Therion
Sirius B

THE REVIEW

And here we are at "Sirius B". The review of this work should be read immediately after "Lemuria", the first album of the two, which constitutes, one might say, the decadent and symphonic part to the nth degree, while this one represents the heavier incarnation, and more powerful, of the mammoth opus. Judge for yourself.

Even if taken individually, "Sirius B" would still represent an excellent work, and in this key, I would like to interpret it as a piece placed in a certain spot in Therion's career precisely because it had to be there. Without a doubt, the band's explosive class is clearly showcased here, and the sounds and songs they compose are structured in the classic airy and subtle yet extremely powerful manner that seems to be Therion's trademark. So, why not turn up the volume on "The Blood of Kingu", aggressive and rocky, or on "Son of the Sun", rhythmically powerful with a classic "gut-wrenching" feel? Or why not let yourself be enchanted by the gothic and fine baroque elements of "Dark Venus Persephone" or "The Wondrous World of Punt"?

Why, I ask you, can we not pull our ears away from these wonders that Therion compose? Why can't we forget the phrasings and passages, even if they are intricate and certainly not immediately impactful? Too many questions, without answers, for an album centered entirely on the sulfurous, decadent, powerful, and extraordinary atmosphere, at times where it almost seems to clash with a certain geometric and progressive Doom that leaves nothing to chance yet manages to free and lift magnificent intentions of fantasy and passion for music. And thus, surely, the same discussion made with "Lemuria" applies. Each song has something particular, delicate, gothic, mysterious to discover, which, combined with the monstrous technicality of this band, will surely leave you astounded.

Pompous? Perhaps. But certainly, no other words come to mind to express what I perceive from this album, which I have always considered among the best, in every sense, regarding Therion's production.