231 - Therion A Black Rose 1993

The Swedish band Therion chose not to follow Entombed down the Left Hand Path, opting instead to bringing innovative and challenging elements, shrouding their compositions in mystical darkness similar to fellow Swedes Tiamat. And while Therion's first two efforts, "Of Darkness..." and "Beyond Sanctorum", were more or less unique takes on traditional Swedish Death, "Symphony Masses - Ho Drakon Ho Megas" is the album where the band became something much more. Delving deeper into themes of occult mysticism and mythology, there is a thick, ceremonial darkness that hovers above and lies underneath songs such as "A Black Rose", which runs along at a groovy, death rock pace with distorted vocals.