LIVE IN MIDGARD

"Live in Midgård" is the first real live album by the Swedish opera Metal band Therion. Some live songs were included on the album "Crowning of Atlantis" but this time it's 2 discs about an hour each of Material from Therion's whole career, you will find both Opera Metal, Death Metal and thrash songs on this album. Therions music is Symphonic opera metal which is very bombastic and heavy at the same time, they mix all kinds of influences, from power Metal riffs to Death Metal growl and folk music. Most of their lyrics are about different mythologies, religions and mysteries and the music captures that mysticism very well, it is very atmospheric at some places. This live album was recorded on the Secret of the Runes tour in 2001 and contains songs from their whole career. Unfortunantley it suffers from mediocre production, and some of the symphonic elements don't work that well live, but I think it's very impressive that they manage to play their music live. This live album is not a "Must have", to be quite honest I think the studio versions are better. But if you are curios about how their music sounds live I strongly recommend it. They have picked their best songs and there is not much to complain about, most albums are represented.

Disc: 1

1. The Album opens with a song called "Ginnungagap" which is the Perfect opener it is Heavy, bombastic and just wonderful in every aspect, some of the Lyrics are even in Swedish which of course makes me, as a Swede very happy.

2. The next song "Invocation of Namaah" is a bit faster and "more Metal", also a great song.

3. After that comes a song called "Birth of Venus Illegitima" which is a lot slower and not as heavy as the previous two, a very good song but not one of the best.

4. Then comes "Enter Vril-ya" and it reminds of "Birth of Venus Illegitima" but is a bit heavier.

5. en the speed returns with the quite heavy and a bit thrashy "Riders of Theli" an excellent song.

Now the Cd changes direction, becoming heavier and the opera choir is exchanged for growl similar to that of "Cannibal Corpse" and the band plays a medley of songs from their first 3 albums starting with "Symphony of the Dead".

6. "Symphony of the Dead" is a great tune that has a death metal feeling to it but still has some of the operatic elements from their later material.

7. The Next part of the Medley is the slow, heavy and death oriented song "The Return" from their very first album, a quite okay song, but since I'm not a big fan of that kind of music I prefer the style of the later albums.

8. Then "A black rose" kicks in very nicely with a very good bass riff, but unfortunately the rest of the song is not as good.

9. The last part of the Medley is "Baal Reginon", perhaps the strangest song on the album, it feels very weird since it changes it's direction and mood all the time (and that when the song is just 2 minutes long) it feels like a beginner's song, like when a band has a lot of different stuff they want to do, can't agree on which they want to do on the song, and decides to try to do all of them.

10. Following that medley the album turns to a more common Metal sound with the Headbanger "Flesh of the Gods" the choir and the Orchestra is not at all as present on this song as on the first tracks, and it feels a lot like Iron Maiden or Saxon (except for the Chorus).

11. Then they do a cover of Accept's "Seawinds" with opera vocals and a orchestra, the song's good but a bit to slow I think. The last two Tracks on Disc I are much more in the vein of the First tracks, and so is all of disc II.

12. "Schwarzalbenheim" is from the same album as "Ginnungagap" (The secret of the Runes album) and you can tell that immediately, this is a brilliant song with lyrics in German and a lot of orchestra work, it reminds me of Wagner.

13. The Last I think is the best by far "In the Desert of Set" is a amazing track wich I love every second from and can't get enough of. The lyrics, which unfortunately are very difficult to hear on this live record are dark and mysterious but the music is very bombastic wit ha mix of Heavy guitars riffs and melodies and an bombastic choir and orchestra, this track is what Therion is all about to me.

Disc II doesn't start at all as good as Disc I but the disc is better in general.

Disc II:

1. The opening song "Wings of the Hydra" is a thrashier song that has quite few cool riffs, but it's not a favourite, at least not for me.

2. After that one it get's a lot better, the next song "Asgård" is a really good song from the "secret of the Runes" album, it's a bit faster than some of the others and really gives me the feeling of being surrounded by Norse gods.

3. It leads directly on to another song from "Secret of the Runes", the Title track, this one is a lot slower, but also very good.

4. "The Rise of Sodom and Gommorah" is another highlight on the album, being a quite typical Therion Song.

5. It's nice that they play their Excellent cover of Abba's Summernight city next. With a heavy, crunchy riff and with bombastic opera choirs in the Chorus they succeed in making this cover sound like a real Therion song, very impressive.

6. "Beauty in Black" is a calm song from one of their early albums and it's got a nice gothic feeling to it, a nice pause from the bombastic songs on the Album.

7. This pause doesn't last long, because the following "Seven Secrets of the Sphinx" is a typical Midtempo Therion song, with a nice riff and a very catchy chorus.

8. "The Wine of Alqah" is probably the fastest song on the album with it's double bass pedals smattering. It is another really great song on the album with a Power Metal touch to it.

9. Unfortunately "The Raven of Dispersion" isn't nearly as good, this is in my opinion way to slow and quite boring.

10 - 11. They end the Cd with two "hits" (if there are any symphonic Opera Metal Hits) "To Mega Therion" and "Cults of the Shadow" are amongst the best songs they have ever made and make an excellent end for this Great Live Album.

9/10

Kennie Sandström - Stridsby