If you wish to see a rather LONG version of Therion biography, please follow this link.

Short version: The band started in 1987 under the name Blitzkrieg, changed name to Therion in 1988 and released some demos and a MLP in 89 before the debut "Of Darkness" was released in 1991.

Being known as a creative death metal band, Therion developed over the years (starting with "Beyond Sanctorum" in 1992) to become an avant garde act appreciated by a strong undergound audience. Their third and fourth albums were extremely experimental and there was a change of members in between all albums. The founder of the band, Christofer Johnsson remained the only original member and wrote the majority of the song material.

In 1996 their fifth album "Theli" was released and this is usually considered to be the breakthough album of the band. The style on Theli had changed into a symphonic opera metal with all kinds of influences, including 70´s progressive rock, 80´s heavy metal, oriental music and plenty more.

Member problems continued and the follow up "Vovin" (Therion´s best selling record with over 125.00 copies sold in Europe) was recorded as Christofer´s solo album, but still under the name Therion. This was the first record to include real orchestra and with the records "Deggial" and "Secret of the runes" the band has created a total hybrid between catchy metal music and opera/classic music. Since Deggial the lineup has been stable except for drummers.

In 2002 the band celebrated their 15 year anniversary by releasing the double live CD "Live in Midgard".

On the upcoming twin albums "Sirius B" and "Lemuria" the band has taken this concept even futher and 171 musicians and singers in total were involved in creating these ultimate progressions of symphonic music.

The band is considered to be main responsible for the big trend of symphonic bands popping up in the 90´s where female singers and keyboards have become rule rather than exception and where those bands who can afford it now feel a need to use orchestra on their records.