Review | Leprous – Melodies of Atonement

Inside Out Music

`Melodies of Atonement’, the latest album of Leprous marks a bold departure from their previous orchestral sound, presenting a stripped-down and intimate experience. It showcases the band’s thrive and musical evolution while retaining their signature progressive metal roots predominantly. `Melodies of Atonement’ offers a refreshing and new approach to the benchmark ingredients uniting a wide array of influences and styles incorporated with finesse. 

SOLITUDE AND EMOTIONAL DEPTH

The album opens with ,,Silently Walking Alone’’ setting the tone through its sonic blend of heavier present electronic elements underneath the expressive vocals from Einar Solberg. His introspection channels a deeper and more profound tone, making him the charismatic frontman he is. This track exemplifies the album’s exploration of solitude and emotional depth, combining catchy melodies with introspective lyrics, making it more immersive than ever before.

Taking things further ,,Atonement’’ extracts the intricate groundworks of their past and cooks it up with new flares of intensity. The pulse of the opening channels the right tone for Solberg’s lyrics conveyed while it gradually builds with urging instrumentation. Simon Børven’s bass builds into Baard Kolstad’s dynamic ponderous groove, enhancing the song’s intensity and vigor. Impressive it unfolds! The vibrance of the offered sound palette is omni-channelling its musical intensity as well as its astral vibrance. In between its fabric lays a layer of comfort and contrasting uneasy, panned out perfectly.

PHENOMENAL FRETBOARD WIZARDRY

The shifts of shape are dominantly present with tracks like ,,My Specter’’ and the superb ,,Unfree My Soul’’ that is built upon the interplay of both guitarists firing up each other in the harmonies and twins. Depleting phenomenal fretboard wizardry, they unfold with wonderful melodies and licks pitched into the front of the mix and counter balancing on Solberg’s inbred introvert vocal persona. ,,I Hear the Sirens’’ fills cinematic with its intro before it slowly transcends in powerful harmonious bliss. The keys drizzling and guitars soaring, the melody is impressive with the vocals in harsher modus, switching piercing and emotive.  

The newer vibes are boasting forward with sonic depth like on the experimental and jazzy ,,Like a Sunken Ship”. Building from its bare shuffle, the song is crafted around an intricate core of alternation with guitar duo Tor Oddmund Suhrke and Robin Ognebal descending into riff carnage midway. The riff is colossal in its discharge and generates an extreme rouse with the song’s finale channelling gut wrecking turmoil with Solberg growling his vocals with heavy roar.

BLUEPRINT

The blueprint of the song feels further explored on ,,Limbo’’ but taps into the heaviest progressive part of the band’s back catalogue. Molded onto a carcass of heavy tilting grooves and drum dynamics. Fused together with an intense vocal delivery, the chorus lands deep with its wonderful meandering vocal melodies atop the guitar melody and dropping hooks. Solberg displays his rich tone and pitches with an inborn ease and control.

The lush atmosphere of ,,Like a Sunken Ship” recurs on the meandering ,,Faceless”. The guitars are hovering over the dry drums before unfolding its powerful stance. Monumental is the interplay of roaring guitar riff and drizzling techy keys with Solberg’s dramatic vocal exercises atop. The song channels frail as well as it drops in extremely heavy. More heavily droning on its electronics ,,Self-Satisfied Lullaby” blends according to atmospheres but switches drama with frail execution of vocals and keys. Its middle section is cinematic and rich in tapestry, with vocals almost epic. The breakdown of the song is absolutely phenomenal with its guitars gone digital in approach. Harmonized with the cascading synth line, the lick starts to sing and swing before it dies into the jabbing synth strokes.

LEPROUS – THE CONCLUSION

This synthesis of melodies and rich textured interplay is also what holds together the gripping rollercoaster of emotions on ,,Starlight”. Solberg croons and wails, switching into high pitches and soulful soaring entertainment. Tribal percussion brings the song to its progressive chorus full of dramatic expose and pompous appeal. Uniting all previous flavors, Leprous close the album with the mood-shaking ,,Unfree My Soul”, alternating on its musical variety throughout. Heavier on its orchestral discharge, it blends the old and new Leprous. The harp and stagnant drumbeat are astounding. The vocal harmonies jaw dropping.

Overall, `Melodies of Atonement’ marks a significant step in the artistic journey of Leprous reflecting their experimental accolades while delivering a cohesive and engaging listening experience. The album will resonate with both long-time fans and newcomers alike, offering a fresh sound that underscores the band’s evolution in the modern progressive music scene. Just dig in!

Releas date: 30 August 2024