Therion
Vovin
(c)(p)1998 Nuclear Blast
Review by Jason Sorens
Therion have evolved from a vaguely melodic but very death metal outfit
into an opera-come-power-metal production. The latest CD, "Vovin", is
reputed to be by far the most expensive recording in the history of
Nuclear Blast. The only permanent band member is Christofer Johnsson, and
he gives up vocals entirely on "Vovin", concentrating solely on guitars
and keyboards. This means that most of the performance on this album is
done by extras (particularly the violin players and choirs, and of course
drums and bass). Waldemar Sorychta, sometime Samael producer among other
things, contributes on lead guitar. Other notables: Ralf Scheepers,
formerly of Gamma Ray, who performs the only extensive lead vocals on the
entire album (for "The Wild Hunt"), and Sarah Jezebel Diva of Cradle of
Filth fame, who handles sundry vocal tasks (both alto and soprano,
according to the credits).
Basically, "Vovin" sounds like a metallized version of the "Lawrence of
Arabia" soundtrack. For the most part it is mid-tempo, sometimes even
plodding. I was disappointed at this. I was hoping that we would see a
frenetic melee along the lines of "Theli". Instead, the slower
side of Therion only occasionally displayed previously now takes over.
Songs like "Wine of Aluqah" and "The Wild Hunt", however, do evoke images
of "the Second Coming of Jesus, calm, arms outstretched above a
deliriously panicked populace" (from Martin Popoff's review of "Theli").
The guitars on this album are mostly far in the background, staying
content merely to help set the rhythm. At times, the songs are so slow
and the guitars so shy that I wondered whether this was truly a metal
album at all. But indeed it is. Though guitar solos are rare, a wickedly
delicious hook here and there serves to satisfy for some time. Also,
"Vovin" is able to evoke a certain sense of poignancy in its slower mode.
As My Dying Bride has long since discovered, a mournful guitar-violin duet
can tug the heartstrings. The latter portion of "Clavicula Nox" evinces
this truth exquisitely.
The lyrical content is not surprising, continuing with the theme of
previous Therion output. Trading on pagan mysticism, the imagery is often
obscure but usually intriguing. Someone should tell Christofer Johnsson,
however, that the proper Latin translation of "key of night" is
"clavicula noctis", not "clavicula nox".
I like "Vovin" somewhat less than "Theli". Its plodding moments are not
always compensated for by strong guitar melodies, as in most good doom
metal. But there are those who find symphonic / orchestral rock to be sheer
ecstasy, and for them this CD will provide many, err, fond moments.
"Theli" was a classic, though, and "Vovin" only barely misses that
benchmark. It hardly gets bogged down before a stirring melody pulls it
from the mire and lifts it onward and upward.
Back to Index
|
