Lepaca Kliffoth

Lepaca Kliffoth is the fourth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. The title refers to the Qliphoth. Stylistically, it retains the aggressive riffing and sheds the harsh growls of the band's previous death metal output, while also incorporating more elements of traditional heavy metal and more pronounced gothic and symphonic elements, often leading to this album being viewed as a transitional album in Therion's discography.

Lepaca Kliffoth
Studio album by
Therion
Released4 April 1995
Recorded1994
Music Lab Studio, Berlin
GenreDeath/doom, symphonic metal
Length48:38
LabelMegarock Records
MRRCD 029
Nuclear Blast (reedition)
NB 127-2
Digipack: NB 216-2
ProducerChristofer Johnsson
Therion chronology
Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas
(1993)		 Lepaca Kliffoth
(1995)		 Theli
(1996)

Reception

For Metal Storm, the album "stands between the band's more Death roots and later symphonic grandiosity" and "turns out to be a fine piece of work, the great songwriting, mixed with Arabic-influenced keyboards is remarkable, and those mysterious lyrics just add more charm".[1]

Deathmetal.org states that Lepaca Kliffoth "should be avoided by the serious listener" because the structural genius of earlier Therion albums is here only available as distracting ornamentation, rendering it "very cheesy radio hard rock".[2]

Track listing

Lyrics and Music by Christofer Johnsson, except where stated.

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."The Wings of the Hydra"  3:33
2."Melez"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Karlsson 4:07
3."Arrival of the Darkest Queen"  0:54
4."The Beauty in Black"Thomas Karlsson 3:12
5."Riders of Theli" Fredrik Isaksson2:51
6."Black" Christofer Johnsson, Piotr Wawrzeniuk5:02
7."Darkness Eve"  5:19
8."Sorrows of the Moon" (Celtic Frost cover) Martin Eric Ain3:26
9."Let the New Day Begin" Christofer Johnsson, Piotr Wawrzeniuk3:35
10."Lepaca Kliffoth"Thomas Karlsson 4:26
11."Evocation of Vovin"  4:52
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLength
12."The Veil of Golden Spheres"2:59
Digipack re-release
No.TitleLength
12."Enter the Voids"4:54
13."The Veil of Golden Spheres"2:59
  • "Enter the Voids" was previously released before only on the original LP version of "Lepaca Kliffoth"
  • The first release of digipack from November 15, 1996, has a black tray and missing #8 track "Sorrows of the Moon" on the back cover. The second release (ca. 1999) has a clear tray, fixed track listing, and additional pictures on the inside cover.

Credits

Guest musicians
  • Hans Groning - bass-baritone vocals ("The Beauty in Black", "Evocation of Vovin")
  • Claudia Maria Mokri - soprano vocals ("The Beauty in Black", "Evocation of Vovin", "Black")
  • Harris Johns - lead guitar (first part of solo in "The Beauty in Black")
  • "Jan" - additional vocals (chorus parts of "Wings of the Hydra", "Sorrows of the Moon")

Single

Cover

Qliphoth
Further information: Qliphoth and Dragon Rouge
Lepaca Kliffoth inlay

Album's inlay contains eleven pointed star, hendecagram, which is the symbol strictly related with the band. Every triangle and space between include Qliphoth's name (see image on the right). The list contains following names:

Names mentioned in triangles came from the Dragon Rouge's Draconian initiation.

Credits
  • Album cover and design made by Holmen & Ungman Productions.
  • Original painting by Kristian Wåhlin.
  • Tom Eriksen is an album's art director. He is also responsible for cover's computer treatments.

References
  1. "Therion - Lepaca Kliffoth". www.metalstorm.net. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
  2. "Therion - Lepaca Kliffoth (Death Metal)". www.deathmetal.org. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
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