CoC : Therion - A' Arab Zaraq Lucid Dreaming : Review

Therion - _A' Arab Zaraq Lucid Dreaming_
(Nuclear Blast, 1997)
by: Adam Wasylyk (7 out of 10)

Last year, Therion created what would turn out to be one of my favorite records of 1996: _Theli_. An amazing record, its symphonic beauty and metal aggression melded beautifully and left quite an impression on me. Just recently released, _A' Arab Zaraq Lucid Dreaming_ celebrates Therion's 10th year in existence (quite a feat in itself) with a mish-mash of musical material, from cover tunes to unreleased material to a soundtrack that Christofer (Johnsson, guitars/vocals) did for a Swedish movie. Therion pays tribute (with mixed results) to the Scorpions ("Fly to the Rainbow"), Iron Maiden ("Children of the Damned"), Running Wild ("Under Jolly Roger") and Judas Priest ("Here Come the Tears") while re-recording an older track and putting out some previously unreleased material. Closing out the album are seven tracks that Christofer recorded for the Swedish movie, with Therion as a band playing four covers of those seven tracks (by just adding drums, guitar, and bass). This release also marks (celebrity?) appearances by Dan Swano (Edge of Sanity), Tobbe Sidegard (Necrophobic), and Pete Tagtgren (of Hypocrisy, and whom also produced the record). To sum it up: the band covers were hit and miss, the Therion soundtrack covers were amazing while the actual soundtrack music was pretty good as well. Overall, a fitting tribute to a band worthy of one.

(article published 12/8/1997)

CHATS
7/1/2007	J Smit	Therion: In the Nightside of Eden
31/12/2004	J Smit	Therion: The Dragon Breaks Down the Temple Wall
5/3/2000	A Bromley	Therion: Soothing Opera... to Kill by
1/9/1998	A Bromley	Therion: Eloquent Emotions
12/8/1997	A Wasylyk	Therion: Melancholic Musical Masters

ALBUMS
7/1/2007	J Smit	7.5	Therion - Gothic Kabbalah
31/5/2004	J Smit	10	Therion - Lemuria / Sirius B
14/1/2002	B Meloon	7	Therion - Secret of the Runes
5/3/2000	P Azevedo	8	Therion - Deggial
15/6/1999	A Wasylyk	7	Therion - Crowning of Atlantis
7/6/1998	P Azevedo	10	Therion - Vovin
11/10/1996	A Bromley	10	Therion - Theli
2/9/1995	G Filicetti	10	Therion - Lepaca Kliffoth