THERION mastermind Christofer Johnsson has checked in with the following update:

“Snowy Shaw is currently really ill with a throat infection - so bad that he barely can speak, so unfortunately he won't be able to do the Rock Hartz Open Air Festival in Germany on Friday (July 8th). Lead vocalist Thomas Vikström will be able to do his parts and Therion have also made some adjustments to the set list. Big surprise for everyone actually, as we will be playing something quite unexpected!”

Festival details can be found at this location.

Theirion recently unveiled the artwork for their new album, Sitra Ahra - click photo to enlarge. The cover was created by Thomas Ewerhard, the same artist who have created all the cover artwork of Therion's latest releases.

Sitra Ahra will feature the following tracklisting:

'Sitra Ahra'

'Kings Of Edom'

'Unguentum Sabbati'

'Land Of Canaan'

'Hellequin'

'2012'

'Cu Chulain'

'Kali Yoga III'

'The Shells Are Open'

'Din'

'After The Inquisition: Children'

Sitra Ahra was mixed by Lennart Östlund (LED ZEPPELIN, ABBA) who commented: "What you have made here is truly unique." The album was mastered in New York and is expected to be released in September.

Therion recently confirmed more dates on their Sitra Ahra Live 2010 tour that will roam through Europe in October, November and December. LEPROUS and LOCH VOSTOK are the support acts. The updated itinerary is as follows (some venues tba):

October

29 - 013 - Tilburg, Holland
30 - Oosterpoort - Groningen, Holland
31 - Shepherds Bush Empire - London, UK

November

1 - Hof Ter Lo - Antwerp, Belgium
2 - Aeronef - Lille, France
3 - Elysee Montmartre - Paris, France
4 - Batschkapp - Frankfurt, Germany
5 - Masters Of Rock Cafe - Zlin, Czech Republic
6 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
7 - Boogallo Club - Zagreb, Croatia
8 - Kino Siska Club - Ljubljana, Slovenia
9 - Alcatraz - Milan, Italy
12 - Razzmatazz 1 - Barcelona, Spain
13 - La Riviera - Madrid, Spain
14 - CC John Lennon - Limoges, France
15 - La Laiterie - Strasburg, France
17 - Odeon - Belgrade, Serbia
18 - Hr. Botev Sports Hall - Sofia, Bulgaria
20 - Athens, Greece
24 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
25 - Backstage - Munich, Germany
26 - DK Vitavska - Prague, Czech Republic
27 - Almassy Ter - Budapest, Hungary
28 - Club Studio - Krakow, Poland
29 - Stodola - Warsaw, Poland
30 - Minsk, Belarus

December

1 - Riga, Latvia
2 - Tallin, Estonia
3 - Helsinki, Finland
7 - Krasnodar, Russia
8 - Rostov na Donu, Russia
10 - Kyiv, Ukraine