METAL JUKEBOX

Leprous - The Congregation (2015)













Year : 2015
Style : Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Avant-garde Metal
Country : Norway
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans + Video
Size : 136 mb

Album:

Leprous is a Norwegian progressive metal band formed in 2001 in Notodden, Norway. The band gained prominence as the backing band for former Emperor frontman Ihsahn's live shows. Ihsahn has, in turn, contributed to several Leprous albums as a vocalist (on "Thorn" from Bilateral and "Contaminate Me" from Coal) and as a co-producer for Coal.After releasing several demos with relatively unstable lineups, the band's roster solidified by the time that they recorded their debut album, Tall Poppy Syndrome in August 2008. American label Sensory Records signed the band and released the album in May 2009. Alex Henderson of Allmusic praised the band's debut for moving past the "staunchly pre-90s mentality" of contemporary progressive metal by blending the influence of Pink Floyd and King Crimson with alternative metal bands such as Tool.In 25 May 2015, they are expected to release their new album The Congregation, via Inside Out Music. A video for the track "The Price" was shot and then released on 8 April. In 30 April 2015, another track of the album, "Rewind", was released.

Album:

Norwegian progressive metallers LEPROUS have completed work on their new studio album, "The Congregation", for a May 25 European release (June 2 in North America) via InsideOut Music. The drums, guitars and bass for the follow-up to 2013's "Coal" were recorded at Sweden's Fascination Street and Ghostward Studios with David Castillo (KATATONIA, OPETH) and the vocals with Heidi Solberg Tveitan and Vegard Tveitan at Mnemosyne Studios in Norway. Just like the preceding albums, "Bilateral" and "Coal", "The Congregation" was mixed by Jens Bogren (OPETH, SYMPHONY X, KREATOR) at Fascination Street.LEPROUS vocalist and keyboard player Einar Solberg commented: "This has without doubt been the most challenging album to write so far, if you count the amount of hours, blood, sweat and tears behind it. Which makes me extra proud to just have delivered the master of what I consider to be the most daring, technical, fresh and mature album we've ever done."The music of 'The Congregation' is mostly written by me on my computer, so that this time around I could use my ears instead of my knowledge as the main writing tool. If you use your knowledge and your usual methods to write every album, you will eventually find yourself stuck in a quagmire of old habits. Lyrically, 'The Congregation' covers the dangers and consequences of blindly following the flow, thus the album title will speak for itself."In addition to some previously announced festival appearances and the newly added show at Fortarock in The Netherlands in June, LEPROUS will embark on an extensive European headlining tour in September-October, alongside RENDEZVOUS POINT and another yet-to-be-announced main support act.

Line Up:

Tor Oddmund Suhrke Guitars, Vocals (backing) (2001-present)
See also: ex-Ihsahn (live)

Einar Solberg Keyboards, Vocals (lead) (2001-present)
See also: ex-Emperor (live), ex-Ihsahn (live)

Øystein Landsverk Guitars, Vocals (backing) (2004-present)
See also: ex-Ihsahn (live)

Martin Skrebergene Bass (2013-present)
See also: ex-Ihsahn (live)

Baard Kolstad Drums (2014-present)
See also: Borknagar, God Seed, ICS Vortex, Oceans of Time, In Vain (live), Solefald (live), ex-Hellhaven, Abbath, Rendezvous Point, ex-Ihsahn (live)

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 Track)

+ Video "The Price" (Official Video)




Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/

Leprous - Pitfalls (2019)













Year : 2019
Style : Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Avant-garde Metal
Country : Norway
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 125 mb

Bio:

Leprous is a Norwegian progressive metal band formed in 2001 in Notodden, Norway. The band gained prominence as the backing band for former Emperor frontman Ihsahn's live shows. Ihsahn has, in turn, contributed to several Leprous albums as a vocalist (on "Thorn" from Bilateral and "Contaminate Me" from Coal) and as a co-producer for Coal.After releasing several demos with relatively unstable lineups, the band's roster solidified by the time that they recorded their debut album, Tall Poppy Syndrome in August 2008. American label Sensory Records signed the band and released the album in May 2009. Alex Henderson of Allmusic praised the band's debut for moving past the "staunchly pre-90s mentality" of contemporary progressive metal by blending the influence of Pink Floyd and King Crimson with alternative metal bands such as Tool.In 25 May 2015, they are expected to release their new album The Congregation, via Inside Out Music. A video for the track "The Price" was shot and then released on 8 April. In 30 April 2015, another track of the album, "Rewind", was released.

