Artist: THERION
Album: BELOVED ANTHICHRIST CLEAR VINYL BOX (6LP BOX)

Release date: 2017
EAN/UPS: 727361383312
Media type: LP

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