Origin : Sweden
Genre : Symphonic Metal
Release : 2022
Album Info / Review
**Therion – *Leviathan II***
— An ominous, symphonic swim through a myth‑laden seascape
From the first breath, *Leviathan II* throws the listener into a swirling vortex of gothic grandeur and maritime bleakness. Therion, the pioneers of Swedish symphonic metal, have taken a well‑trod path—heavy riffs, operatic choirs, and a sprinkling of folk motifs—and twisted it with a new, darker edge that feels both fresh and home‑grown.
### Sound
The sonic palette on this record feels like a full‑roar ocean wind. The guitars are thick and layered, with a crunchy rhythm section that gives the tracks an immediate weight. On the low end, the bass is anchored, but occasionally it steps into the foreground, echoing the bass lines of the distant choir in that mid‑track “Naiad’s Wake.” The drums are a mix of tight, snappy patterns and expansive cymbal washes that echo the lurch of a sea creature’s tread. Vocal delivery oscillates between melodic crooning and guttural screams—rarely leaving the listener unsure of whether the line is lyrical or lyrical/chant-ish.
### Atmosphere
Therion’s hallmark is a sonic cavern carved from the abyss. *Leviathan II* deepens that foundation. The atmospheric elements—strings, oboe flourishes, and subtle synth pads—create a feeling of endless horizon. The centerpiece, “Maelstrom,” feels like a storm’s heart, with booming synths that hum like tidewater breathing. Throughout, there’s an undercurrent of melancholia, as if the narrative of the single species that the album centers on is eternally trapped in a cycle of rise and fall.
### Riffs
This is where the album truly shows its muscle. The guitar work oscillates between fast, palm‑muted chugs that homage classic doom and delicate arpeggiated phrases that echo folk melodies. The layered rhythm guitars create an intricate tapestry that never feels overcrowded, thanks to the tasteful use of harmony. One standout riff sits in “Depths of Despair,” a sliding lead that mirrors the 12‑bar blues but is peppered with dissonance, turning the flat into a secretive, emotive tension. The crushing breakdowns of tracks like “Beneath the Crest” are both brutal and distinctly orchestral, as if the stuttered strums were sampled from a distorted cannon.
### Production Quality
Taken together, the production feels like a polished studio pan‑air. The mixing affords each instrument its own breathing room—there’s no rear‑end muddiness that typically plagues high‑intensity metal productions. Vocals sit snugly in the middle ground, between the crowd of choirs and the harsh guitars, creating a perfect dynamic balance. Notably, the reverb settings on the oceanic tracks are realistic; they feel like you’re standing on a cliff with wind roaring past, yet not so overwhelming that the clarity dissipates. Mastering raises the track loudness to a respectable level without distortion, giving the album an aggressive but clean presence.
### Overall Impression
Therion has taken what has been a formulaic approach to symphonic metal and, with *Leviathan II*, stitched an updated take that feels, in the best way, like a brand‑new chapter. The music navigates the lyrical and the brutal with equal dexterity, and the storytelling remains visceral. Fans of the band’s earlier thematic diversity will find new hooks: the intricate ethnic folk melodies, the unexpectedly bright organ interludes, and the recurring motif of underwater resonance make the album sing to a different rhythm.
A track that grips you is “Echoes of the Abyss.” It is as if the vibrations of undersea anemones have become a chorus; it’s distantly haunting, yet the contrast between soft melodic lines and sudden heavy choruses is handled with aplomb. Enduring across the album’s 9 tracks, each song remains anchored in its theme, yet they collectively thread the narrative of water’s eternal paradox.
This record consolidates Therion’s legacy as a leading force in the symphonic‑metal community. Their insight into how to weave traditional metal dynamics into larger, atmospheric symphonies is showcased here in full force. A stellar entry that expands the album’s tone while staying recognizably Therion – “Leviathan II” is an attentively crafted deep‑sea voyage that invites the listener to hold their breath long enough to savor its depths.
