by Arta Gailuma
— Photojournalist —
February 14, 2018 at O2 Institute in Birmingham, U.K. —
Midnight Eternal, a Symphonic Metal band from the USA, was a very solid start to the evening. Some impressive vocals from the lead singer Raine Hilai as well as great guitar solos from Richard Fisher.
I had heard few bits from German metallers Null Positiv latest album Koma before, have to say, was not very impressed with the production. Though to my surprise, their live set was brilliant. Great change of vocal styles – brutal growls contrasting with clean singing- masterfully performed by Elli Berlin. A band with plenty of on-stage character.
Next on stage was the Russian Power Metal band Imperial Age which has a strong connection with this evenings headliners. Some of Therion’s members were featured on their latest album The Legacy Of Atlantis, released in 2017.
Therion started out in 1988 as a Death Metal band and little they knew at the time that the idea of adding orchestral elements to their sound would make them pioneers of a whole new Metal subgenre. Today we cannot talk about Symphonic Metal origins without mentioning this band.
Unique as this band is- definitely not everyone’s cup of tea though. It might have taken them 31 years to come to the home of Metal, but Birmingham did not particularly welcome Therion open handly, from all the times photographing in O2 Institute, it was the first where the crowd, which was not large anyway, did not get any bigger for the main act. Nevertheless, at least the ones who were there, were enjoying themselves.
The set consisted tonight of older pieces throughout Therion’s existence as well as songs from its latest masterpiece, Chrisofer Johnsson’s lifelong creation the Metal opera Beloved Antichrist, which is more than three and a half hour long three CD spread inspired by Vladimir Soloviov’s ‘A Short Tale Of The Antichrist.’
The bands signature tune ‘To Mega Therion’ brought a triumphant ending to the show. Thomas, the lead vocalist, dedicated the piece to Judas Priest guitarist Glen Tipton, whose recent decision to stop touring due to his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Listening to that last piece I was just trying to imagine how spectacular would look Johnsson’s vision of having a full theatrical set with orchestra and chorus brought to live.
Therion with Null Positiv, Imperial Age, Midnight Eternal Concert Photo Gallery
Therion Set List:
Theme Of Antichrist
The Blood Of Kingu
Din
Bring Her Home
Night Reborn
Niefelheim
Ginnungagap
Typhon
Temple Of New Jerusalem
An Arrow Of The Sun
Wine Of Aluqah
Lemuria
Cults Of The Shadow
The Khlysti Evangelist
My Voyage Carries On
The Invincible
Der Mitternachtslöwe
Son Of The Staves Of Time
The Rise Of Sodom And Gomorrah
To Mega Therion
Websites:
www.megatherion.com
www.facebook.com/therion/
www.facebook.com/imperialageofficial/
www.nullpositiv.com
www.midnighteternal.com
