Such an unexpected and good discovery.
The music is so unlike what one expects from Progressive Metal.
If I remember right, this album was referred to in a review of Pain of Salvation's 2020 album Panther. It contains so much keyboard sounds that make it so hard to fit it into all my past experience and expectation of Pain of Salvation albums.
So, this album is another great discovery today.
And I have been reluctant to explore this band because the name made me think it could possible be some doom/bleak themed band. Maybe they started off as that. (After all, Anathema started off as a Doom Metal band. BUT it also created an amazing mostly/often acoustic and introspective album titled Weather Systems.)
No, I'm not claiming I can use logic from one place and force-fit it in another place - and make claims about things.
And Pain of Salvation's album Panther is another point supporting the change in sound and 'so unexpected from them'.
But, digressions apart - please do listen to the album.
YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJrG0B3Pdm8&list=PLONVEQP6SwpGIJ2Ju3nrDkPsm1q0esUXI
Passionate singing in many/most songs and most songs do not fit in the usual expectations of prog-metal. (I am now only repeating myself...)
Ah, before I click Add to queue: The lyrics for this album are mostly from their singer, who developed a health condition and had a 1.5 year experience of struggling with depression. Lyrics weave off such introspection.
Song #1 (Below) is an amazing starting point... check the vocals at 1:20 for some idea. This is the very first song I heard from Leprous. Changed my (previously ignorant) opinion of the band.
Though no Net/AI gave an answer as to why they chose the name Leprous. The one nugget I got from AI chat/search was 'maybe it is intentional to contrast the band name with the music which is so experimental' (as in, unexpected).
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Musicians:
Einar Solberg / lead vocals, keyboards
Tor Oddmund Suhrke / guitars
Robin Ognedal / guitars
Simen Daniel Lindstad Børven / bass
Baard Kolstad / drums
