Band:	Therion
Album:	Gothic Kabbalah
Style:	Symphonic metal
Release date:	January 2007

Disc I
01. Der Mitternachtslöwe
02. Gothic Kabbalah
03. The Perennial Sophia
04. Wisdom And The Cage
05. Son Of The Staves Of Time
06. Tuna 1613
07. Trul
08. Close Up The Streams

Disc II
01. The Wand Of Abaris
02. Three Treasures
03. Path To Arcady
04. TOF - The Trinity
05. Chain Of Minerva
06. The Falling Stone
07. Adulruna Rediviva
08. Seven Secrets Of The Sphinx [live] [limited edition bonus]
09. To Mega Therion [live] [limited edition bonus]

I've put off writing about this masterpiece for months. The thought of reviewing an album that I consider an absolute TEN frightened me, intimidated me, and simply put me off. This is the task of a writer creating something imperfect and partial about something predetermined as sublime. So, coming to the realization that creating a flawless synopsis is out of the question; I shall quote Tyler Durden- "I found freedom. Losing all hope was freedom."

Ok. Now that I've gotten that weight off of my shoulders, I feel free to express my obviously biased views on this transcendental, two-disc mountain of excellence. To put it frankly: this is one intoxicating work of badassery. I do suppose that I should cease my gushing and break it down a bit- y'know - actually review it.

The symphonic and bombastic presentation that Therion are known for is as prominent as ever, yet tweaked by some tasty and theatrical placements of solo-lead vocals (much moreso than ever) and back and forth duets, all the while not excluding the vast choir assault of past releases. This varied approach drastically alters the digestibility of the Therion sound, creating a much more evocative and eclectic ride. This sectioning seems as if it would leave the tracks sounding jagged, yet the flow is seamless. Songwriting skill saves it all from being a jigsaw puzzle of disjointed sub-genres (cough...Epica...cough) as the compositional qualities of this body of individual songs mingle like happy aristocrats at a drunken masquerade; keeping their composure as their established and biting personalities entertain each other. The metal is metal as hell. The gothic textures and moods grip the heart. The classical influences swallow you in imaginative bliss. All of these things work together very, very cohesively.

With the likes of skilled veterans like Mats Levin and Snow Shaw (whose sinister and slicing vocals surprised the living guano out of me) at the vocal forefront, as well as the pleasingly proficient Katarina Lilja and Hannah Holgersson, all topped off with a slew of choir performers, the listener is treated to all types of character voices; the good, the evil, and the beautiful. It's positively pant-wetting.

The instrumentation here is stellar. Some of the most face-melting guitar solos I've ever heard are all over this thing, all the while backed by metronomically precise prog-metal styled drums. Also, no worries about the rest of the arsenal. They leave nothing to be desired. All this, and it's mixed crisp and clear on all fronts! What a banquet.

To conclude this near-pathetic worship, I'll just say that any intelligent metal fan should seek this album. If you do and you don't "get it", I most definitely don't "get" you.