Therion – Athens 10/02/24 Live Report

There was no intention of jumping on Live Reports, at least not so early in Metal Domain’s lifecycle, but after returning from my third ever Therion concert there are some (good) things that should see the light of day. The occasion for this tour was the release of Leviathan III even if it was only mildly represented. To give some perspective, I try to go to as many concerts as possible and can safely say that Metal has numerous professional musicians that shed their blood, sweat and tears to provide us with a night to remember. With that in mind I want to stand on four points before wrapping this up. 

Band Performance: There was no doubt that the maestro himself Christofer Johnsson or the veteran Christian Vidal would be great on guitars. Chris David was not left on bass duties only but also supported with backing vocals and along with Sami Karppinen on drums they provided a very solid rhythm section. But in a Therion concert, it all comes down to the vocalists and I am happy to say that this lineup is one of their best. Thomas Vikström needs no introduction as he carries the band’s male vocal parts on his back for many years now. A positive surprise is that the fan favorite Lori Lewis returned to her live duties after a long break and her voice is as good as you remember. Finally, it was my first time seeing Rosalia Sairem with the rest of the team and it was clear from the start that she is a perfect fit. The three of them delivered every song in the best way possible and Therion was like a perfectly oiled machine for the whole duration.

Sound Quality: One of the reasons that triggered this report, because from start to finish what came out of the speakers was crystal clear. With 2 guitars, 3 vocalists and some backing ones, you have to accept the possibility that something may not be heard as it should, but this was not the case here. At least from where I was standing you could hear everything clearly with no room for complaints. Before we blame this on the venue, I have attended many other concerts there (Fuzz Club) with not that optimal results. Of course the sound is the outcome of multiple factors, but we can agree that the group also has ample responsibility, so we have to give that point to Therion. 

Duration: Don’t know of your experiences, but the majority (if not all) club shows I have attended, usually clock in at one hour and a half. Therion made sure to make the price of admission more than worth it with a duration of two hours and five minutes. Not much to say here other than the band showing the utmost respect to their fans. It’s not that the usual duration would mean the opposite, but still it is something that must be praised. 

Setlist: Time for something more subjective. Therion has a core of some songs that accompany them in their shows, like Blood of Kingu, Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah and of course To Mega Therion. Apart from that, they usually rotate the rest so every tour experience will most probably vary from the previous one. This unpredictability may be taken as a good thing for some while others will want to always listen to their favorite compositions again and again. This time the setlist leaned more on the softer side with no lack of intense moments however. Almost every album was represented by Theli and afterwards (even Les fleurs du mal) excluding the opera Beloved Antichrist and, weirdly, the gem Deggial. Will not focus on positive/negative as each one has their own preferences and expectations regarding the setlist and never will everyone be 100% happy, especially with such a rich discography to choose from. 

Conclusion: When a band checks the boxes of performance, sound and duration, they set the foundations for a very good show. The rest falls to how much everyone enjoys that band in general. Christopher Johnsson showed utter professionalism placing Therion on the pedestal of the greatest Metal touring bands and we have no other option than honoring them with our presence every time they honor us with theirs. With the band announcing that they will limit their tour activities in the future, it is best to experience good things when they happen so don’t miss the chance. 

Pavlos Pavlakis

On behalf of Metal Domain