What makes Of Darkness... by Therion notable?

This album is significant for marking Therion's entry into the metal world, showcasing their unique mix of symphonic elements with traditional heavy metal. It paved the way for the band's later success and influenced the development of symphonic metal as a distinct genre. Of Darkness... is Therion's debut album, released in 1991 when the band was still establishing its identity within the burgeoning Swedish metal scene. At this point, they were transitioning from a death metal sound to incorporating more classical influences that would define their later work.

Who is Of Darkness... for?

Of Darkness... works well if you're into steady mid-tempo haunting atmosphere, brooding soundscapes for deep focus and dark themes for introspective moments.

How many songs are on Of Darkness...?

Of Darkness... has 8 tracks, running approximately 39 minutes.

Of Darkness...

Therion · 1991

39 min · 8 tracks · symphonic metal

A heavy blend of aggressive riffs and symphonic elements, creating an atmosphere of dark grandeur and relentless intensity.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Return — Opening the album with powerful guitar riffs and orchestral arrangements, this track sets the tone for Therion's ambitious blend of styles.
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Asphyxiate With Fear — This track combines ferocious vocals with relentless instrumentation, illustrating the band's early embrace of darker themes and complex arrangements.
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A Suburb to Hell — With its haunting melodies juxtaposed against aggressive rhythms, this song exemplifies Therion's ability to fuse beauty and brutality effectively.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

38 /100

Lowland

Higher than 0% of albums we've rated

The album showcases an early blend of symphonic and heavy metal elements but lacks refinement in execution.

What we noticed

The album opens with a fast-paced track that features aggressive guitar riffs layered with orchestral strings, setting a dramatic tone.
Several tracks incorporate choral elements, blending operatic vocals with heavy instrumentation to enhance the symphonic metal sound.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 5/10
Durability 25% of the score: 4/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo haunting atmosphere
brooding soundscapes for deep focus
dark themes for introspective moments
consistent flow throughout listening experience

Maybe skip if you

seeking upbeat or fast-paced tracks
prefer short and varied songs

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Debut album that marked Therion's entry into the metal scene with a unique sound.
Career context: Of Darkness... is Therion's debut album, released in 1991 when the band was still establishing its identity within the burgeoning Swedish metal scene. At this point, they were transitioning from a death metal sound to incorporating more classical influences that would define their later work.
Stylistic neighbors: Nightwish· Epica· Within Temptation