Album:

In a year already full of excellent progressive rock and metal releases, it is almost startling to know that we still have several months left in the year, and more than a few releases from some of the most well-respected artists of the genre still coming. One of these bands is Norway’s Leprous, one of the more eclectic and unique bands who have, over the course of five full-length albums, crafted a style that is all their own. Now with their upcoming album ‘Pitfalls’ they are taking another step in crafting their own sound while abandoning much of what came before, while still pushing themselves forward.One thing they are in this album, more than ever before, is to be purely honest. Vocalist, keyboardist, and primary composer Einar Solberg has in the past veiled his songs in metaphor and symbolism; in ‘Pitfalls’ he is being very straightforward with his lyrics. These lyrics are deeply personal, dealing with his own struggles with depression and anxiety. And he’s being very, one might say, nakedly honest and truthful about his battles. What is more, he began the writing process while his struggles were going on, resulting in a very real feel to everything. It’s a brave, vulnerable move. The focus throughout the whole album is heavily on the lyrics and vocals. I’ve never understood music fans who are indifferent to the lyrics, so I will say that if you take that approach to this album, you’ll be missing out a great deal.I’ll be very forward, this is a quirky album, and in many ways not easy to describe. The band says it is not in any way a metal album. I wouldn’t necessarily agree with that, but it is unlike anything they have done before. I fully expect this to be an album that splits the fanbase, some will love it, and I’m sure others will think the band has lost their minds. My biggest recommendation is to try and go into it without any expectations for what it’s going to sound like. The released video for “Below,” while being the opening track, is not fully representative of the album as a whole. I expect this album to be a grower for most fans, which is certainly not a bad thing but does mean that you shouldn’t listen to it once and make a judgment about it either way.The album begins with “Below,” as noted above. While I don’t think it is fully representative of the sound of the album, it does firmly put into place the band’s new approach, and that their sound has changed. It begins with electronic beats, something which happens frequently among the remaining songs. Keys and electronics are used heavily throughout, before guitars and heavier drums make their entrance. This pattern is used throughout the album (perhaps a bit too much as it at times gets to be predictable) but the variations and extremes that are used, make it so that you can’t say after hearing the one song, “this is how the whole album will be.”Musically the album is somewhat split into two (unequal) halves. The first part of the album focusing more on the electronic beats and textures, and the latter half being more experimental, and a bit heavier. What is consistent though is by and large the guitars and bass take a backseat to the keys and electronics, and of course the vocals. Einar’s vocals are very front and center to each song, usually pushing into the upper scales of his vocal range, often going into a falsetto and reminding me more than a little bit of Thom Yorke. Besides the electronics, what is also clear is the emphasis on strings and percussion. Drummer Baard Kolstad shines throughout and uses his full range of skills. Very often the drumming is light, barely tapping a snare, or brushing a cymbal, only to then be called upon to be positively thunderous in his attack of the set. His work is one of the highlights of the album. As for the strings, they are frequently present, both in the many calmer moments, but in some of the louder as well, and act often as a melodic glue and CenterPoint to the music.The tone of the album grows a bit darker and more aggressive as it goes, “Alleviate” is a prime example of this. The song builds in tension and aggression as the helpless feelings and inevitable crash comes through the lyrics. The vocals are pained and wracked with mental torment and emotion, and the song is one that will grip the listener from the first playthrough. “Distant Bells” takes a different approach, beginning mostly with piano and cello. The electric component is held in reserve for the first half of the song, with the vocals carrying the weight of melody, before the inevitable electric beats, and the heavy guitar comes back.The final two songs couldn’t be much different from each other, the first “Foreigner” is short, a little over 3 minutes, and the most straightforward metal sounding song on the album. The last song “The Sky Is Red” is over 11 minutes and the most experimental track. “Foreigner” is one of my favorites on the album, by and large, because they ditched the pattern of soft electronics into loud, and went straight for the throat from the very beginning. Lyrically it’s very pure and painful ‘It’s a fight to stay alive/it’s a fight against myself’ make up the main chorus as the journey into depression gets worse. In the end, the music and vocals build, and end with ‘a fight against myself’ screamed in agony. It’s gutting, and utterly satisfying at the same time.“The Sky Is Red” finishes the album off, I won’t go into minute detail through the whole song, but the band brought in a choir to vocalize over the top of the music; and offbeat, seemingly random time changes in the drumming, coupled with the swirling guitars make for a deliberately disorienting, anxious feel and atmosphere. As I mentioned earlier, it is the longest song on the album, and it takes advantage of that fact, with a lengthy middle section of quiet moments and strings. The songs bounce back and forth more than previously between acoustic instruments, electronics, and sudden slashes of an electric guitar. It is perhaps a daring, and certainly unusual, closer, but perfectly fitting as well.‘Pitfalls’ is certainly not the album anyone expected Leprous to deliver this year. But it is one that they seem meant to have made and, for themselves as a band and as individuals, needed to make at this point in time. It is starkly honest, at times hauntingly beautiful and emotional, and at other times perhaps a bit puzzling, but always well-executed and purposeful. This is an album that will likely take a bit of time to really get into, but as a wise man has said; “your patience will be rewarded.”

