Performers: Leprous, Klone, Maraton
Location: Graz / Explosiv / Austria
Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Norwegian outfit Leprous has, over the past decade, built up a real name for themselves through consistent album releases and relentless touring. At least among fans of progressive rock and metal, Leprous are pretty highly regarded. After many tours and festivals, Leprous last year recorded the album Pitfalls, with which they’ve taken a clear step away from their original sound — and yet still managed to hold on to their fanbase, as evidenced by packed venues, with some shows selling out entirely. When Leprous played Orto bar in 2013 to a handful of people, it seemed like the band had no future. But clearly, the hard work paid off. Leprous, who also spent a good chunk of time as backing band for Norwegian musician Ihsahn, are today a well-established name in the progressive scene.
On this tour, Leprous were playing some pretty sizeable venues. Safe to say these weren’t exactly dives. The tour also stopped in Austria’s second-largest city, Graz, at the Explosiv club — which lately has been hosting far more alternative shows than the well-known Orpheum.
First up were Maraton, who describe themselves as progressive pop. First impressions weren’t exactly promising — the vocalist sang well enough, but his outfit gave off serious Werner vibes. But the band’s potential became clear soon enough. Given the latest Leprous album, they were more than a fitting choice on the bill, except Maraton don’t lean as hard into the melancholy. It quickly became clear that the band draws heavily from ’80s pop hooks. The songs were infectious in the vein of A-ha, Duran Duran and the like, though the distortion and electronics brought to mind Muse. A band with just one debut behind them, Maraton are on a mission to remind us of the great music of the ’80s — which, compared to today’s pop, was genuine art.
Next up were France’s Klone, who have a solid dozen albums under their belt. The focus was naturally on their latest album Le Grand Voyage, though a few older cuts made the setlist too. Klone delivered a pleasantly melancholic sound that would appeal to fans of Sweden’s Katatonia. The melancholy was definitely the defining trait with Klone. With tight musicianship and an especially excellent vocalist, they showed years of experience while drawing in more of the crowd. Klone’s blend of melancholy and groove gave them something genuinely distinctive. More than a fitting choice to open for Leprous, with clear similarities to Riverside, Soen, Porcupine Tree, Anathema and others. Their performance made it clear they still have plenty to show the world. Despite the emphasis on melancholy, Klone’s music is dynamic enough that they really deserve to be far more widely known. It’s clear that France has a lot of bands making the scene special.
With Leprous, the question going in was what kind of setlist the band would put together, given that the current album Pitfalls received mixed reactions. The band showed their most delicate side on that record — you could say it’s a lot more “pop” than their previous output. Leprous weren’t half-hearted about this tour, though. They wanted to present the album in the best possible light. The band performed as a sextet, joined by cellist Raphael Weinroth, who added a richer texture to the sound. Leprous opened by focusing on the current album, so things were relatively subdued at the start. The album reflects a dark period in Einar Solberg’s life — the band’s vocalist and keyboardist. The guitars aren’t upfront, the rhythms aren’t complex; the whole thing feels more dreamlike. With Below and I Lose Hope, the atmosphere was quite understated. The new album was firmly front and center, but thankfully Leprous didn’t forget their back catalogue and fan favorites.
Things picked up with Stuck and The Valley. The latter is a real treat for fans — it reflects that more progressive sensibility that earned the band their reputation in the first place. Vocalist Einar Solberg proved himself an exceptional singer throughout, hitting serious heights with his frequent use of the vowel “A.” But the rest of the band shouldn’t be overlooked — when the harmonies kick in, the sound is just perfect. Solberg remains the standout, and with this album he’s decided to start engaging with the audience more, which gave the setlist an extra dimension. What makes Leprous even more special, of course, is drummer Baard Kolstad. His dynamic, rhythmically demanding playing makes him a significant name in the progressive scene today. Despite being a young drummer, Kolstad has already shown an enormous amount. Of course, the other members deserve credit too — they held it together confidently throughout the whole show, and on some songs switched from guitars to keyboards, which further underlined the band’s versatility and professionalism.
The latest album was front and center this time around. Maybe even a little too much — some of the quieter, dreamier sections dragged on a bit. With Alleviate, it genuinely felt like Leprous had written a Eurovision entry. A bit more distortion came with The Price. With Distant Bells, Leprous said a temporary goodbye — a newer track that slowly builds to the point where the other instruments join in. For the encore, the band played From the Flame from their previous album, then closed with The Sky Is Red, also the closing track on the latest record. Ending with a morbid, complex song that the lighting took to a whole other atmospheric level was a definitive statement of the band’s creativity and professionalism.
A lot has changed with Leprous over the past decade. Their music has also become more accessible to wider audiences, as was clear at the show when the crowd started singing along. Given how packed the venue was, Leprous seem unstoppable. In the years ahead, you can expect them to be filling even bigger rooms.
Despite a far-from-cheerful setlist, Leprous managed to conjure up a genuinely special atmosphere at Graz’s Explosiv club, keeping the crowd on their feet right to the end. And credit where it’s due — support acts Klone and Maraton were excellent, and they’re a big part of what made the night truly stand out.
author: Primož Novak
photos: Aleš Podbrežnik
Leprous setlist:
1. Below
2. I Lose Hope
3. Stuck
4. The Valley
5. Third Law
6. Observe The Train
7. Alleviate
8. The Cloak
9. The Price
10. Distant Bells
—encore—
11. From the Flame
12. The Sky Is Red
