Monday, September 20, 2010

Therion - A'Arab Zaraq Lucid Dreaming 1997





Genre: Modern Classical, Symphonic Metal, Heavy Metal
Format: flac + cue + log
Released: 1997
Label:
Nuclear Blast


Sound: This is probably the best album to introduce new listeners to Therion. This is a very well orchestrated and guitar oriented album that dips even towards classical music. The choirs and duos in this album are also very intriguing to hear. This is also the second post pure death metal album showing the shift from former death metal to progressive/gothic metal.

Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics are first of all Written by Thomas Karlsson the leader of the occult group "Dragon Rouge". These Lyrics always tell the Beliefs and ideals. The choirs and singer both chime in finely and sound good with the music. The female and male duets are also a good listen with shifts. The solo soprano singers just like on Lepaca Kliffoth though on this album the singers are greatly impressive. The lyrics if dissected by what is being said can be moving or at least challenge how one thinks.

Impression: I like this album the most of any Therion I have heard. If you like bands like Nightwish and also Kamelot this is somewhere in between in sounds. I really like the Symphony of the Dead Instrumental and The Quiet Desert are great tracks. I sometimes wish this was a little less symphonic and more metal oriented yet it is a true Masterpiece nonetheless. If This was Stolen I would be happy the person had the taste to find this and be angry I would have to wait to get this shipped but would certainly buy this again. I personally think this is also the best way to listen to Therion for the first time as appose to Deggial which takes a bit of an open mind and a taste for classical music. ~ Reviewed by: tbarrettl





1. In Remembrance
2.Bl
ack Fairy (European Metal Version)
3. Fly To The Rainbow
(Scorpions cover)
4. Children Of The Damned
(Iron Maiden cover)
5. Under Jolly Roger
(Running Wild cover)
6. Symphony Of The Dead
(new instrumental version)
7. Here Comes The Tears
(Judas Priest cover)
Therion Versions
8. Enter Transcendental Sleep
9. The Quiet Desert
10. Down The Qliphotic Tunnel
11. Up To Netzach / Floating Back

Original Soundtrack "The Golden Embrace"
12. The Fall Into Eclipse
13. Enter Transcendental Sleep
14. The Gates To A'Arab Zaraq Are Open
15. The Quiet Desert
16. Down The Qliphotic Tunnel
17. Up To Netzach
18. Floating Back






Christofer Johnsson: Guitar, Hammond organ, Keyboards, Gran Piano
Piotr Wawrzeniuk: Drums, Vocals
Jonas Mellberg: Guitar, Keyboard
Lars Rosenberg: Bass
Dan Swanö: Vocals
Tobbe Sidegård: Vocals
Peter Tägtgren: Additional lead guitars
Gottfried Koch: Acoustic guitar, Grand Piano

All choir and solo opera singing on this album were done by
Bettina Stumm: Soprano
Raphaela Mayhaus: Soprano
Marie-Therese Kubel: Alto
Ergin Onat: Tenor
Klaus Bülow: Bass
Joachim Gebhardt: Bass


CD in a 4-page foldout Digipak with additional booklet containing liner notes.

Tracks 1-3 recorded during the "Theli" session at Impuls Music Studio, Germany, Jan-March 1996.

Tracks 4-5 recorded in a session at Abyss Studio, Sweden, June 1996.

Tracks 6-7 recorded at Impuls Music Studios, Germany, Dec. 1996. Track 6 was originally released onthe "Beyond Sanctorum" album in 1992. At first, it was also planned to rerecorded "Dawn OfPerishness" from the "Symphony Masses" album, but as the result wasn't suitable, Christofer Johnssondecided to go for a Judas Priest cover instead.

Tracks 8-11 recorded in a session at Impuls Music Studios, Germany, Dec. 1996. The tracks are socalled "Therionized" versions of the songs from the soundtrack.

Tracks 12-18 taken from the original soundtrack to "The Golden Embrace" Art Movie (1997) by PerAlbinsson.

Track 3 originally performed by Scorpions (1974).
Track 4 originally performed by Iron Maiden (1982).
Track 5 originally performed by Running Wild (1987).
Track 7 originally performed by Judas Priest (1976).






No comments: