With over 100+ million streams and a tremendously successful album released just a year ago, symphonic metal titans THERION have not been idle and continue their epic Leviathan trilogy with their striking new video clip for ‘Codex Gigas’. Their new album “L
Christofer comments: “One day I was thinking about epic doom metal and wondering if it is harder to write a ”hit song” in that genre, or if it’s harder in regular metal. I’m a huge fan of CANDLEMASS, and in my opinion, I haven’t heard any other band match their hit songs in the genre. So, I decided to try to find out for myself how hard it is. Of course, I had to involve Thomas in the writing process, being an ex-CANDLEMASS singer. The result was ‘Codex Gigas”’, a CANDLEMASS -inspired THERION doom song. If it’s a hit or not will be up to the fans to judge.”
Order the album “Leviathan II” HERE.
With defiant determination rarely found in a metal band, THERION has always and exclusively done what they deemed right. Never did they stick to a successful formula, never did they release the same album twice, never did they give in to fickle friends like expectations, commercial aspects, or trends. Which makes it all the more astounding that now, 35 years deep into their storied career, they actually do something every fan had hoped but never actually thought possible. Enter Leviathan, enter a trilogy focusing on all the trademark elements THERION is beloved by countless metal fans around the globe. After the first part set hearts a flame in 2021, evoking goosebumps galore and reminiscing the glory days of the nineties, the symphonic metal grand-seigneurs continue their surprisingly fan-friendly path with their epic odyssey “Leviathan II.”
“We wanted to give fans what they want this time,” musical professor Christofer Johnsson informs us from his sunny new home in Gozo, Malta. “We have been doing what we wanted for so long that we just thought it fair to turn the tables just this once.” Turning 50, you might misinterpret a move like this with a certain mellowing of age. You couldn’t be more wrong, of course: Johnsson is still the musical frontiersman, looking for new challenges and hero’s journey under every stone he turns.
“Leviathan II” Alum Artwork
However, after having finished the insanely sophisticated, elaborate triple album rock musical Beloved Antichrist, even Christofer Johnsson felt he had reached a certain frontier here. “After Beloved Antichrist I was lacking direction because I had done everything I ever wanted to do or achieve.” He sat down with lead vocalist Thomas Vikström to ponder their next move when it quickly dawned on them: “The only thing we never did was give the fans exactly what they wanted,” he grins drily.
Since their early days – THERION originally formed as a death metal band back in the late 80’s – mastermind Christofer Johnsson has come a long way, defining and developing a perfect combination of orchestral, symphonic, gothic and incredibly catchy metal that is second to none. Supported on the road with THERION’s first full European tour since several years in November and December 2022, “Leviathan II” will add another exciting chapter to THERION’s history.
