Album: Melodies Of Atonement
Year: 2024
Genre: Progressive Rock / Metal / Pop
I spoke too soon. Before I even heard a note, my prediction earlier this year was that the new Ihsan album would be my pinnacle of 2024. Then Leprous released their new one. Well, I’m almost certain it took over the top spot. It’s a little bit funny since the connection between Ihsahn and Leprous is well documented. Just for the record, there is a chance I fuck up a second, possibly third, time since new Opeth, Tribulation and Cure records will be out this coming out before the end of the year. I suppose there could also be someone else waiting in the wings. We’ll see.
Melodies Of Atonement is the most “leprous” album Leprous has ever recorded. I realize that’s a strange statement for those unfamiliar with the band, but to those in the know, it makes complete sense. Describing this Norwegian musical beast is a daunting task. They are rock. They are pop. They are metal. They are experimental. They are art. Here’s the kicker…they sound like none of that and therein lies the genius of their craft. Not many bands exist that have a distinctive sound and song writing structures unto themselves, but I am willing to go on record and declare that no one sounds like Leprous. Much akin to my review of the last Ihsahn album, I see this as extreme music, but not for the reasons people in the “extreme” music community relate to the description. Leprous are not the heaviest, fastest, most offensive or brutal or anything like that. So how can they be extreme? By taking those above-mentioned genres and pushing innovation and contentment past typical limits. I don’t believe Leprous have any intent on making a listener uncomfortable, but it happens naturally with the severe flux they employ. The dynamics on this album are bananas. Those dynamics are based upon two major features of the band: the overwhelming talent of the players and the extraordinary vocals.
How Leprous writes an album always makes me curious. Do they huddle together and choose the path they want to travel? Is it just an organic thing that develops as the band writes? Each of their albums has a distinct personality. This time it feels like the guys are focused on power. People will say this album is “heavier” than their last couple, but I believe the word really is power. This power doesn’t come from raw speed, or chainsaw HM2 distorted tones, or gigantic palm-muted riffs. Rather, it comes from the way they forge the quiet / loud exchange in the songs. The quieter they go in a part, the louder the next one will be. It’s something The Pixies taught us long ago and can be applied to any type of music. You can tell how much time was taken to get every tone and sound in place. The percussion arrangements are insane but so calculated. Leprous intentionally place drum-less gaps filled with instrumentation, samples or vocals to lay the groundwork to sway in and out of gentle melodies that crash seamlessly into a monstrous, forceful storm of sound. Listening to Einar go from singing a part that could be a bedtime lullaby to a stentorian blast at the peak of his vocal range is amazing. It’s all over this album and creates beautifully jarring tension. Listen to “My Spector” to hear what I mean. As with their other records, it becomes easy to focus on the vocals and miss the genius playing happening. Not to take away from anyone in the band’s immense talent, but, for my money, Baard Kolstad is one of the best and most diverse drummers walking the planet right now. His playing alone is worth the price of admission.
Admittedly, even with all the superb aspects of this album, it isn’t bulletproof. The dominant songwriting formula is to start off slow and crush with a sonic payoff coming later in the song. Not a bad choice, but the album isn’t quite as distinctive song-wise as their other releases. Some of the quiet vocal parts are not lighting my world on fire, but when they slam into that chorus, LOOK OUT! “Limbo” is a perfect example. I can take or leave the verse, but the chorus is just mammoth and worth wading through the rest of the song. The album is full of greatness, with “Like A Sunken Ship” now being my favorite song written this year. It has every aspect of the Leprous musical palate, including an Einar growl we haven’t heard in quite a while. Melodies Of Atonement has been in a consistent rotation since it was released. Is it the best Leprous record so far? That’s tough, but my answer is no as Congregation is still holding the crown.
Listen to "Like A Sunken Ship" here.
