MetalSymphonique.com recently conducted an interview with Christofer Johnsson of Swedish progressive/experimental metallers THERION. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

THERION is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the release of their new album, "Les Fleurs Du Mal". The band has signed a licensing deal with End Of The Light Records to make the CD available in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

THERION is introducing the new album to the world during the "Flowers Of Evil" 25th-anniversary tour.

"Les Fleurs Du Mal" is a part of an art project that THERION mainman Christofer Johnsson has been thinking about for some time.

"The time was never right for it, but in celebration of the band's 25th anniversary, I thought now will finally be the right time for it," Johnsson explains.

There are still many details that are unknown about this mystical art project, which was recorded at Adulruna studio, located in a separate building next to Johnsson's decadent "Villa Adulruna" where the band lived together while recording.

The "Les Fleurs Du Mal" title refers to Charles Baudelaire's (French author and poet 1821 - 1867) famous poem collection "Flowers Of Evil" ("Les Fleurs Du Mal" in French) that caused such an upset of emotions in France that the author was brought to court and got fined for "insulting the public" with six of the poems, that remained forbidden in France until 1949 when the ban was finally lifted. The spirit of the project is a tribute to Baudelaire, and is imbued into both music and artwork.

Said Christofer: "The project was seen as too controversial for THERION's record label, Nuclear Blast, by the final results, so I asked if it was possible to buy back the master tapes of the record and release it on my own label. And after some negotiations, my wish was granted. But THERION is of course is still signed to Nuclear Blast Records for future releases."

By having full control of the release now, Christofer has decided to do everything his own way, and starts by releasing the album to the loyal fans first that come to the concerts in Europe during THERION's 25th-anniversary "Flowers Of Evil" tour.

Christofer went on to explain: "This is the beginning of a new period that will last for a number of years, where the band will focus on doing certain projects performed by THERION rather than releasing regular albums. In the planning after the art project is a rock opera that is scheduled to take several years to complete."

Now during THERION's "Flowers Of Evil" tour and the band's 25th anniversary the audience can expect a breathtaking performance which combines all the elements which have been the key to THERION's success throughout the years.