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Rating: This album, released in 2005, is an "ensemble" of two previous works for Therion: "A'arab Zaraq Lucid Dreaming" and "Crowning of Atlantis", in remixed and remastered version.
Anyone who owns the mentioned albums can certainly do without it, but those who wish to get to know Therion and understand their artistic direction in broad strokes will find it essential to own, and, as usual, will enjoy it more and more. Dim lights, lyrical voices, orchestral arrangements, structured and complex Heavy Metal, and "historic" songs from bands that seem to have influenced Therion, are present here. From the start, with "In Remembrance" and "Black Fairy", it becomes clear where Therion started their journey and where they've gone since: refinement, genius, and unruliness for the champions of everything that is melody and decadence, without any doubt whatsoever. At this point, first break, and Therion offer us "Fly to the Rainbow" by Scorpions, with its cascade of guitar riffs, disappearing in the middle part first through a slowdown with an organ, then with some winds, plunging into a whispered and mysterious interlude that finally leads into an irresistible chorus.
The second cover is "Under Jolly Roger", performed live, originally written and published by Running Wild in 1987, which proves to be a powerful and robust song, which Therion perform in a strangely abrasive manner. We move on to "Symphony of the Dead", instrumental and fascinating in its baroqueness, and then to "Here Comes the Tears" by Judas Priest, which retains and expands its charm and solitude. End of the break, and the band's songs resume: "The Crowning of Atlantis", "Mark of Cain" and "Clavicula Nox", this one, in particular, completely rearranged and darkened by the male lyrical voice instead of, as originally, the female one, and the change is extremely convincing, resulting in a disarming sadness and decadence. Another break, and here we are with "Crazy Nights" by Loudness from 1985, with scraping guitars and a sustained rhythm, so much so that it almost seems impossible that it's Therion playing!
"From the Dionysian Days" is certainly the most baroque episode of the entire album and cannot leave one indifferent, but, moving on from this, one must pay attention to "Thor", a cover by Manowar, extremely powerful and heavy, an expression that Therion is a metal band 100%, with different aspirations certainly, but when they set their mind to it, they can really hit hard, and in this song, even if it's a cover, they succeed excellently! It's impossible to stay quiet and not sing it at the top of one's lungs. And now, the endings, entrusted to a "Seawinds", a cover by Accept from 1979, delivered in a very sweet and atmospheric way, exploiting the best of what Therion can offer, and to a "Black Sun" live version that creates tension and discomfort that were already palpable in the studio version, but here they are even more emphasized by the perfect and precise execution, with the added feeling of a live performance.
In conclusion, an anthology that serves, as I said, for those approaching Therion, otherwise, nothing new except for the superb magnificence of the band, of course.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 In Remembrance (06:27)
Draconian ages, typhonic dreams,
Nuits lead the qliphotic streams,
The depth in mind where visions dwell,
Projections of an open shell.
Into remembrance we transcend,
Into memories from a prior supreme darker age.
Thy fallen thou shall rise.
Thy fallen thou shall rise.
Thy fallen thou shall rise.
Thy fallen.
Into aeons of the dark supreme,
A ride on the qliphotic stream,
Demonic queen, the whore of Babylon,
The one who ride to mega therion.
Into remembrance we transcend,
Into memories from a prior supreme darker age.
Thy fallen thou shall rise.
Thy fallen thou shall rise.
Thy fallen thou shall rise.
Thy fallen.
Into aeons of the dark, thy fallen thou shall rise.
Into aeons of the dark, thy fallen thou shall rise.
Into aeons of the dark, thy fallen thou shall rise.
Into aeons of the dark, thy fallen.
04 Under Jolly Roger (04:35)
Neigh anchor, heist the sails
Cruisin for booty on watery trails
No exploiter we see can still sail on
Our cannons fire till his ship goes down
Fly our flag, we teach them fear
Capture them, the end is near
Firing guns, they shall burn
Surrender or fight, there's no return
Under jolly roger
Vonerable sceundrels, no blood on our hands
Our engagements are tough, but only for defence
Carefully we sail around the reefs
To force those die-hards to their knees
Fly our flag, we teach them fear
Capture them, the end is near
Firing guns, they shall burn
Surrender or fight, there's no return
Under jolly roger
Sliding through the waves to free all the captives
Boarding the vessels, we know all the tactics
We're the menace, the curse of the sea
We pulverize the men o'war, pay or flee!!!
