Vinrock666 | Gothic Kabbalah - Therion (pt.2)
The second disc of Therion's 2007 release "Gothic Kabbalah" features even less of an overall musical direction than the first disc, save for perhaps "Adulruna Rediviva", "The Wand of Abaris" and "The Chain of Minerva".
The latter two songs are very concise in conposition (with a successful blending of many elements of symphonic sound).
Unfortunately, the level of metal is very low, and as in the case of most of the other tracks, almost non-existent. As mentioned in the review of the first part, the hard and heavy parts here seem to lose its place and relevance when put up against the various plush parts… because of the overwhelming number of contributing artists stirring this musical concoction.
It's actually quite amazing how, with so much going on, the end result is rather flat. The vocal patterns show this point best. All of the male vocals are weak, unimpressive, and annoying. As beautiful as the female voices are, they appear mostly for their own sake - not for the song.
The afformentioned songs are the exception, of course, especially in the case of "Adulruna Rediviva" (if not the masterpiece of Gothic Kabbalah then, at least, the best song on disc two).
In fact, "Adulruna" features it all - every voice, every musician, every instrument, and every sound. It also features an insane amount of movements throughout its eleven-plus minute time frame. Alone, it highlights what's great about Therion. Placed with the rest of the second disc, it also validates the phrase "too much".
It's for this reason that, although quite good in scope and magnitude, "Gothic Kabbalah" thus encompasses "too much" of everything for the album to be considered great ! 2008-07-28 00:00:00
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