Therion + Luciferian Light Orchestra, Ego Fall, Imperial Age in Cracow
The concert adventures of 2016 started in Cracow’s club Kwadrat. On 29th January the club hosted the Swedish giants of symphonic metal, namely Therion. Christofer Johnsson’s band played three concerts in Poland (Warsaw, Cracow and Gdańsk) as a partof European Tour 2016. Three supporting bands and two-hours long concert of the main star made it a unique musical experience.
Firstly, the Russian musicians from Imperial Age appeared on the stage serving a mixture of male and two soprano vocals so sharp and dominating that after a while they became a bit overwhelming. However, it must be daid that they are really talented artists, especially the frontwoman Alexandra with her amazing voice. To make long story short, those were multi-layered, massive tracks with choral, operatic singing. Russian imperialist version of symphonic metal, a little bit theatrical, a little bit pompous. Anyway, the band proved to be powerful and created a proper atmosphere. Meanwhile, more and more people were coming to the club.
The second band turned out to be a huge surprise. Mongolian-Chinese Ego Fall was not what we had expected. Although this kind of metal stuff is not in my area of interest, I have to say I was absolutely amazed. Not only me, but all of the audience. Heavy stuff plus traditional Mongolian melodies, instruments, throat singing ended up as a really nice concert. The way they looked on the stage and some unusual energy made it impossible to stop staring at them. It was a concert full of passion and joy. It was clear that they enjoyed playing and that optimistic attitude soon was shared by the people gathered in front of the stage. I absolutely recommend.
With Luciferian Light Orchestra, the third band, it was a bit different. The band is a side project of Therion’s boss Christof Johnsson and was founded to follow the path of retro rock music. Perhaps the band’s name my be intriguing similarly to their stage appearance. However, it doesn’t take long to realise that there is nothing more than that. In terms of music it’s quite calm, melodious, abit boring. Gentlemen in masks and, in my opinion a bit mannered Mari Karhunen as a vocalist. I would say it lacks natural spontaneity and is somehow artificial. Maybe it’s jus tan impression after energetic concert of Ego Fall, but this one lacks passion.
Anyway, the supports are done and there are only minutes left to see and here the main star. At this point it was already extremely hot in the club, not only because of the tension connected to waiting but because of air conditioning not working properly, if working at all.
Finally, the musicians entered the stage and took their places and already after the first song they took off all unnecessary pieces of clothing. Thomas Vikström said later that he had never played a concert in such a hot place before. Anyway, two-hour long show is opened by ‘Ginnungagap’ and an amazing journey with all the best hits of this music giant Therion starts.
The concert itself was like a theatrical performance. Musician apeared and disappeared from the stage in different configurations. It’s hard to decide what to focus on because it’s totally multidimensional show. Charismatic Thomas Vikström rules absolutely on the stage just as a proper frontman does. When it comes to female vocals, there’s lovely Chiara Malvestiti as a opera diva and she was absolutely awesome. It’s hard not to notice pink haired and full of energy Linnéa Vikström. She adds a kind of feistiness and rebellious spirit to sublime character of Therion’s concert. However, she can also be mature and majestic singer and she proved it in a beautiful "The Siren of the Woods" singing in a duet with her father. Thomas himself seemed to be pretty happy to perform ‘Black Fairy’for the first time live on tour. So far, as he said, Johnnson has not agreed to include this track in a set list. But now, he said ok. We also had a Chance to listen to, unfortunately not so brilliant, mini opera "Mon Amour, Mon Ami" with a guest performance of Mari Karhunen bringing the element of artificiality with her. But the marvelous "Lemuria" made us all lie down "n the ocean, deep down
under raging waves, wrapped in memories…" After the last sounds of "Sons Of The Staves Of Time" nobody even moved. Despite being treated with the best hits after a long set we all knew it’s not over. The band came back and played "Rise Of Sodom And Gomorrah" and "To Mega Therion" making the concert end up with absolute ecstasy of the crowd.
It was one of those concerts which remind us why we love so much going for concerts and listening the live music and seeing our favourite bands on the stage. It’s just a pure pleasure. It was a very successful event and let us hope there will be more like this in the future.
