- 6LP Box incl. clear Vinyl, 3 x 2LP in Gatefold [!]
When 15 year old prodigy Christofer Johnsson founded THERION as a death metal band in 1987, little did he know that exactly 30 years later he would put the final touches to a project that will go down in history as symphonic metal’s most ambitious release. While ‘rock operas’ are no longer an unusual concept, this term will now receive a new meaning when the curtain opens for Johnsson’s lifelong creation: »Beloved Antichrist« is the title of his spectacular brainchild, consisting of 3 full-length CDs. It is more than just a concept album; it’s a complete rock opera unveiling a sweeping story inspired by Vladímir Soloviov "A Short Tale Of The Antichrist".
“At the beginning it was 50% based on Soloviov’s work, but as the songwriting proceeded we changed the story more and more”, mastermind Christofer Johnsson explains. “I would now say it’s rather inspired and partly based on it. Certain scenes are more or less exactly from the book, but most scenes have no connection with it at all. It is simply the main idea of the antichrist character that is very much based on the book. Stories of musicals and operas are either too political, too shallow or too complicated to be good. Those that are exceptions are also the successful ones. We have taken a great story by a classic Russian philosopher and modernised and perfected it into a great new story that could make it worthwhile for a very broad audience.”
With an incredible total of 30 different roles and characters, who all required a unique voice, THERION hired not only a big choir, but also multiple male and female soloists to bring the epic story to life. With long-time collaborators like Thomas Vikström, Lori Lewis and Chiara Malvestiti, fans will hear the band’s classical vibe but also be able to drown in a magical maelstrom of many new voices [see full singer list below].
6LP Box :
2LP (Act I) – 33 RPM
Side A
01. Turn From Heaven
02. Where Will You Go?
03. Through Dust, Through Rain
04. Signs Are Here
Side B
01. Never Again
02. Bring Her Home
03. The Solid Black Beyond
04. The Crowning Of Splendour
05. Morning Has Broken
Side C
01. Garden Of Peace
02. Our Destiny
03. Anthem
04. The Palace Ball
Side D
01. Jewels From Afar
02. Hail Caesar!
03. What Is Wrong?
04. Nothing But My Name
2LP (Act II) – 33 RPM
Side A
01. The Arrival Of Apollonius
02. Pledging Loyalty
03. Night Reborn
04. Dagger Of God
Side B
01. Temple Of New Jerusalem
02. The Lions Roar
03. Bringing The Gospel
04. Laudate Dominum
Side C
01. Remaining Silent
02. Behold Antichrist
03. Cursed By The Fallen
04. Resurrection
Side D
01. To Where I Weep
02. Astral Sophia
03. Thy Will Be Done!
2LP (Act III) – 33 RPM
Side A
01. Shoot Them Down!
02. Beneath The Starry Skies
03. Forgive Me
04. The Wasteland Of My Heart
Side B
01. Burning The Palace
02. Prelude To War
03. Day Of Wrath
04. Rise To War
Side C
01. Time Has Come/Final Battle
02. My Voyage Carries On
03. Striking Darkness
04. Seeds Of Time
05. To Shine Forever
06. Theme Of Antichrist
Side D
-etched
Role Voice Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Singer
Antichrist Tenor x x x Thomas Vikström
Johanna Soprano x x x Chiara Malvestiti
Helena Soprano x x x Lori Lewis
Agnes Mezzo x x x Ulrika Skarby
Mare Soprano x x x Lydia Kjellberg
Sophia Soprano x x x Melissa Verlak
Appolonius Baryton x x Markus Jupiter
Professor Pauli Tenor Barytone xx Linus Flogell
Satan Bass x x Erik Rosenius
Priest Bass x Mikael Schmidberger
President Tenor x Kaj Hagstrand
President’s wife Mezzo x Matilda Wahlund
Male voter Baritone x Samuel Jarreck
Female voter Alto x Matilda Wahlund
Messenger Dramatic soprano x Karin Fjellander
Pope Barytone x Samuel Jarreick
Building Master Tenor x Kaj Hagstrand
Female servant 1 Sopran x Linnea Vikström
Female servant 2 Mezzo x Matilda Wahlund
Male servant 1 Baryton x Samuel Jarrick
Male servant 2 Bass x Mikael Schmidberger
Lead Succubi Mezzo x Matilda Wahlund
Woman/Congress Mezzo x Matilda Wahlund
Congress woman 2 Sopran x Linnea Vikström
Antichrist soldier Barytone x Samuel Jarrick
Demon Bass x Mikael Schmidberger
Angel Dramatic soprano x Karin Fjellander
3 demons Baritone x Mikael/Samuel/Linus