Line Up:

Tor Oddmund Suhrke - Guitars, Vocals (backing) (2001-present) - See also: ex-Ihsahn (live)
Einar Solberg - Vocals (lead), Keyboards (2001-present) - See also: Ihsahn (live), ex-Emperor (live)
Baard Kolstad - Drums (2014-present) - See also: ICS Vortex, Rendezvous Point, Solefald (live), ex-God Seed, ex-Hellhaven, ex-Borknagar, ex-Gaahls Wyrd, ex-Oceans of Time, ex-Ihsahn (live), ex-In Vain (live)
Simen Daniel Børven - Bass (2017-present) - See also: ex-Arvinger (live)
Robin Ognedal - Guitars (2017-present) - See also: Ihsahn (live), Morgenroede, ex-Aspera, ex-Illusion, ex-Mortiferia

Tracklist:

01. Below
02. I Lose Hope
03. Observe The Train
04. By My Throne
05. Alleviate
06. At The Bottom
07. Distant Bells
08. Foreigner
09. The Sky Is Red
10. Angel (Bonus Track)




Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/

Leprous - Aphelion (2021)













Year : 2021
Style : Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Avant-garde Metal
Country : Norway
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 129 mb

Bio:

Leprous is a Norwegian progressive metal band formed in 2001 in Notodden, Norway. The band gained prominence as the backing band for former Emperor frontman Ihsahn's live shows. Ihsahn has, in turn, contributed to several Leprous albums as a vocalist (on "Thorn" from Bilateral and "Contaminate Me" from Coal) and as a co-producer for Coal.After releasing several demos with relatively unstable lineups, the band's roster solidified by the time that they recorded their debut album, Tall Poppy Syndrome in August 2008. American label Sensory Records signed the band and released the album in May 2009. Alex Henderson of Allmusic praised the band's debut for moving past the "staunchly pre-90s mentality" of contemporary progressive metal by blending the influence of Pink Floyd and King Crimson with alternative metal bands such as Tool.In 25 May 2015, they are expected to release their new album The Congregation, via Inside Out Music. A video for the track "The Price" was shot and then released on 8 April. In 30 April 2015, another track of the album, "Rewind", was released.

