Launched by way of: InsideOut Tune
Free up Date: August thirtieth, 2024
Style: Modern Steel
Hyperlinks: https://leprous.internet/
Line Up:
Tor Oddmund Suhrke (guitar)
Baard Kolstad (drums)
Einar Solberg (vocals/keyboards)
Robin Ognedal (guitars)
Simen Børven (bass)
Tracklist:
1. Silently Strolling By myself
2. Atonement
3. My Specter
4. I Listen The Sirens
5. Like A Sunken Send
6. Limbo
7. Faceless
8. Starlight
9. Self-Happy Lullaby
10. Unfree My Soul
Leprous holds not anything again on their newest free up, Melodies of Atonement.
The band, identified for his or her thematic, orchestral sounds and symphonic-style rankings on earlier information, opts to stay the beat shifting with little downtime, turning in reasonably extra compact songs whilst conserving the signature sound they’re identified for.
It’s a simple sport of rock as opposed to a roundabout prog genre. As Solberg says, “I’d describe it as extra immediately to the purpose. It’s more or less heavier in its personal method, and it’s very modern-sounding and now not unfashionable in any respect. It has numerous digital components. It’s heavy, it’s catchy, and there are numerous songs that might doubtlessly paintings as singles. I’m now not certain it’s very prog… possibly a bit right here and there, however generally, now not numerous peculiar time signatures in this one. It’s extra heavy than proggy, however now not in that ordinary heavy method. I believe other folks may get the unsuitable affect if I simply say it’s heavy. It’s heavy when it must be!”
“Silent Strolling By myself” begins off the album, and also you’re in an instant handled to a synth beat and drum rhythm that piques your passion. I respect the up-and-down movement you’ll really feel throughout the verse, and when the refrain hits, you’re greeted with a wall of sound that may be a power to be reckoned with. The tune strikes till the tip, supplying you with a style of what it feels love to silently stroll on my own.
“Atonement” jogged my memory of one thing from the Pitfalls album, which is a superb factor as a result of I really like that album throughout. I really like the guitar paintings on this tune and the results used. The percussion is a murals, and the emphasis Solberg puts at the emotionally charged vocals may be very obvious. I specifically benefit from the heart section the place the sounds simmer down, and the percussion, vocals, and guitar play off every different. It units up the general refrain and finishing, the place Solberg virtually screams. The finishing of this tune is magical and leads completely into the following observe.
“My Specter” provides the listener an actual probability to revel in Leprous in a 3-d side throughout the primary 1:40 of the tune sooner than it comes crashing in, with the whole thing auditorily positioned completely. Right through the start, I discovered myself having a look across the room, questioning if any individual was once shifting one thing—they did a in point of fact excellent task with the stereo sound of the drums! After the 1:40 mark, it’s accurately heavy, and after we go back to the verse with softer sounds, it feels proper. However that doesn’t remaining lengthy since you’re again within the refrain, bridge, and finishing portions, which I will have to say are expertly carried out. It’s a head-nodder, even within the softer portions.
“I Listen The Sirens” is most definitely my favourite tune. It’s an exquisite melody and mixture of guitar and synth with extend and opposite results, making a panorama that paperwork the construction for the drums and bass so as to add layers simply sufficient till we succeed in the two:00 mark when the tune hits heavy. The extend and opposite results proceed, giving a pleasant, ethereal really feel to the tune, even supposing it’s rather heavy. The vocals are the whole thing you’d be expecting, and Solberg covers all of the bases on this tune, a lot to the appreciation of maximum lovers, I’m certain. The finishing of this tune means that it would cross on longer, and I believe like that is one the place they may’ve damaged into the refrain only one extra time and ended with an actual bang, however on the identical time, it suits the mould well as it’s.
“Like a Sunken Send” begins proper off in that great 4/4 time signature and shall we the listener keep there with accents right here and there. There’s consistent motion within the tune till about midway thru when Solberg takes over, after which the guitars, drums, and bass dance round, giving the emotional context to the tune, which incorporates a scream that can deliver the listener again to the likes of “Middle of the night Cover.” The tune remains intense after that; the drums are key to giving this section the rush it wishes. We get right into a key exchange momentarily, which you could realize, however then it returns to the “los angeles los angeles los angeles” section, and the tune fades into the tip.
“Limbo” has every other 4/4 groove really feel, and I in point of fact experience it. The bass tone within the tune is on level, as is the guitar tone, with a noticeable loss of bass and reverb within the guitar and extra emphasis at the mid and treble facets. This really feel sticks throughout the refrain, after which we get the cowbell (to cite SNL, extra cowbell, please… OK, again to the overview). The tune is a type of vintage Leprous tracks that doesn’t disappoint, with personality adjustments all the way through and leaving the listener short of extra. It’s 6:28 in duration however doesn’t really feel that lengthy. It’s a banger, and I may just see this as a unmarried of types.
“Faceless” has an intro that provides me the ones ’90s R&B samples meets rock vibes, but it surely works well. This tune touches on steel, prog, and rock finally. Because the longest observe, there’s numerous room for the tune to have actions or acts virtually. I believe this tops even “Sirens” in relation to favorites. This tune additionally features a solo, the primary at the album. The tune is a continuing buildup with layering and sounds, and it maintains a constant pace, even within the quieter portions. For individuals who love to workout, this may be a excellent tune to figure out to.
“Starlight” switches issues up on us in standard Leprous genre with the drums giving a distinct pace sooner than the primary refrain, however I find it irresistible. This tune is every other build-up music, however I’m digging the entire motion surrounding the tune. The core guitar paintings is what helps to keep me coming again. The second one part of the tune options every other in point of fact excellent solo, one thing now not present in too many Leprous songs.
“Self-Happy Lullaby” is aptly named, because it has a lullaby sound throughout. The tune options numerous programmed sounds with an excessively heavy center of attention at the vocals and layering. The drums mess around a little whilst the bass is available in to pave the trail. Round 4:30, the whole thing comes in combination, and we’re introduced with the total bundle—an excessively shifting sonic soundscape. You’ll really feel the ahead movement within the tune, particularly within the remaining two mins.
“Unfree My Soul” is a stoic-feeling tune, now not overly complicated however robust. The tools aren’t overly intricate, with the exception of for the not on time guitar, however they make some extent, proving that much less is extra even if the wall of sound hits the listener. It’s now not overdone, and I respect that. The tune aesthetically suits each lyrically and musically.
This album could also be from a historically prog rock band, but it surely items itself as a rock album at its core whilst incorporating components from a couple of notable other genres.
All in all, I need to flip this album on and up as it’s were given this sort of really feel, and it’s one of the vital few that helps to keep me coming again and listening to new issues every time.
I will not wait to peer this band are living and witness what they’ll do with lighting fixtures and degree presence.
Written by way of: Chris Rugowski
Scores: 10/10
Editors Select 
