Swedish act Therion originated in the late 80s, initially out of the band Blitzkrieg, & eventually as a shortened version of the Celtic Frost-inspired Megatherion. Following a couple of demos in 1989 as the style evolved out of an effective & raw mix of thrash/death, it was Therion's next demo, 'Time Shall Tell' which gained the attention of Deaf/Peaceville Records; the fruits of which surfaced as the debut studio album, 'Of Darkness...'.
'Of Darkness...' was released in 1991 and featured the songs which mainman Christofer Johnsson had composed in the 1980s. The album could be defined as an early example of progressive death metal, though also included influences from other genres, further distinguishing them from other traditional death metal acts of the time, who were often focused solely on brutality. The lyrics were also more politically & socially themed, relating more heavily towards the downfall of the planet & mankind.
The album was recorded at the infamous Sunlight Studio in Stockholm (Entombed, Katatonia, Amorphis), with producer Tomas Skogsberg. Therion later went on to great success in the symphonic metal field, becoming one of the leading and enduring names of the genre.
