Einar Solberg and the boys have launched seven albums since beginning, with quantity eight, Melodies Of Atonement Tall Poppy Syndrome to newest Aphelion
Look, one album needed to come final, OK? Tall Poppy Syndrome , although it nonetheless falls underneath the “progressive” banner, is nigh unrecognisable from the Leprous we all know in the present day. Whereas the band of their present type are more and more dedicated to episodic songs, this debut was strewn with idea-stacked excessive/prog steel suites. 99 p.c of musicians that deal in such issues would kill to have made tracks as refined as Passing or as explosive as Not Even A Title , particularly on their first go. Nonetheless, this was nonetheless very a lot an outfit discovering their identification, and it seldom hits as arduous because the immediacy of their later materials.
6. Pitfalls (2019)
By 2019, Leprous had lengthy since divorced themselves from the “progressive steel” categorisation that match them at first of their profession, and Pitfalls I Lose Hope was a bouncing hip-hop banger and At The Backside pulsed with trap-like beats, whereas the emotive Distant Bells swelled with symphonic textures. Consequently, although, guitarists Tor Oddmund Suhrke and Robin Ognedal and drummer Baard Kolstad felt underutilised, solely attending to steal the present throughout the scrambling Foreigner and the latter half of The Sky Is Crimson . Some weapons within the Leprous arsenal went untouched right here, regardless of the compositional craft all through.
5. Bilateral (2011)
Bilateral marked each an finish and a starting. On behemoths like Compelled Entry and Waste Of Air – labyrinthine, heavy, laced with noise and jazz – Leprous fulfilled the promise of Tall Poppy Syndrome , doubling down on their maximalist methods. Nonetheless, there have been additionally songs that charted the extra direct sound to come back: Stressed and Acquired Style particularly have been nuanced but infectious moments. Due to this distinction, early followers typically title Bilateral as this band’s magnum opus, and we’re greater than understanding of why. To our tastes, alternatively, this represented extra of a mid-transitional transfer than a masterpiece in its personal proper.
4. Aphelion (2021)
Aphelion was the extra even-handed sibling of Pitfalls . Leprous’ seventh album continued the symphonic experiments of its predecessor, but additionally discovered house within the combine for guitars and drums, making it really feel like far more of a collaborative effort. This masterclass in texture undoubtedly benefited from the steadiness, particularly when Castaway Angels ascended from acoustics and vocals to an orchestra of evocative rock music and strings. But, it was the galloping Silent Revelation and the extra electro-symphonic Shadow Aspect in sequence that communicated the Norwegians had nailed the sound they have been striving in the direction of. Issue within the irresistible melodies of Out Of Right here and Nighttime Disguise and also you get an absolute victory.
3. Malina (2017)
Malina The Congregation single The Worth and, whether or not deliberately or not, this listenable successor capitalised. It boasted a bunch of chic anthems, particularly From The Flame with its (gasp) three choruses and 4/4 time signature. Concurrently, there was no dumbing down within the songwriting division, as communicated by the looming aria that was The Final Milestone , in addition to the polyrhythmic throbs of Coma . That symphonic post-rock finale to Caught is simply fucking good, too.
2. Coal (2013)
The primary notes of Coal Foe , have been an prompt announcement that Leprous’ priorities had shifted. In lieu of warped prog, listeners received bombarded with easy, staccato blasts of sound, swiftly joined by soulful vocals wailing out a hummable hook. This drive for melody outlined the album, the band in a position to weave repeated choruses, even by the seven-minute extravaganza Persistent and the screaming, all-metal barrage that was Contaminate Me . The Cloak , arguably Leprous’ first actually standout single, painted probably the most correct image of the long run, constructing its increasing layers and luxurious singing on prime of three easy guitar notes.
1. The Congregation (2015)
Certain, that is the predictable primary choose, however typically a call is predictable as a result of everybody is aware of it’s the fitting factor to do. It doesn’t matter what you like Leprous for – be it their progressive fearlessness, top-notch hooks or symphonic and digital undercurrents – The Congregation The Worth introduced an addictive vocal melody atop off-rhythmic guitar work, it was clear that intelligence and heart-stopping songwriting would stay an ideal marriage throughout this report.
Each music, from the stampeding Third Regulation to the minimalist Decrease , had a robust melody at its forefront to beckon the listener again. Then, as soon as they got here again, they seen the impressively technical touches, just like the fierce drumming beneath Rewind , or the digital beat of The Flood getting picked up and carried to the end line on electrical guitar. Whether or not you have been listening for the primary time or hundredth, one thing new would in all probability dazzle you.
Thus, The Congregation (and particularly The Worth ) earned Leprous a broader attraction than ever earlier than and, furthermore, represents a steadiness the band are nonetheless making an attempt to recapture 9 years onwards. When you ever need to get into an argument over the very best prog album of the 2010s, this is among the first discs we’d slam onto the desk.
