Live Gothic (2 CDS + DVD) [LIVE]

Therion

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 5, 2008)
• Original Release Date: August 5, 2008
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Live
• Label: Nuclear Blast Americ
• ASIN: B0017LWPAO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #53,410 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Der Mitternachtslöwe

2. Schwarzalbenheim

3. Blood of Kingu

4. Falling Stone

5. Arrow from the Sun

6. Deggial

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah

2. Ginnungagap

3. Grand Finale

4. Lemuria

5. Wand of Abaris

6. Nightside of Eden

See all 8 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Bonus Material [DVD}

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Two CD set includes DVD. With the success of 2007's Gothic Kaballah and 2004's Lemuria/Sirius B, Sweden's Therion brought its enchanting and majestic live show throughout the world with stops in the U.S., many successful European festival gigs and a full European tour, including a concert in Poland which was professionally filmed for the Live Gothic. Nuclear Blast presents Live Gothic (2CD+DVD) which was recorded in Warsaw, Poland on February 14, 2007 and it features the touring band of mainman Christofer Johnsson and Kristian Niemann on guitars, Johann Niemann on bass and Petter Karlsson on drums. Live vocals were handled by Snowy Shaw (King Diamond, Mercyful Fate), Mats Leven, Lori Lewis and Katarina Lilja.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Live Gothic, August 5, 2008

By	AMP "Al" (Somewhere on Earth) - See all my reviews

This set includes two CDs and one DVD, all containing live coverage of Therion's latest tours. Half of these songs are new (from the "Gothic Kabbalah" album; they sing all of the good songs from it) and half are old (from various other albums), but all of them are great.

This collection is particuarly good because, as live tracks, there are many variations in the percussion, guitars, and vocals. I think that some songs (like "Der Mitternachtsloewe") sound better here than on from their original albums, due to better vocals or drums. In any case, even though you may have heard these songs before, the live versions are different enough to enjoy anew. Also has an awesome three-minute drum-solo track towards the end of the first disc.

The discs themselves are of very high quality. The CDs sound smashing, and the DVD looks sharp and clear. The filming of the concert is solid, and the band's performance is great to watch. It also has a bonus feature, "Drum Battle in Holland," which is neat. The set also includes a nice booklet with a few good concert photos.

Overall, it is a great set to have for any Therion fan. It may even be good for those who are unfamiliar with the band, since it is such a good compilation.

If this review has not been helpful, feel free to leave a comment and tell me how I can improve.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost perfect!, August 20, 2008

By	IOANNIS FOTIS "john light" (Athens, GREECE) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I must say that I enjoyed this DVD/2CD live a lot. So let me just say what I did NOT like about it and why I did not give 5 stars:
- First of all, and mostly important, I was expecting a slightly better sound. OK... it is still an amazing production. The vocals (4 singers!!!) sound fabulous and the bass and drums are really POUNDING! But there are many times where the guitars sound rather "weak" and further back in the mix. This lacks the power a metal sound should have. With a little more attention in the guitars, the whole thing would have sounded 10 times better. But maybe this is just my personal opinion.
- SONG TITLES! Come on guys... who designed the back cover of this DVD? Black background with dark grey letters??? Please have mercy... nobody can read a thing there!!!
- The audience was not so warm.
- This is just personal, but I was unpleasantly surprised to see that my favourite Therion song ("Typhon") not included. Pitty!

Other than these, the live is absolutely amazing. Fantastic production and performance by the group. Watching an 8 people band playing their best, and 4 top singers (2 males, 2 females) singing with such art and power... Truly unique!!!
You will enjoy this even if you are not a Therion fan.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excepcional "gothic" live CD & DVD, September 27, 2008

By	M. Vicente Manzanares "Lone Wolf" (Charlottesville, VA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This 2XCD+DVD combo covers the most recent tour of Therion presenting the double CD "Gothic Kabbalah". There are many good things and a few minor things that could be improved, but the overall feeling is extraordinary, and it is highly recommended. Furthermore, even though I am reluctant to recommend a live album as a starting point for the novice, this is an exception to that rule, for it portraits the band at a creative peak, both in singing and performance.

As a Therion aficionado, the first thing I noticed was a production improvement. Both "Live in Midgard" and "Celebrators of becoming" had so-so production values. Midgard sounded a bit sterile and distant, whereas Celebrators was busy and somewhat fuzzy. The production here is crystal clear, highlighting each instrument at the right time. Volume is high, but without clipping, which is refreshing after, for example, Metallica's fiasco.

As for the show itself, it's really really good. Whereas the instrumental body of the band retains the same structure of the last three tours, vocal arrangements have changed and improved. Following the layout of Gothic Kabbalah, two female voices are now present, one lyrical, or "opera-like" (Lori Lewis, not the singer in Kabbalah) and one lighter, more rock-oriented (Katarina Lilja, same as in Kabbalah). The male singers are Snowy Shaw and Mats Leven. The female singers in particular are really interesting, and have great chemistry on the stage. They push each other and, because they have different vocal registries, they do not compete for the spotlight and they make the show interesting and fun to watch, adding to the music values.

The DVD show portraits more of the trademark gothic "props" fans enjoy, such as heavy makeup, renn/medieval/gothic outfits (particularly good-looking in the ladies) and an excellent idea flawed in execution, that is, inclusion of a belly dancer in the show. The idea is excellent, for Therion's harmonics are adaptable to Middle Eastern dances, but the dancer herself is pretty unremarkable. She feels uncomfortable on the stage and her dancing is forgettable at best. It doesn't help either that the female singers are so poised and comfortable, making one feel the dancer is a belly dancer student in a pros' show. As I said, it's a good idea that I hope the band executes it in the future with a more able dancer.

Most of the songs presented here belongs to Gothic Kabbalah, and they greatly benefit from the live treatment, particularly "Perennial", which results in an emotive onstage duet a la Roy Khan-Simone Simons in Kamelot's "Haunted". Some classics of the past, such as "Wine of Aluqah" and "Birth of Venus Illegitima" are also covered.

A minor flaw, the live DVD contains many more songs than the CDs (runs at >120 min), but the songs' names cannot be found except in the menu. A good idea for the future would be to overlay the names of the songs at the beginning of each segment. That greatly helps new fans to locate their favorites.

In summary, an almost perfect release. High quality values, good presentation, enhanced stage presence and live show, and most importantly, improved versions of excellent songs that provide new and interesting twists. A+