Therion (formerly
Blitzkrieg,
Megatherion) is a Swedish
symphonic metal band founded by
Christofer Johnsson in 1987. Its name was inspired by the
Celtic Frost album
To Mega Therion. "To Mega Therion" is Greek for "The Great Beast" and was a title used by occultist Aleister Crowley. Originally a
death metal band, Therion adjusted its musical style by adding orchestral elements, including
choirs,
classical musicians, and even a full orchestra at their concert performances. As a result, it has popularized the symphonic metal genre. In their biography, they state they have been cited as "the most adventurous metal band at present".