Leprous is a Norwegian progressive metal band from Notodden, formed in 2001. The group was founded by singer and keyboardist Einar Solberg and guitarist Tor Oddmund Suhrke.
After releasing several demos with relatively unstable lineups, the band released their first studio album, Tall Poppy Syndrome, in 2009. They subsequently gained prominence as the live backing band of Ihsahn (who is Solberg's brother-in-law), who, in turn, contributed on several Leprous records as guest singer or producer.[1][2][3] Their acclaimed 2011 album Bilateral led to further attention. After two albums which followed the same musical direction, Coal (2013) and The Congregation (2015), Leprous took a more rock-oriented and less metal approach with Malina (2017), their first record not to feature harsh vocals.[4] Leprous further experimented on 2019's Pitfalls, which saw the band mixing art rock, pop and progressive influences into their established sound.[5] Leprous released their seventh studio album Aphelion on 27 August 2021.[6][7] Their albums have received mostly positive reviews.[4]
History
The band's roster solidified by the time 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.[8]
The album received positive reviews[9] while the band gained attention as the live band for Emperor's frontman, Ihsahn, whose wife, Starofash, is the sister to Leprous vocalist/keyboardist Einar Solberg.[1] In 2010, Leprous appeared at ProgPower USA[10] and ProgPower Europe, and later supported Therion on their European tour. After that tour, the band announced that they had split with bassist Halvor Strand, who was replaced by Rein Blomquist.[11]
At the end of February 2011 the band announced that they had signed with Inside Out, with worldwide distribution through Century Media.[12] The band's debut for Inside Out Records, Bilateral, was released on 22 August 2011 in Europe and a day later in North America[13][14] and featured artwork by American surrealist Jeff Jordan and Spanish designer Ritxi Ostariz.[11] The album featured a guest vocal appearance by Ihsahn and trumpets by Vegard Sandbukt.
Leprous at Wacken Open Air 2013
On 20 May 2013, Leprous released Coal. Vocalist Einar Solberg described the album as "a more melancholic and darker album than the more playful Bilateral. By darker, I don't mean more aggressive, but more severe. There is still a big range in the dynamics, but no jumping between different moods within a song."[15]
On 5 May 2014, the band announced the departure of drummer Tobias Ørnes Andersen. He was replaced by Baard Kolstad, who played with Leprous throughout their 2013 Coal tour. The statement also revealed that the band was working on material for their next album.[16]
In early June 2014, Prog magazine Radio Show on Team Rock Radio in the United Kingdom published tour dates for an Inside Out records showcase featuring labelmates Haken, Maschine and Leprous for Autumn 2014 in the United Kingdom and Europe.
On 25 May 2015, the album The Congregation was released via Inside Out Music. A video for the track "The Price" was shot and then released on 8 April.[17] On 30 April 2015, another track of the album, "Rewind", was released.[18]
On 1 March 2017, Leprous announced through their official Facebook page that a new studio album would be released.[19] The album, Malina, was released on 25 August 2017.
The band released a new single, "Golden Prayers", on 1 June 2018.[20][21]
On 25 January 2019, Leprous released a cover of "Angel" by Massive Attack, along with an accompanying music video.[22] The band had already performed the cover live during shows in late 2018.
Leprous entered the studio to record their sixth album in early 2019.[23] The album, titled Pitfalls, was officially announced on 26 August 2019, along with the designated release date of 25 October 2019, as well as the artwork and tracklist.[24]
Leprous continued to regularly perform live throughout 2020 and 2021, with the events streamed online from their home town of Notodden. This included performances of each of their studio albums (except Tall Poppy Syndrome) in full, including multiple live debuts and many songs performed for the first time with the band's current lineup.
On 9 June 2021, Leprous announced their seventh studio album Aphelion, with a release date of 28 August 2021.[25] The band announced that the first single from Aphelion would be released on 26 June 2021.[26]
On 30 May 2024, Leprous announced the release date of their next album Melodies of Atonement along with its lead single "Atonement" in a blog post on their website[27] as well as their X account.[28] Two more singles were released in the interim before the album, "Silently Walking Alone" and "Like a Sunken Ship".
While all the members contribute to Leprous' music, Tor Oddmund Suhrke (guitarist) has penned most of the lyrics, and Einar Solberg (singer and keyboardist) composes the backbone for most of their songs; both are the only constant members in the band's line-up.[33][34] In his formative years, the frontman took singing and piano lessons and he used to notate Leprous songs but later stopped doing so after feeling that their compositions written intuitively were better.[35] The band has emphasised their intention of taking different approaches on every album.[35]
The use of eight-string guitar has been a consistent element of the band's style. Contrary to the prevalent uses in modern progressive metal and djent, Tor Oddmund Suhrke's playing style includes the use of complex chords in a variety of alternate guitar tunings (often necessitated by the fact the chord progressions are originally written by Einar Solberg on keyboard). As of Pitfalls, the use of eight-string guitars has decreased; instead, it is the first album to feature acoustic guitars, as well as band members rotating to perform additional keyboards and percussion live.