Therion Setlist:
Ginnungagap
Schwarzalbenheim
Niefelheim
Vanaheim
Melek Taus
The Beauty In Black
Innvocation Of Naamah
Cults Of The Shadow
The Siren Of The Woods
Wine Of Alugar
Morning Star
Black Diamonds
Black Fairy
Mon Amour, Mon Ami
Kings Of Edom
Dreams Of Swedenborg
Lemuria
The Invincible
Sons Of The Staves Of Time
————
Rise Of Sodom And Gomorrah
To Mega Therion
Firstly, the Russian musicians from Imperial Age appeared on the stage serving a mixture of male and two soprano vocals so sharp and dominating that after a while they became a bit overwhelming. However, it must be daid that they are really talented artists, especially the frontwoman Alexandra with her amazing voice. To make long story short, those were multi-layered, massive tracks with choral, operatic singing. Russian imperialist version of symphonic metal, a little bit theatrical, a little bit pompous. Anyway, the band proved to be powerful and created a proper atmosphere. Meanwhile, more and more people were coming to the club.
The second band turned out to be a huge surprise. Mongolian-Chinese Ego Fall was not what we had expected. Although this kind of metal stuff is not in my area of interest, I have to say I was absolutely amazed. Not only me, but all of the audience. Heavy stuff plus traditional Mongolian melodies, instruments, throat singing ended up as a really nice concert. The way they looked on the stage and some unusual energy made it impossible to stop staring at them. It was a concert full of passion and joy. It was clear that they enjoyed playing and that optimistic attitude soon was shared by the people gathered in front of the stage. I absolutely recommend.
With Luciferian Light Orchestra, the third band, it was a bit different. The band is a side project of Therion’s boss Christof Johnsson and was founded to follow the path of retro rock music. Perhaps the band’s name my be intriguing similarly to their stage appearance. However, it doesn’t take long to realise that there is nothing more than that. In terms of music it’s quite calm, melodious, abit boring. Gentlemen in masks and, in my opinion a bit mannered Mari Karhunen as a vocalist. I would say it lacks natural spontaneity and is somehow artificial. Maybe it’s jus tan impression after energetic concert of Ego Fall, but this one lacks passion.
Anyway, the supports are done and there are only minutes left to see and here the main star. At this point it was already extremely hot in the club, not only because of the tension connected to waiting but because of air conditioning not working properly, if working at all.
Finally, the musicians entered the stage and took their places and already after the first song they took off all unnecessary pieces of clothing. Thomas Vikström said later that he had never played a concert in such a hot place before. Anyway, two-hour long show is opened by ‘Ginnungagap’ and an amazing journey with all the best hits of this music giant Therion starts.
The concert itself was like a theatrical performance. Musician apeared and disappeared from the stage in different configurations. It’s hard to decide what to focus on because it’s totally multidimensional show. Charismatic Thomas Vikström rules absolutely on the stage just as a proper frontman does. When it comes to female vocals, there’s lovely Chiara Malvestiti as a opera diva and she was absolutely awesome. It’s hard not to notice pink haired and full of energy Linnéa Vikström. She adds a kind of feistiness and rebellious spirit to sublime character of Therion’s concert. However, she can also be mature and majestic singer and she proved it in a beautiful "The Siren of the Woods" singing in a duet with her father. Thomas himself seemed to be pretty happy to perform ‘Black Fairy’for the first time live on tour. So far, as he said, Johnnson has not agreed to include this track in a set list. But now, he said ok. We also had a Chance to listen to, unfortunately not so brilliant, mini opera "Mon Amour, Mon Ami" with a guest performance of Mari Karhunen bringing the element of artificiality with her. But the marvelous "Lemuria" made us all lie down "n the ocean, deep down
under raging waves, wrapped in memories…" After the last sounds of "Sons Of The Staves Of Time" nobody even moved. Despite being treated with the best hits after a long set we all knew it’s not over. The band came back and played "Rise Of Sodom And Gomorrah" and "To Mega Therion" making the concert end up with absolute ecstasy of the crowd.
It was one of those concerts which remind us why we love so much going for concerts and listening the live music and seeing our favourite bands on the stage. It’s just a pure pleasure. It was a very successful event and let us hope there will be more like this in the future.
Therion Setlist:
Ginnungagap
Schwarzalbenheim
Niefelheim
Vanaheim
Melek Taus
The Beauty In Black
Innvocation Of Naamah
Cults Of The Shadow
The Siren Of The Woods
Wine Of Alugar
Morning Star
Black Diamonds
Black Fairy
Mon Amour, Mon Ami
Kings Of Edom
Dreams Of Swedenborg
Lemuria
The Invincible
Sons Of The Staves Of Time
————
Rise Of Sodom And Gomorrah
To Mega Therion
