Thomas Vikstr News Today

THERION founder and creative mastermind Christofer Johnsson has been hacking away at the creative coalface for a remarkable 35 years now. Having long established his band's reputation as symphonic metal's esoteric awkward squad, his decision to spawn a trilogy of related records has a certain concil...

Over the last 30 years, European breeding birds have shifted their range by, on average, 2.4 km (1.5 miles) per year, according to a recent study. This shift, however, didn't align with the expectations based on changing climate and land cover during that period. Researchers anticipated that solely

By David E. Gehlke A Tony Iommi guest spot does not an album make, but it sure helps when getting some long-overdue recognition from the Recording Academy. Legendary Swedish doom metal pioneers CANDLEMASS earned a Grammy nomination for "Astorolus — The Great Octopus", a cut from their 2019 "The Door...

By David E. Gehlke Johan Längquist's 2018 proper enlistment with legendary Swedish doom metallers CANDLEMASS closed the loop on a circuitous journey for both parties. Längquist performed session vocals on CANDLEMASS's landmark 1986 "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" debut but immediately pursued other car...

OUTBURN ONLINE PHOTOGRAPHS BY MINA KARADZIC Inspired by Swiss metal band Celtic Frost’s iconic 1985 album, To Mega Therion, Swedish symphonic metal forerunners Therion has successfully carved out its own niche within the metal world since its 1988 formation. Initially beginning as a straight up death metal band, Therion gradually introduced symphonic, gothic, and operatic elements into its sound by the time they reached its fourth full-length album, Lepaca Kliffoth. Although it would b...

THERION released one the most insanely ambitious albums in metal history. Three hours in length, "Beloved Antichrist" was a heroically indulgent symphonic rock opera, even by the Swedish bands already exacting standards. What it definitely wasnt was remotely accessible, at least to all but the most devout and obsessive of fans. Doubtless many regard it as creative driving-force Christofer Johnssons masterpiece, while plenty more will have abandoned the album before the halfway mark. It was, i...