Band:	Therion
Album:	Lepaca Kliffoth
Style:	Death metal, Symphonic metal
Release date:	April 07, 1995
A review by:	Undercraft

01. The Wings Of The Hydra
02. Melez
03. Arrival Of The Darkest Queen
04. The Beauty In Black
05. Riders Of Theli
06. Black
07. Darkness Eve
08. Sorrows Of The Moon [Celtic Frost cover]
09. Let The New Day Begin
10. Lepaca Kliffoth
11. Evocation Of Vovin
12. Enter The Voids [1996 Re-Release bonus]
13. The Veil Of Golden Spheres [1996 Re-Release bonus]

Therion has established nowadays as important band, their innovative use of choirs in later albums raise them to a cult status level in the Metal scene, and many bands were inspired to use choirs in their productions, therefore, the popular term "choirs á la Therion".

But if you heard such albums by Therion, you must know that it wasn't like that always, long before that, Therion started as a Death Metal act, and slowly changed into what are they're now. Lepaca Kliffoth is their last Death Metal album with Christofer Johnsson in the vocals, his singing was backed up by 2 trained opera singers.

The music here is much influenced by Johnsson main inspiration, Celtic Frost, but in difference of previous works in the band, classical elements are introduced via keyboard, these efforts seem meaningless once you hear Therion's actual symphonic metal, but is always good to listen to the roots of a band.

As a result of these elements this album turns out to be a fine piece of work, the great songwriting, mixed with Arabic-influenced keyboards is remarkable, and those mysterious lyrics just add more charm to this album.

This album stands between the band's more Death roots and later symphonic grandiosity, while songs like "The Wings Of the Hydra", "Riders Of Theli", "Darkness Eve" and "Let The New Day Begin" are more groovy Death pieces, songs like "Melez", "Arrival Of The Darkest Queen", "Beauty In Black" and "Evocation Of Vovin" are approaching more to the symphonic terrain (especially this last one).
Some other songs worth mentioning is the title track "Lepaca Kliffoth" singed entirely in Egyptian, and has one of the most dark and scary atmospheres ever done in a song, also check out Therion's rendition on "Sorrows Of The Moon" of Celtic Frost.

This is one of my favorite releases by Therion, while is not the over-the-top symphonic piece we're used to receive from these guys, is very consistent and every song has great hooks. This is one of the best releases of Therion ,and you can quote me on this.
Once I read an interview done to Christofer Johnsson somewhere, and he said that he is never going to release another Death Metal album, because is something he's already done. Too bad, it would be great to hear present day Therion mixed with Death Metal.