Lepaca Kliffoth

Lepaca Kliffoth
Studio album by Therion
Released	4 April 1995
Recorded	1994 Music Lab Studio, Berlin
Genre	Death/doom, symphonic metal
Length	48:38
Label	Megarock Records MRRCD 029 Nuclear Blast (reedition) NB 127-2 Digipack: NB 216-2
Producer	Christofer Johnsson
Therion chronology
Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas (1993) Lepaca Kliffoth (1995) Theli (1996)

Lepaca Kliffoth is the fourth full-length studio release by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. The title refers to the Qliphoth. Stylistically, it retains the aggressive riffing and harsh growls of the band's previous death metal output, while also incorporating more elements of traditional heavy metal and more pronounced gothic and symphonic elements, often leading to this album being viewed as a transitional album in Therion's discography.

Reception[]

Deathmetal.org states that Lepaca Kliffoth "should be avoided by the serious listener" because the structural genius of earlier Therion albums is here only available as distracting ornamentation, rendering it "very cheesy radio hard rock".^[1]

Track listing[]

Lyrics and Music by Christofer Johnsson, except where stated:

1. "The Wings of the Hydra" – 3:33
2. "Melez" (Lyrics - Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Karlsson) – 4:07
3. "Arrival of the Darkest Queen" – 0:54
4. "The Beauty in Black" (Lyrics - Thomas Karlsson) – 3:12
5. "Riders of Theli" (Music - Fredrik Isaksson) – 2:51
6. "Black" (Music - Christofer Johnsson, Piotr Wawrzeniuk) – 5:02
7. "Darkness Eve" – 5:19
8. "Sorrows of the Moon" (Lyrics and Music - Martin Eric Ain) (Celtic Frost cover) – 3:26
9. "Let the New Day Begin" (Music - Christofer Johnsson, Piotr Wawrzeniuk) – 3:35
10. "Lepaca Kliffoth" (Lyrics - Thomas Karlsson) – 4:26
11. "Evocation of Vovin" – 4:52

Japanese edition[]

Japanese edition contains also bonus track "The Veil of Golden Spheres".

Digipack re-release[]

Re-release in digipack format contains two bonus tracks: "Enter the Voids" (from Lepaca Kliffoth LP) and "The Veil of Golden Spheres". First release of digipack from November 15, 1996 has a black tray and missing #8 track "Sorrows of the Moon" on the back cover. Second release (ca. 1999) has a clear tray, fixed track listing and additional pictures on the inside cover.

Credits[]

• Christofer Johnsson - guitar, vocals and keyboards
• Piotr Wawrzeniuk - drums
• Fredrik Isaksson - bass guitar
• Harris Johns - engineering, mixing (except "Darkness Eve")

Guest musicians[]

• Hans Groning - bass-baritone vocals ("The Beauty in Black", "Evocation of Vovin")
• Claudia Maria Mokri - soprano vocals ("The Beauty in Black", "Evocation of Vovin", "Black")
• Harris Johns - lead guitar (first part of solo in "The Beauty in Black")
• "Jan" - additional vocals (chorus parts of "Wings of the Hydra", "Sorrows of the Moon")

Single[]

• "The Beauty in Black"

Cover[]

Qliphoth[]

For further reading, see related terms: Qliphoth and Dragon Rouge.

Album's inlay contains eleven pointed star, hendecagram, which is the symbol strictly related with the band. Every triangle and space between include Qliphoth's name (see image on the right). The list contains following names:

• Lilith
• Naamah
• Thaumiel
• Satan
• Moloch
• Ghagiel
• Beelzebub
• Satariel
• Lucifuge
• Gha'agsheblah
• Golachab
• Asmodeus
• Thagirion
• Belfegor
• A'arab Zaraq
• Baal
• Samael
• Adramelek
• Gamariel
• Astaroth

Names mentioned in triangles came from the Dragon Rouge's Draconian initiation.

Credits[]

• Album cover and design made by Holmen & Ungman Productions.
• Original painting by Kristian Wåhlin.
• Tom Eriksen is an album's art director. He is also responsible for cover's computer treatments.

References[]

External links[]

• Lepaca Kliffoth at MusicBrainz
• Lepaca Kliffoth at MusicBrainz (Japanese edition)
• Lepaca Kliffoth at MusicBrainz (digipack re-release)
• Lepaca Kliffoth at Discogs
• Lepaca Kliffoth at Discogs (digipack re-release)
• Information about album at the official website