SIRIUS B

Wow, this album is simply amazing. There are practically no valleys, it's all peaks, if you catch my drift. 11 well-constructed, musicially complex songs. Therion uses the orchestra (Prague Philharmonic) and full choir to greater effect on this album than on the companion release "Lemuria." I can almost guarantee that you do not have an album like this in your collection. Will stand up to repeated listens and will take up to listens on headphones to fully digest. Right now, the aspect of the album that I find most amazing is the use of vocalists. About 7 or 8 different solo vocalists, all distinctive (5 or 6 being opera singers), are intermixed with choral arrangements...this keeps the album fresh. Oh, and by the way, for those of you who lean more toward the "metal" or "heavy" side of things, Therion have produced their two heaviest albums since Theli. Personally, I think it's their best yet narrowly eclipsing both "Secret of the Runes" and "Deggial," which would both receive 4 stars on this scale.

Note: If you're not sure about the Therion sound, please consult another source or listen to samples from their website (http://www.megatherion.com/), because I have described the album assuming that you have a general idea of their sound.