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Vegard Sverre Tveitan, better known by his stage name Ihsahn, is a Norwegian musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and composer who is best known for his work with the black metal band Emperor. Tveitan is also a founding member of Thou Shalt Suffer, where he played guitar and keyboard in addition to vocal duties, and Peccatum, a project in collaboration with his wife and fellow musician Heidi Solberg Tveitan, also known as Starofash. Since 2006, Tveitan has primarily devoted himself to solo albums and occasional guest appearances.
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Tall Poppy Syndrome is the debut studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous. It was recorded and mixed at Black Lounge Studio/The Abyss by Jonas Kjellgren, mastered at West West Side by Alan Douches.
Aeolia is the second demo by Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous, released in 2006. It was recorded and mixed at Symfonique and Juke Joint Studio by Mnemosyne. Art Design by Bjørn Tore Moen. Although a self-released demo, it is occasionally regarded as the band's first full-length album due to the running time being longer than that of most other Leprous recordings.
Bilateral is the second studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous. It was recorded in Ivory Shoulder Studios and Juke Joint Studio by Vegard Tveitan and Heidi Solberg Tveitan, and mixed and mastered at Fascination Street Studio by Jens Bogren. Additional editing by Ivar Barstad. Art direction and design by Ritxi Ostáriz. Cover painting by Jeff Jordan. All songs published by Magic Art Publishing.
Eremita is the fourth studio album by Norwegian black metal musician Ihsahn. The album features guest appearances by several notable musicians, including Devin Townsend and Jeff Loomis of Nevermore.
Coal is the third studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous, released on 20 May 2013.
The Congregation is the fourth studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous. The album was released on 25 May 2015 in Europe and 2 June 2015 in North America. This album was partially recorded at Fascination Street in Sweden, and the vocals developed with Heidi Solberg Tveitan and Ihsahn at Mnemosyne Studios in Norway.
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Malina is the fifth studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous, released on 25 August 2017 through Inside Out Music.
Pitfalls is the sixth studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous, released on 25 October 2019 via Inside Out Music and preceded by the singles "Below", "Alleviate", and "Distant Bells". It was recorded over six months at Ghostward Studios. A cellist, violinist, and classical choir were recruited for the production. Most of the songs were written and composed by Leprous vocalist Einar Solberg.
Aphelion is the seventh studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous, released on 27 August 2021 via Inside Out Music. The album was first hinted by the single "Castaway Angels" in December 2020, and six months later, the band announced the album and began releasing two singles prior to the album's release; "Running Low" and "The Silent Revelation", plus a music video for "Nighttime Disguise". It was recorded in several recording studios in Scandinavia. During the recording process, longtime collaborator Raphael Weinroth-Browne was involved for the third time in row, contributing with additional cello. Most of the songs were written and composed by Leprous vocalist and keyboardist Einar Solberg.
Metanoia is the sixth studio album by Andorran metal band Persefone. It was released on 4 February 2022 by label Napalm Records. A music video for "Merkebah" was released alongside the album's announcement on 16 November 2021. The 11-minute instrumental "Consciousness (Pt.3)" continues the "Consciousness" suite from their 2013 album Spiritual Migration.
Melodies of Atonement is the eighth studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous, released on 30 August 2024 via Inside Out Music. The album was recorded at GhostWard Studios in Sweden. Most of the songs were written and composed by Leprous vocalist and keyboardist Einar Solberg.
↑ Rosen, Steven (1 August 2016). "'We Are Our Own Worst Critics' - An Interview With Leprous' Tor Oddmund Suhrke". Ultimate Guitar. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2020. ... there has never been any rules in Leprous when it comes to who being allowed to contribute to writing music or lyrics, but it's true that I wrote approximately half of the lyrics on Tall Poppy Syndrome together with our former bass player Halvor, all the lyrics on Bilateral and almost all lyrics on Coal except for "The Cloak" which is written by Einar. On The Congregation, I also wrote most of the lyrics, ...
↑ Salmeron, J (28 May 2015). "Always Changing: An Interview with Leprous". Metalblast.net. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2020. Interviewer: Regarding losing two members; was the songwriting divided among all of you before? Einar Solberg: On the previous albums I also had [composed] the majority of the albums, ...
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