Track Listing

1. Ginnungagap
2. Midgard
3. Asgard
4. Jotunheim
5. Schwarzalbenheim
6. Uusalfheim
7. Muspelheim
8. Nifelheim
9. Vanaheim
10. Helheim
11. Secret Of The Runes

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62813 in Music
• Released on: 2001-10-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

Customer Reviews

Therion at their most sinister!
Having been a Therion fan for years, I admit to being quite taken aback by just how dark and sinister the overall sound of this album is. I had been expecting a continuation of the brilliantly histrionic melodrama heard on previous efforts "Vovin", and "Deggial". Instead, the atmospheres are laid bare; the arrangements stark, simple and beautiful.

Opening track "Ginnungagap" sets the tone with a heavy drone of a guitar riff, soon backed by choral chanting and chilling woodwind. If you close your eyes you can really imagine a thousand Norse warriors going forth on a mission of conquest.
Following this is the sheer, unadulterated genius of "Midgard", the pounding drama of "Jotunheim", and the genuinely terrifying "Helheim".

In years to come this may come to be viewed as Therion's finest hour. Indeed, everything that makes a classic album is in place here: superb musicianship, tangible passion, and memorable songs.

One not to be missed.

Therion just get better and better!
Secret of the Runes is just another step towards musical perfection. I don't know just how far that can be away for Swedish metal masters Therion because as well as their last couple of albums this one is about as near to an absolute musical work of art as it ispossible to get. Picture the effect of ancient Nordic tales beautifully brought to life in true orchestral splendour - stirring acoustic strings, woodwind, soaring operatic vocals and all underpinned with solid heavy metal rythms. This is musicianship in a category of its own. There has never been a sound like it. I challenge anyone who appreciates intelligent heavy metal and similar quality music to have just one listen!

Thunderous Orchestral Metal
Therion's latest double album SiriusB/Lemuria is a lushly orchestrated beauty of an album. This is their previous studio album and is much darker and starker in tone, with hints of eastern shading infusing the orchestrations. Though much is made of the romantic, Wagnerian feel of the classical elements in Therion's music, here I am instantly reminded of Philip Glass's operatic work, especially "Akhnaten".

Therion's strengths are how they seamlessly integrate the orchestral and choral elements together with the rock guitars and drums so that nothing sounds out of place. There is a naturalness to this music which in less able hands would sound hackneyed and cheesy. Here it sounds monumental and powerful. In fact this sounds like the ultimate in heavy metal music, how it really should sound. Huge choral vocals, bombastic guitars, thundering drums and all driven with layers of strings, brass and woodwinds. This is dense and huge music and Therion are masters at what they do and there is very little else that I have come across that sounds like it. This is a fantastic album from a band that really should be considered much more than their black metal roots belie.