanied by a large orchestra and choir.[2] The staging of the rock musical was delayed indefinitely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, the band started to work on the next regular album Leviathan.

Beloved Antichrist was the band's first release of new original material since Sitra Ahra in 2010. Group founder Christofer Johnsson had toyed with the idea of writing an opera for 15 years and had finally decided to "do metal/rock music with opera"[1] instead, citing his inability to write "the ‘boring’ stuff" like recitatives.[3] Thus, Beloved Antichrist features exclusively operatic singing combined with an orchestra and electric instruments typical of a rock band.

The music was composed by Johnsson, Thomas Vikström, Linnéa Vikström and Christian Vidal, the lyrics were written by Per Albinsson and the album cover was created by Thomas Ewerhart.[4] The album consists of 46 songs and is inspired by and partly based on "A Short Tale of the Antichrist" by Vladímir Soloviov.[1] Johnsson expanded the story to include 27 characters played by 15 vocalists.[5]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Cutting Edge [nl][6]
Inferno [fi][7]
Laut.de[8]
Magazyn Gitarzysta [pl]5/10[9]
Metal Hammer7/7[10]
Plattentests.de [de]7/10[11]
Powermetal.de [de]10/10[12]
Rock Hard7/10[13]
Soundi [fi][14]

Beloved Antichrist has received generally favorable reviews. AllMusic said of the album: "taken as intended, as a whole, it is an exhausting, enthralling monolithic marvel."[2] Another reviewer described that the album would be a challenge for new Therion fans, but also described it as "Christofer Johnsson’s masterpiece" which "takes everything that Therion has done to this point to a completely different level."[15]

AllMusic described the album as "an exhausting, enthralling monolithic marvel," praising its conceptual depth and the execution of its complex musical arrangements. The review emphasized that the album, when taken as a whole, delivers a powerful and immersive experience.

Metal Hammer commended the album for its grandiosity and the sheer ambition of Christofer Johnsson's vision. The reviewer acknowledged that while the album might be a challenging listen for new fans due to its extensive length and operatic style, it stands as a testament to Johnsson’s dedication and creative prowess. They highlighted the album’s intricate storytelling and the seamless blend of operatic vocals with metal instrumentation as particularly noteworthy.

Sonic Perspectives called Beloved Antichrist "a daring and epic project" that pushes the boundaries of the symphonic metal genre. The review praised the vocal performances and the orchestration, noting that the album’s narrative depth and character development elevate it beyond a typical concept album.

Loudwire included the album in their list of the best metal albums of 2018, citing its ambitious scope and the impressive execution of its operatic elements. The review highlighted the album's ability to create a vivid and immersive world, comparing it favorably to previous works by Therion.

Metal Injection offered a more critical perspective, acknowledging the album’s ambition but suggesting that its length and complexity might be overwhelming for some listeners. However, the review still praised the quality of the music and the performances, particularly the vocal work and the orchestral arrangements.

Blabbermouth.net highlighted the innovative nature of the project, noting that Beloved Antichrist stands out in the band's discography for its operatic approach and the depth of its narrative. The review praised the album for its creative boldness and the meticulous attention to detail in both the music and the storytelling.

Track listing

[edit]
Act 1
No.TitleLength
1."Turn from Heaven"3:06
2."Where Will You Go?"2:15
3."Through Dust, Through Rain"5:01
4."Signs Are Here"4:21
5."Never Again"2:20
6."Bring Her Home"3:59
7."The Solid Black Beyond"3:47
8."The Crowning of Splendour"3:34
9."Morning Has Broken"6:39
10."Garden of Peace"3:25
11."Our Destiny"2:41
12."Anthem"4:18
13."The Palace Ball"5:20
14."Jewels from Afar"4:22
15."Hail Caesar!"5:10
16."What Is Wrong?"2:07
17."Nothing but My Name"2:02
Total length:65:36
Act 2
No.TitleLength
18."The Arrival of Apollonius"5:06
19."Pledging Loyalty"2:56
20."Night Reborn"3:57
21."Dagger of God"3:32
22."Temple of New Jerusalem"4:01
23."The Lions Roar"3:43
24."Bringing the Gospel"4:44
25."Laudate Dominum"5:00
26."Remaining Silent"2:56
27."Behold Antichrist"4:40
28."Cursed by the Fallen"2:00
29."Resurrection"3:41
30."To Where I Weep"5:57
31."Astral Sophia"5:42
32."Thy Will Be Done!"4:37
Total length:62:41
Act 3
No.TitleLength
33."Shoot Them Down!"3:49
34."Beneath the Starry Skies"4:26
35."Forgive Me"9:41
36."The Wasteland of My Heart"3:24
37."Burning the Palace"8:22
38."Prelude to War"0:38
39."Day of Wrath"4:13
40."Rise to War"3:47
41."Time Has Come/Final Battle"2:56
42."My Voyage Carries On"3:52
43."Striking Darkness"2:04
44."Seeds of Time"1:38
45."To Shine Forever"2:06
46."Theme of Antichrist"3:31
Total length:Act 3: 54:34
Total: 182:50

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[16] 46
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[17] 64
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[18] 161
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[19] 99
French Albums (SNEP)[20] 125
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21] 25
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[22] 34
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[23] 56
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 18

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Therion: Beloved Antichrist". Nuclear Blast America. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "Therion: Beloved Antichrist". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  3. ^ "THERION - Writing Process & Motivation Behind The Rock Opera (OFFICIAL TRAILER #3)". YouTube.
  4. ^ "Therion: 'Beloved Antichrist' Artwork, Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  5. ^ Lysen, Lorraine (14 February 2018). "Therion: Beloved Antichrist". Ghost Cult Magazine. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  6. ^ http://www.cuttingedge.be/muziek/therion-beloved-antichrist [dead link]
  7. ^ "Kokemus mutta ei nautinto – arviossa Therion". 13 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Das Metal-Musical mit Operngesang bietet Realitätsflucht par excellence".
  9. ^ "Therion - Beloved Antichrist".
  10. ^ "Kritik zu Therion BELOVED ANTICHRIST". Metal Hammer.
  11. ^ "Therion - Beloved antichrist - Plattentests.de-Rezension".
  12. ^ "Review | THERION - Beloved Antichrist". Powermetal.De. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  13. ^ "THERION - Beloved Antichrist".
  14. ^ "Levyarvio: Kolme cd:tä, 46 biisiä, oopperaa, metallia ja iso annos kunnianhimoa – Therionin uutuus on massiivinen eepos". 28 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Therion - Beloved Antichrist". Progressive Music Planet. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Musical / Therion – Beloved Antichrist" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Musical / Therion – Beloved Antichrist" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Musical / Therion – Beloved Antichrist" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Musical / Therion – Beloved Antichrist" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Lescharts.com – Musical / Therion – Beloved Antichrist". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Musical / Therion – Beloved Antichrist" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2018. 7. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Musical / Therion – Beloved Antichrist". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Musical / Therion – Beloved Antichrist". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
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