Therion - Sirius B (2004)
Tracklist front / back album covers
"The Blood of Kingu" – 5:45
"Son of the Sun" – 5:35
"The Khlysti Evangelist" – 5:38
"Dark Venus Persephone" – 4:02
"Kali Yuga, Part 1" – 3:27
"Kali Yuga, Part 2" – 5:48
"The Wondrous World of Punt" – 7:19
"Melek Taus" – 5:31
"Call of Dagon" – 4:14
"Sirius B" – 3:43
"Voyage of Gurdjieff (The Fourth Way)" – 5:56
Development
In an interview with Global Domination, Johnsson said that the album title is a reference to the twin star to the ordinary Sirius A
The album makes references to ancient culture and mythology:
Kingu was a monster in Sumerian mythology. According to Enûma Elish, all human beings were created from his blood after he was killed by Marduk
Son of the Sun was the title of Pharaoh Akhenaten, who preferred to worship Aton, god of the Sun, over all other gods. His reign was unsuccessful, and people believed that other gods had cursed him
Khlysti was a controversial Christian sect in Russia. Grigory Rasputin, the major character of the song, is believed to have been a member
Persephone is the wife of Hades, the god of the dead in Greek mythology
Kali Yuga in Hinduism is a dark age of suffering, the final era before the end of the world.
Land of Punt was a mysterious lost kingdom in ancient east Africa.
Melek Taus is the supreme deity of yazidi, his common shape is a peacock's
Dagon is an ancient Semitic god of the sea. He appears in many H. P. Lovecraft books of Cthulhu mythos
Georgy Gurdzhiev was an Armenian mystic philosopher and traveller, an expert in yazidi culture
Therion Band Members / Musicians
Christofer Johnsson - rhythm guitar, mandolin ("The Wondrous World of Punt"), classical and choir arrangements
Kristian Niemann - rhythm and lead guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin ("The Wondrous World of Punt")
Johan Niemann - bass guitar, mandolin ("The Wondrous World of Punt")
Richard Evensand - drums, gong ("Kali Yuga part 2")
Steen Rasmussen - Hammond organ
Lars Sømod Jensen - church organ
Mats Levén - lead vocals ("The Blood of Kingu", "The Khlysti Evangelist", "Kali Yuga part 2")
Piotr Wawrzeniuk - lead vocals ("Dark Venus Persephone", "Kali Yuga part 1", "Melek Taus")
Orchestra: City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Adam Klemens and Mario Klemens)
Choir: Kūhn Mixed Choir (conducted by Mario Klemens)
Anna-Maria Krawe - lead and backing vocals
Sirius B is the 12th full-length musical album by the symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the star Sirius B. It was released simultaneously with Lemuria. The cover artwork was by Thomas Ewerhard.