Album:

Here’s a trick: whenever a band puts out a few albums you don’t like and then, suddenly, one that you do, try to ask yourself what changed. Were you simply not in a place to appreciate the last few releases? Or did something for the band change? The trick here is that the answer is usually a mix of both or, if we’re being honest, sort of unknowable. After all, we don’t really have access to the biographies of every single band we like and that’s a good thing. But it’s also hard to know ourselves (as Socrates told us a few thousand years ago) and even if we did, our moods and perspectives are shifting things. OK, so if the answer is not really there, what good is this “trick”? Well, it’s good for one thing: letting go and allowing yourself to enjoy that one, surprising album, without trying to build a narrative founded on speculation.If you’ve been following my writing over the past few years, as well as the blog’s podcast, this intro will probably make sense. For those of you not in the know, the fact has been that I’ve been disappointed with Leprous‘s output in the last few years. It seems that since Coal (one of my all time favorite albums) the band has lost something essential to their core. The Congregation was good but felt derivative, unable to break free of the Leprous formula. And then when the band did break free of the formula with the more subdued and indie/alternative rock vibes of Malina and Pitfalls, I didn’t think that they did it well. Something was missing, some spark; the music sounded one dimensional and emotion-less. What exactly was missing is a question that returns us to our “trick” above; it might have been me and it might have been them and it was probably both.But here’s the thing: Aphelion really is excellent. Interestingly enough, it continues the line taken by the last few releases. It’s not Coal and it’s certainly not Bilateral. It still has the same alternative vibes that the recent albums had, preferring pop compositions, catchy choruses, big guitar hooks, and plenty of emotional content over anything which might be considered progressive or even heavy. But where the other albums felt empty as a result, Aphelion is veritably bursting with energy, engagement, and interesting, effective music. The end result is an album that feels Leprous without chaining itself to the band’s clichés (there’s nary a staccato riff, for example) but which also feels grounded and filled with direction.The area of improvement in my eyes is Einar Solberg’s vocals. It’s no secret that Solberg is one of metal’s most accomplished and skilled vocals. But his performance on the previous few releases was my main source of disappointment: it felt disconnected and ineffectual. But this is definitely not the case on Aphelion. Take “Out of Here” for example, the second track and one of my favorites on the album. Solberg doesn’t need to scream or take up huge space in the mix to be effective here; his inflection on the quieter parts of the track, mostly in the beginning, lures the listener into these morose spaces. But when the track explodes (more on this below), his voice is incredibly powerful and present. This comes to a head during the chorus, where vocal melodies are used to great effect to underpin and support Solberg’s high notes. The melisma rings true and the whole thing radiates with the force of his delivery like it hasn’t since Coal.And while we are on the matter, holy fuck what a chorus! It takes a full two and a half minutes to get to it but boy, is it worth it. The synths are amazingly produced, beautifully mingling with the string instruments that flit in the background. The bass is so groovy and when combined with the drums, creates one of Leprous’s catchiest lines. Speaking of which, the main guitar riff is one of the more inspired things that Leprous have recorded; it’s so breezy, light, and fresh, perfectly serving its role. Instead of taking over the chorus, it uplifts the rest of the instruments and allows Solberg to maintain his control where needed and underpins him when he needs an extra boost.This kind of structure repeats throughout the album (another good example is the next track, “Silhouette” and it’s many choirs), where things just fit in better. No one instrument seems to stand out above the rest and the album feels like a more cohesive whole than it did in the past, where you could tell some tracks were written around a specific cool idea and didn’t really have their own reason to exist. Speaking of integrating things well, it’s amazing to see how the band’s collaboration with Raphael Weinroth-Browne has benefited them. His cello parts on this album are fantastic, adding heft and weight to the passages which need it. It’s also telling that Weinroth-Browne is “baked” right into the composition process. His strings never feel out of place or there just for the sake of variety; instead, they are built into the track’s structure. This is telling because it hints, again, at what I said above: everything on Aphelion feels necessary and premeditated, each note, turn, and twist planned for maximum effect.I could go on; Aphelion includes much to like and much that’s new for Leprous (check out “Have You Ever?” for example for some darkwave vibes that are new to the Leprous sound). But to put a bow around it, it feels like a true return to form for the band which is especially impressive considering that it doesn’t return to their old sound. Leprous is one of those bands who have been blessed/cursed to release not one but two incredibly iconic albums, early on in their career. They will probably be forever stalked by Bilateral and Coal and I assume the temptation to just make Coal 2 (like another very famous progressive metal band is doing, ahem ahem) is always there. But instead, Leprous have chosen to show their die hard fans, their skeptics, and their adoring listeners what they can do which is to create moving, powerful, intricate music that’s great to listen to. Hell, if the previous three releases were “needed” to get them to Aphelion, then I’m glad they released them because the album really does feel essential and necessary. Welcome back Leprous; glad to have you.

