LEPROUS – Melodies Of Atonement (Album Review) • Strah

There is no doubt that Leprous is one of the most formidable powerhouses at the forefront of the modern progressive music scene. From their explosive 2009 debut “Tall Poppy Syndrome” to 2021’s bombastic art-pop driven “Aphelion,” Leprous have spent more than a decade and a half carving themselves a place in the annals of progressive music history. Their notoriety comes in part from their marked growth over the years, particularly as they have challenged the boundaries of what it means to be a truly progressive act in the modern scene, growing and evolving their sound with each passing year. This hunger and ambition have resulted in a discography like no other, a catalog of triumphs that is now to be joined by the masterfully melancholic “Melodies of Atonement.”

“Melodies of Atonement” is a gut punch that bleeds into delight. This is undoubtedly Leprous in top form, the image of a band that is using all of its resources and skill to push the limits of its sound and elevate the listening experience through increasingly accomplished songwriting and production. This is an album that proves Leprous refuses to stagnate. Darkness saturates otherwise bright melodies as Leprous dives headfirst into an opus that is filled to the brim with the band’s unique brand of progressive despairing. And while it might not satisfy the fans who are still clamoring for the reprise of “Tall Poppy Syndrome” – a dream which has long been laid to rest by Leprous’ own admission and the clear departure from their earliest sound – this album is a satisfying and complete piece of art that is certain to entertain existing fans while drawing in new ones.

Plunge deep beneath the waves with the opening track “Silently Walking Alone,” a powerful song that sweeps the listener off their feet with crushing vocals and melodies that swell in fervent abandon. This undercurrent of intensity is characteristic of the sound that defines “Melodies of Atonement,” a vocal-forward album that is laden with emotion from Einar Solberg’s distinctive voice. Similarly balanced between beauty and melancholy is “Faceless,” again channeling a sense of despair that ebbs and flows between Baard Kolstad’s thunderous drums.

**“Melodies Of Atonement”** Album Artwork

The oft-minimalist soundscapes elevate the technical mastery of both Tor Oddmund Suhrke and Robin Ogdenal on guitar. “Atonement” takes its ominous sheen from Suhrke’s practiced hand, each note driving home the thematic darkness that permeates across the track and the album as a whole. Songs that begin with a brooding, even somber atmosphere then build and grow into dramatic, sky-shattering epics that are teeming with the progressive groove that Leprous achieves with exemplary skill. One such track is “My Specter,” which aptly begins with a haunting, monochromatic meandering. As Solberg and Kolstad dig in their heels, this track makes its ascent toward a soulful, vibrant, and enduringly heavy climax.

The haunting, somber pallor cast over “Melodies of Atonement,” that artful composition that makes it feel like the world is cast in a wash of pouring rain, is the chilling synth that sinks its teeth into every song. At some times, such as in “I Hear the Sirens” and “Starlight,” it is the synth that drives the all-encompassing nightfall. It is cinematic yet subdued, relying on motifs and repetition, and prioritizing intention rather than excess. While it does feel like the forays into minimalism stumble on a touch too long, such as in “Limbo,” each track and passage serves a distinct purpose in the story that unfolds as the album progresses. There are moments where listening feels like standing on a beach at midnight, the bass like a sliver of moon in the black sky above, and every new wave of synth-soaked sincerity crashing like a wave of cold water. As for the album’s warmth, is hard-fought with obvious passion and carefully constructed melodies. “Unfree My Soul” is a paragon of this euphoric experience.

Leprous excited fans when they promised that this album would be the heaviest that the band has released in a long time, and it certainly does not disappoint in that regard. This heaviness is exemplified by the massive “Like A Sunken Ship.” Solberg’s roars are chilling and raw, and each verse is tied to the next with a heavy rhythm section that pushes back against the vocals in an artistic battle for power. These harsh vocals are a welcome surprise and give an immense sense of flavor and variety to an album that is steeped in a sense of doom-tinged familiarity. It also shows that while Solberg has made a name for himself with soaring, nigh-angelic crescendos, his talents range far and wide. And it is Solberg’s dramatic, emotional, and frequently anguished voice that gives Leprous such a biting edge. “Like a Sunken Ship” is a highlight of the album and a true exemplar of skill from all of Leprous’s talented musicians.

“Melodies of Atonement” is a delightful, stripped-back, and distinctly emotional step in Leprous’ career. It may not reach the cinematic heights achieved in “Aphelion,” but it dials up the brooding shadows that began to grow in “Pitfalls.” The entrenched bass lines and heartbeat of Kolstad’s drums add heaviness that was definitive of the band’s heaviest albums, including moments reminiscent of “Bilateral.” While it is true that this album is more minimalist and with lots of open space for subtle repeating themes, this is what helps this album feel more intimate and personal than Leprous has ever sounded before. Unsettling and comforting, light and dark, enthralling and sobering, “Melodies of Atonement” is a superb artistic journey that solidifies Leprous’s place at the top.

Released By: Inside Out Music
Release Date: August 30th, 2024
Genre: Progressive Rock

Musicians:

Einar Solberg / Vocals and keys
Tor Oddmund Suhrke / Guitars
Robin Ognedal / Guitars
Simen Børven / Bass
Baard Kolstad / Drums

“Melodies Of Atonement” Track List:

Silently Walking Alone (04:05)
Atonement (04:49)
My Specter (03:55)
I Hear The Sirens (04:31)
Like A Sunken Ship (04:04)
Limbo (05:56)
Faceless (06:25)
Starlight (06:09)
Self-Satisfied Lullaby (06:21)
Unfree My Soul (05:21)

Order “Melodies Of Atonement” HERE

9.1

Excellent

Leprous paints an atmosphere darker than they’ve ever dared before with the heavy and melancholic, “Melodies of Atonement.” With an album that is stripped-back and soaked in despair, these progressive and ever-ambitious musicians have made a masterful work of art that exemplifies more than a decade and a half of hard work and raw talent.