Author: Primož Novak
Artist: Leprous
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: year_month
Duration: 70:58
Rating: 4/5
Back when they were joining the scene, Leprous’ potential was spotted by the heavyweight Ihsahn, who made a name for himself with the cult black metal outfit Emperor. In his solo career, Ihsahn puts the spotlight on more progressive-tinged music. But since that kind of music takes serious chops, he needed more people to help him with recording and touring. That’s how he picked up the members of Leprous, who proved to be very capable musicians. Since the guys had their own ideas too, they eventually started showing them off in their own band, which today is a pretty prominent name on the progressive metal scene. Over the years Leprous got so busy that they had to part ways with Ihsahn. And given their ever-growing popularity, that was a very smart move.
The Congregation is their fourth studio release, and over more than an hour it takes the listener on a unique journey that blends a range of influences. Leprous don’t look back at just one era; instead, they smartly mix seventies influences with other periods. Above all, it has to be said that the band likes to reach for something more avant-garde too. Various associations keep popping up, and the comparison to The Mars Volta is pretty obvious, noticeable in the vocals and in assorted non-melodic stretches. But Leprous also use plenty of catchy, mellow passages, so they’re not exhausting to listen to, though they still demand a bit of attention from the listener.
From the very start, Leprous show how to go about making something unique. First off, they probably win people over with Einar Solberg’s unique voice, which can sing softly, soar into the high registers, or even scream. As the main songwriter, Solberg seems to be right at the heart of the album. His sense of melody and his knack for building vocal lines is without doubt one of the strongest and most audible things on the record. His keyboards play just as important a role, giving the songs their atmosphere. Solberg doesn’t go for kitsch or endless soloing that would drag the songs out forever. His keyboards, which also draw on electronic music, fill out the whole picture nicely and make the mellower songs that much more interesting. The Flood and Red are good examples.
Although Solberg is the band’s most standout member, the rest of the crew shouldn’t be overlooked. The rhythmic variety of the album is undoubtedly a strong element. New drummer Baard Kolstad has clearly proven himself with his command of different rhythms and his dynamic playing. A good example is the song Rewind, where Kolstad shines with intense playing that builds throughout the whole track. The Suhrke/Landsverk guitar duo doesn’t seem all that convincing at first, but with atmospheric, syncopated riffs the Leprous sound comes together. What doesn’t stand out is the bass guitar, which is just a rhythmic support, but in a style like this it would be rather pointless for the bass to play some big role. By the time the album wraps up, you can confirm that Leprous still want to create something unique. They don’t want to sound watered-down like neo-prog rock, or without a shred of ideas like the retro-prog bands. With an inventiveness that loves to brush up against the avant-garde, Leprous are something special, and they gain popularity with every release.
Like the other Leprous albums, The Congregation demands a lot of attention and time from the listener before it sinks in. It’s an ideal album for getting to know the band, but it has a few flaws too. Some songs feel drawn out, and the odd filler turns up. Still, the band’s creativity is very much alive, and there’s momentum to build on. How much room to maneuver Leprous still have will show with the next release.
Lineup
Einar Solberg – vocals, keyboards
Tor Oddmund Suhrke – Guitar
Øystein Landsverk – Guitar
Baard Kolstad – Drums
Simen Daniel Børven – Bass
Production
David Castillo, Jens Bogren (mixing)
Tracklist
01. The Price
02. Third Law
03. Rewind
04. The Flood
05. Triumphant
06. Within My Fence
07. Red
08. Slave
09. Moon
10. Down
11. Lower
12. Pixel (bonus)