Line Up:

Einar Solberg - Vocals (lead), Keyboards (2001-present) - See also: Ihsahn (live), ex-Emperor (live)
Tor Oddmund Suhrke - Guitars, Vocals (backing) (2001-present) - See also: ex-Ihsahn (live)
Baard Kolstad - Drums (2014-present) - See also: ICS Vortex, Rendezvous Point, Solefald (live), ex-God Seed, ex-Hellhaven, ex-Borknagar, ex-Gaahls Wyrd, ex-Oceans of Time, ex-Ihsahn (live), ex-In Vain (live)
Simen Daniel Børven - Bass (2017-present) - See also: ex-Arvinger (live)
Robin Ognedal - Guitars (2017-present) - See also: Ihsahn (live), Morgenroede, ex-Aspera, ex-Illusion, ex-Mortiferia

Tracklist:

01. Running Low
02. Out Of Here
03. Silhouette
04. All The Moments
05. Have You Ever?
06. The Silent Revelation
07. The Shadow Side
08. On Hold
09. Castaway Angels
10. Nighttime Disguise




Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/

Leprous - Melodies Of Atonement (2024)











Year : 2024
Style : Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Avant-garde Metal
Country : Norway
Audio : 320 kbps + front
Size : 116 mb

Bio:

Leprous is a Norwegian progressive metal band formed in 2001 in Notodden, Norway. The band gained prominence as the backing band for former Emperor frontman Ihsahn's live shows. Ihsahn has, in turn, contributed to several Leprous albums as a vocalist (on "Thorn" from Bilateral and "Contaminate Me" from Coal) and as a co-producer for Coal.After releasing several demos with relatively unstable lineups, the band's roster solidified by the time that they recorded their debut album, Tall Poppy Syndrome in August 2008. American label Sensory Records signed the band and released the album in May 2009. Alex Henderson of Allmusic praised the band's debut for moving past the "staunchly pre-90s mentality" of contemporary progressive metal by blending the influence of Pink Floyd and King Crimson with alternative metal bands such as Tool.In 25 May 2015, they are expected to release their new album The Congregation, via Inside Out Music. A video for the track "The Price" was shot and then released on 8 April. In 30 April 2015, another track of the album, "Rewind", was released.

Album:

Norway's Leprous return with a fearless and stunning new album, likely their most mesmerizing and impactful release yet."Melodies Of Atonement", the band’s 8th studio album, contains 10 songs / 51 minutes of contemporary rock at its best.Recorded by David Castillo (Opeth, Katatonia, Soen, etc.) at Ghost Ward in Sweden, the material was mixed by Adam Noble (Placebo, Biffy Clyro, Nothing But Thieves, etc.) and mastered by Robin Schmidt (The 1975, Placebo, The Gaslight Anthem, etc.).

Line Up:

Einar Solberg - Vocals (lead), Keyboards (2001-present) - See also: Ihsahn (live), ex-Emperor (live)
Tor Oddmund Suhrke - Guitars, Vocals (backing) (2001-present) - See also: ex-Ihsahn (live)
Robin Ognedal - Guitars (2017-present) - See also: Ihsahn (live), Morgenroede, ex-Aspera, ex-Illusion, ex-Mortiferia
Simen Daniel Børven - Bass (2017-present) - See also: ex-Arvinger (live)
Baard Kolstad - Drums (2014-present) - See also: ICS Vortex, Rendezvous Point, Solefald (live), ex-God Seed, ex-Hellhaven, ex-Borknagar, ex-Gaahls Wyrd, ex-Oceans of Time, ex-Ihsahn (live), ex-In Vain (live)

Tracklist:

01. Silently Walking Alone
02. Atonement
03. My Specter
04. I Hear The Sirens
05. Like A Sunken Ship
06. Limbo
07. Faceless
08. Starlight
09. Self-Satisfied Lullaby
10. Unfree My Soul




Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/