Therion: Les Fleurs du Mal

I speak French fluently, when there's a movie on television I take the subtitles off and tell everyone what the actors are saying. Well actually that's not exactly true my French is dismal, a trained monkey could speak it better, my french language skills are so very limited or should I say virtually non existent with the exemption of saying "hello" and the numbers 1 to 4. Though I do know some other French words but I can't say what they mean so I suppose they can't be counted.

So why am I babbling on about the French languauge? Well one of the best bands on this planet we call Earth have a new album, that band is Therion and their last release Sitra Ahra was one I was very fond of but it got some mixed feedback. Well this time they have thrown another curveball and that ball has gone over the fence out of the park then bounced down the street and into the lake. Yes at first I was scratching my heading thinking "what the?" But then I thought, hey this is Therion and they haven't let me down yet.

Les Fleurs du Mal is Therion does France (Well kind of anyway), a Therion album with French, yes French vocals and while it may take a while to click it is far from the train wreck many might be expecting, this train is a smoking rock solid machine with no signs of going off the rails.

Mastermind Christofer Johnsson's latest creation has been released an a different label as it's not your usual Therion, the title is a reference to French author and poet Charles Baudelaire's controversial collection of poems titled "Flowers of Evil", and six of these poems were banned for many years due to their subject matter. Les Fleurs du Mal is a cover album of Christofer's favorite French songs and all of which have been given the Therion treatment.

The French lyrics which are all sung very well by both female and male vocalists and quite passionately I should add do combine well with the music of Therion. With the exception of the non English vocals "Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son" retains much of that vibrant metal feel that Therion have previously presented us with .While "Une Fleur Dans Le Cœur" also has some of those familiar Therion traits which you hear throughout this album, next track "Initials B.B." really sounds great the orchestral/vocal mix comes together so well. Les Fleurs du Mal is an odd release though that quite a number of Therion fans may find hard to take in, I can't honestly say that I totally enjoy all the songs as I find myself losing interest at a couple of points but then more often then not I was promptly drawn back in by a change in the music.

As Therion celcbrate their 25th Anniversary and a substantial collection of many fine albums along the way, and while I do look forward to the next Therion release of original material, Les Fleurs du Mal provides us with something different that's for sure. Les Fleurs du Mal is not the best Therion album I have heard but this is one cool release nontheless.

Track Listing
01. Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son
02. Une Fleur Dans Le Cœur
03. Initials B.B.
04. Mon Amour, Mon Ami
05. Polichinelle
06. La Maritza
07. Sœur Angelique
08. Dis-moi Poupée
09. Lilith
10. En Alabama
11. Wahala Manitou
12. Je N'ai Besoin Que De Tendresse
13. La Licorne D'or
14. J'ai Le Mal De Toi
15. Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son
16. Les Sucettes [bonus]

Added: December 8th 2012
Reviewer: Scott Jessup
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
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Language: english

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