Release Date: March 16, 2018

When 15 year old prodigy ChristoferJohnsson founded THERION as a death metal band in 1987, little did he know that exactly 30 years later he would put the final touches to a project that will go down in history as symphonic metal’s most ambitious release. While ‘rock operas’ are no longer an unusual concept, this term will now receive a new meaning when the curtain opens for Johnsson’s lifelong creation: ‘Beloved Antichrist’ is the title of his spectacular brainchild, consisting of 3 full-length CDs. It is more than just a concept album; it’s a complete rock opera unveiling a sweeping story inspired by VladímirSoloviov "A Short Tale Of The Antichrist".

“At the beginning it was 50% based onSoloviov’s work, but as the songwriting proceeded we changed the story more and more”, mastermind ChristoferJohnsson explains. “I would now say it’s rather inspired and partly based on it.”With an incredible total of 30 different roles and characters, who all required a unique voice, THERION hired not only a big choir, but also multiple male and female soloists to bring the epic story to life. With long-time collaborators like Thomas Vikström, Lori Lewis and Chiara Malvestiti, fans will hear the band’s classical vibe but also be able to drown in a magical maelstrom of many new voices.

Divided into 3 acts, the opera reaches a full length of three and a half hours and is not divided into typical ‘songs’, but chapters and scenes, where different storylines take place in various environments. Those following THERION’s history during the past few years will be aware that Christofer’s vision of creating a rock opera has long time been haunting his mind and can now be considered a true lifetime achievement.

But the release of the 3-disc-oeuvre is only the beginning of the era of the Antichrist. While THERION will start their almost 3 month long tour in February, they have way bigger live plans which consist of bringing the entire project to the stage as soon as they have found a way to finance the larger-than-life-performance designed to be presented in selected opera houses. Therefore »Beloved Antichrist« should not be considered a regular album, but seen as a performance that will also be available as an audio recording. Bringing massive technical innovation as well as never seen before ideas that will soon be revealed, THERION aim for a revolutionary stage performance bringing together old and young opera connoisseurs.

CD Track Listing:CD1:1. Turn From Heaven/2. Where Will You Go?/3. Through Dust, Through Rain/4. Signs Are Here/

5. Never Again/6. Bring Her Home/7. The Solid Black Beyond/8. The Crowning Of Splendour/9. Morning Has Broken/

10. Garden Of Peace/11. Our Destiny/12. Anthem/13. The Palace Ball/14. Jewels From Afar/15. Hail Caesar!/16. What Is Wrong?/17. Nothing But My Name

CD2:1. The Arrival Of Apollonius/2. Show Me Who You Are/3. Night Reborn/4. Dagger Of God/5. Temple Of New Jerusalem/6. The Lions Roar/7. Bringing The Gospel/8. Laudate Dominum/9. Remaining Silent/10. Behold Antichrist/

11.Cursed By The Fallen/12. Resurrection/13. To Where I Weep/14. Astral Sophia/15. Thy Will Be Done!

CD3:1. Shoot Them Down!/2. Beneath The Starry Skies/3. Forgive Me/4. The Wasteland Of My Heart/5.Burning The Palace/6. Prelude To War/7. Day Of Wrath/8. Rise To War/9. Time Has Come/Final Battle/10. My Voyage Carries On

11. Striking Darkness/12.Seeds Of Time/13.To Shine Forever/14.Theme Of Antichrist