Fly our flag, we teach them fear
Capture them, the end is near
Firing guns, they shall burn
Surrender or fight, there's no return
05 Symphony of the Dead (03:39)
Your life is fading to death
When gates are open, you'll pass
You are alone outside your shell
The astral landscapes await
A discovery of the secrets of life
You'll reach through the skies
Your eyes can see a world in beyond
The world of the demised
(This song has also an instrumental version)
06 Here Comes the Tears (03:23)
All alone, no one cares.
So much to give to you all out there.
Take me now, in your arms.
Let me rest, safe from harm.
Ohh.... I want to be loved...
I need to be loved...
Won't somebody love me....
(solo)
Here they come, here come the tears...
Here they come, here come the tears...
.
.
.
08 Mark of Cain (05:01)
Cain, firstborn son of Adam
You killed your brother Abel
Now you bear a mark of God in your eyes
Pain is [the] sign of your symbol
And you'll be borne down by [the] load
You will walk forever to live and let die
Life is eternal for Cain
Bright shine the crime from his mark
Some secret's known by his name
He taught man handle Gods spark
[Let the he]Let the he-goat bear the old crimes
Walk with him, to distant east
Ride your horse into the deset of set
And meet him, your master Azazel [4x]
09 Clavicula Nox (08:51)
Dark horizons come close to me and
magick will be my key
I will travel through the gate
to be the finder of my fate.
Nox, the night and key
I will open your old mistery
key of night, open up!
Deep abysses I sink into
and behind the light I go
my long journey never ends
but I will receive what I send.
Nox, the night and key
I will open your old mistery
key of night, open up!
12 Thor (The Powerhead) (04:46)
Black clouds on the horizon
Great thunder and burning rain
His chariot pounding, I heard the heavens scream his name
I watched as he shouted
To the giants that died that day
He held up his hammer high and called Odin for a sign
Thor the mighty, Thor the brave
Crush the infidels in your way
By your hammer let none be saved
Live to die on that final day
Gods, monsters and men
We'll die together in the end
God of thunder, God of rain
Earth shaker who feels no pain
The powerhead of the universe
Now send your never ending curse
I watched as he shouted
To the giants that died that day
He held up his hammer high and called Odin for a sign
Thor the mighty, Thor the brave
Crush the infidels in your way
By your hammer let none be saved
Live to die on that final day
Gods, monsters and men
We'll die together in the end
Swing your hammer to crack the sky
Lift your cape so that you might fly
Back to Odin and gods on high
And leave this mortal world
Thor the mighty, Thor the brave
Crush the infidels in your way
By your hammer let none be saved
Live to die on that final day
Gods, monsters and men
We'll die together in the end
Odin
13 Seawinds (04:23)
In Cold And Dark December
As I Walk Into The Rain
Sit Beside The Room
All Night Long
In A Grey december Morning
I Decide To Leave My Home
Took A Train To Nowhere
Far Away, Far Away
Many Thousand Miles Away
Where The Moon Took To The Stars
Dreamed About The Days
Days Gone By, Days Gone By
In The Night, The Seawinds Are Calling
And The City, Is Far Far Away
Soon, The Sea Turns To Darkness
It Is Night, And Seawinds Are Calling
Seawinds Call, Seawinds Call
Ten Tousand Miles Away
Where The Moon Took To The Stars
I Dreamed About The Days
Days Gone By
I've Been Told So Many Stories
And Dreams My Friends Have Made
So It's No Illusions
Sail Away, Sail Away
In The Night, The Seawinds Are Calling
And The City, Is Far Far Away
Soon, The Sea Turns To Darkness
It Is Night, And Seawinds Are Calling
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