Where black metal represents the devil's dance, we can say that heaven's world (the place where humans will finally be in peace .... ) has never been recorded by a metal band. The new gothic metal opera from Therion is simply an invitation to heaven.

Christofer Johnsson (rhythm, keyboard and percussion) has again written an "alien opera". Masterpiece is the only word coming to my mind. I am so proud to listen to metal as Therion delivers a lesson of song writing that only deaf guys from MTV cannot recognize. After the already unbelievable Deggial, Christofer Johnsson comes back with The Secret Of The Runes. With "heavenly choirs" (using male and female vocals) and using classical instruments (the orchestra is enormous), Therion opens the gate of heaven in such a way you can almost feel the angels coming from the sky.

The Secret Of The Runes may seems a bit repetitive after the first spin ... and also a bit depressive, but gothic has never been so powerful , so beautiful, so bewitched. Somehow the new Therion's is a paradox : starting as a death metal band .... Therion has written the new Christianity music. We are not afraid anymore to die ... because the old Nordic tradition coming from the imagination of Christofer Johnsson opens the door to a wonderful world. Therion was enormous at Wacken this year and with The Secret Of The Runes, Therion becomes a legend ... a living metal legend.

Last but not least, I still can't explain why my soul becomes so quiet & happy when I listen to The Secret Of The Runes ...