Name: Beyond Sanctorum
Brand: Therion

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

HHR202114

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Discs

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2022-04-08

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

The Orchard

Tax rate GB

UPC / Barcode

8715392821424

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1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Therion

Genre GB

Metal

Label GB

Hammerheart Records

One of Swedish Death Metal most sought after albums, and rightfully so! Therion’s relatively unknown beginnings as a “standard” Death Metal band seem to be misunderstood by many Metal listeners. Although the general consensus seems to be that <i>Beyond Sanctorum </i>is just “straight up Death Metal” while their later releases are neoclassical style, upon closer inspection, the opposite seems to be true. 

Although <i>Beyond Sanctorum</i> uses mainly instruments and performance aspects of standard Death Metal, the songs are already composed in a style more similar to actual classical music. “Future Consciousness” starts the album off with a churning Morbid Angel style intro alternating with dark tremolo melodies and some heavy groove. Other bright spots include “Cthulhu”, featuring deep, cavernous doom sections evoking the famous sunken city, alternating with frantic fast passages. “Enter the Depths of Eternal Darkness” goes from a sludgy opening section to fiery death metal, with some eerie lead guitar moments and is also quite satisfying. “Symphony of the Dead” has an early The Gathering feel, that bursts into Death Metal later on.

The highlight of this album is definitely “The Way”. This is where the bands developing symphonic style is most obvious, so “Theli” fans should definitely hear this song first. We cannot recommend it enough - “The Way” is not only the best song on the album, but one of the best examples of adventurous, progressive (yet uncompromising) Death Metal one is ever likely to hear. This album released around the time when Death Metal was abandoning its primitive roots and going off into more complex territory. For anyone willing to take the time to really listen to music beneath surface level aesthetics, this is actually a surprisingly complex and rewarding listen. This album is light years ahead of their debut.

Beyond Sanctorum

Music GB