"I'm a philosopher of darkness"
For everybody it was quite shocking that Therion had left Peaceville Records. Now you're working with Active Records.
With Peaceville, but actually with Deaf Records, we had a contract for only one record. When we released "Of Darkness", we got the proposal from Johnny to extend the contract for the two next records, but from the beginning we only wanted them to release only our first record. Our goal was to draw attention of much bigger record label which would offer to us much better terms. The offer came from Active Records and we accepted it with pleasure. Besides, one of their branches is in Stockholm so our cooperation would be much easier than in the case of Deaf Records.
Did you receive some other proposals? Why Active?
I wanted to work with a label that has a future that is developing. I didn't want to work with a label releasing only death-metal records because this kind of music won't always be popular. The wave of this popularity will fade away and Therion should be tied to the level standing on hard ground, not on the fashionable style as in the case of German Nuclear Blast. I'm wondering what the chairmen of these labels will say in several years. As I said, Active seems to be the label I always wanted to work with. It releases not only records of great bands, but also bands playing thrash and other genres of metal.
How many records did you sign the contract for?
We are supposed to make four records. Active Records is a rich label what we saw while choosing the studio in which we had to record our new album. They have money to rent such a good studio, and I think that 25k Swedish crowns is not a small amount of money (laughs). The contract says that for the next album we will get 50k crowns.
You recorded "Beyond" in Montezuma Studio having resigned from Sunlight Studio and Thomas Skogsberg. Was it your decision or the chairmen of the label?
It was me who decided to make a record in a studio other than Sunlight. So we did, and I don't regret it!
You changed record labels, and changes in the band also occurred. From the first one, only you stayed. Some details please.
First, changes occurred after releasing "Of Darkness". The guitar player, Magnus, and bass player, Andreas, became new members. Not long ago, my friend from Carbonized, Piotr, had joined us as a drummer. I think it's an optimal squad of Therion, and no more changes will occur.
It's hard to compare your two albums. The first one - "Of Darkness" - is a typical death metal album. But "Beyond Sanctorum" seems to be more thought over, more expanded, more mature if we talk about the structure of composition. It is a great metamorphosis.
We're just seeking new ways for Therion. I listen to many genres of music, so it might be seen in my songs. I don't want Therion to sound like a typical Swedish band. This Swedish buzzing is pissing me off! Indeed, our new material is more expanded. We used many additional instruments, new harmonies, and another way of composing. I also think that my interest in classical music from the 17th and 18th centuries has a great influence on the things I do. I'm fascinated by the Swedish composer Carl On (mistake made by Chris or the author of this interview; propably Chris meant the German composer Carl Orff - Thor) and old Celtic Frost from the times of "Into the Pentagram"! (Another mistake, Celtic Frost released "Into the Pandemonium" - Thor).
Do you believe that this new "image" of the band will bring new fans to you?
Our metamorphosis is a great risk and there are only two possibilities: Therion will achieve success or we will become very average and an almost unknown band. One can't always fucking play the instruments in the same rhythm all of the time. Sometimes one has to think about something different. We took a risk and we hope that we will be successful.
I think it's time to present our readers with new material that appeared on "Beyond Sanctorum".
The album is being sold, as far as I know, in Poland in the form of a licensed cassette. The music is a little bit similar to the style of our previous record. However, its structure is much more expanded and heavier. In the studio we achieved more powerful sound thanks to keyboard instruments, synthesizers, and singers doing some vocal parts. We also used some classical harmonious scales. "Beyond" contains ten songs and should satisfy the appetites of our fans. The record was recorded by our old members: Peter (guitar, keyboards), Oscar (drums), and me as a vocalist and guitar player. The bass parts I recorded with Peter.
And who wrote the lyrics?
I'm their author. Well, lyrics I write are some kind of occult considerations based on occult philosophy.
Could you describe one of the songs?
Let's take, for example, "Pandemonic Outbreak". It's about my hate towards obeying, professing faith, worshipping anything. It concerns mostly Christianity.
Aren't you afraid that you may be accused of Satanism? The press in today's times is fond of things like that.
Our lyrics are very philosophical and nobody from the band is a Satanist or worshipper of Satan. Only I am interested in such things. That's my private outlook. I look at that from another point of view, a more intellectual one. For example, Deicide sings more radically. I'm a philosopher of darkness, not a Satanist! However, I think that Satanism and belief in the Devil are two different things. I'm not a Satanist or a person believing in the Devil.
How would you describe the present style of Therion?
Symphonic death metal? Creative death metal? Maybe a new breath of death metal?
I know that you're very critical about other Swedish bands.
Yes! I don't like 90% of Swedish bands. Mostly they are boring and they copy ideas from each other. They all play in the same way presenting a very popular, but "harming" Swedish sound! Undoubtedly, Therion belongs to a group that sound and play in a different way.
Listening to the new record, we won't hear too many vocal parts. Are you afraid of singing?
No! I just think that guitar riffs are so good that there was no point in adding vocals. Sometimes I lengthen phrases so much, that they seem to be boring. I really like some of the long fragments of our songs. That's why there are so many instrumental parts. I make symphonic music entwined with modern death metal sounds. When it's done, then I "build" vocals.
Mentioning that, do you have "Cthulhu" in your mind?
Indeed... You have a good taste! (Laughs)
Do you know any Polish bands? Excuse me, but it's just a standard question checking the knowledge of musicians about the Polish scene.
I think that Vader is the best Polish band. There are a lot of rumours about them! I also know Pandemonium, Slashing Death...
How do you think the direction of death metal will go? What are your thoughts about this topic?
It should be similar as in the case of thrash. Only the strong and the best bands will remain. Bands that copy, for example Entombed, will fade away.
Thanks for the interview. See you during your performances.
Thrash'em All, March 1992, The interview was made by Mariusz Kmiołek
Thanks goes to Michał "Eryk" Golczyk who sent me the scans
Thanks goes to Diane who made this English version "readable" 
