SIRIUS B

Though I wasn't too impressed with its companion album, Lemuria, I found Sirius B to be a much more diverse and interesting take on the Therion sound. With pieces ranging from the likes of Blood of Kingu, with a directness and ferocity which almost puts me in mind of a NWOBHM piece, to multilayered symphonic-gothic pieces like the title track, it takes the listener on a wide-ranging cosmic journey. Though the lyrical concepts may be far-fetched, the dramatic musical backing ensures that proceedings never lurch into self-parody, and the more adventurous and diverse compositional style makes the album feel much fresher than its Lemurian twin.