Leprous

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Oct 17 10:16:01 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит Leprous/(2017)_Malina

Добавлен новый диск Лепры.
Диск интересный - я сначала даже ушам не поверил: полумал, что это не они, и такое чувство у меня ещё пару раз возникало за время прослушивания этого альбома. В остальном - как обычно: мрачновато-готический пост-рок. В целом - раньше было как-то попроще, но поинтереснее.

Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Apr 20 13:52:00 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит Leprous/(2019)_Pitfalls

Добавлен последний диск норвежской Лепры.
Двойственные чувства: во-первых, мне не нравится их новый вокал, как и в целом не нравится карлинально новое, более попсовое, направление в музыке. Собственно 3/4 альбома основано именно на этом.
Но с другой стороны, последние 3 вещи просто великолепны, несмотря на то, что они написаны тоже не в стиле ранних альбомов, при этом занимая больше половины всего диска.
По размышлении, я пришёл к выводу, что мне хочется переслушать всю пластинку ещё разок-другой. Зацепило.
Да, смешно - сейчас посмотрел, оказывается 2 из 3-х понравившихся мне композиций являются БОНУСАМИ японского издания.
РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

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(c) Review by kev rowland, PA

I have not heard 2017's 'Malina', but having been fairly disappointed in 'The Congregation', what would 2019's 'Pitfalls' bring us? I sat there listening to it, and one word kept coming through my mind, Marillion. Now in fairness there were other times when it was also Muse and Opeth, but Marillion is the one which seems to make the most sense here. The music has become a vehicle just for the vocals of Einar Solberg, who it must be said is a truly incredible singer, and this music is not something I necessarily want to listen to. 'At The Bottom' starts as if it has been recorded in a home studio with drum machine, keyboards and vocals, and given that Solberg is also the keyboard player it isn't beyond the realms of comprehension that is exactly what it is.

There are indeed flashes of genius, as indeed the way that song in itself breaks into something more dramatic but it never continues for long enough. This is where Marillion comes in. I am one of those people who will argue their best material was probably prior to the release of the debut album, and they have not released anything I will actually play end to end for pleasure since 'Childhood'. That does not stop me buying Marillion albums as I am an eternal optimist, and there are indeed some wonderful songs from the Нogarth period, but little which makes me want to play them time and again. The last time I saw them in concert I swore I would never bother going to see them again, but I am sure I said that a few times prior to that as well and I still go. There will be many people who feel this is a wonderful album, and indeed it is well-played and produced, but this is just not the Leprous I want to listen to. There are times when it is incredibly bland, and although some may say it is accessible, commercial and awesome, I do wonder if they would be saying the same if this was the first time they had ever heard material. If this was a debut then I may be saying there is promise and it will be interesting to see where they go from here, but this is their seventh release and I worry about what the next one will bring.
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Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Oct 21 11:08:14 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит Leprous/(2021)_Aphelion

Добавлен очередной альбом Лепры.
Народ вовсю обсуждает, что "какой-то он не такой...", что Лепру повело куда-то не туда...
А я вам так скажу: вполне себе закономерно. Все последние альбомы группа шла именно к этому: к полному опопсению.
Нет, я ничего плохого в этом не вижу. Ну, и конечно, трудно играть 20 лет и держать высокую планку.
Почти весь этот диск записан на волне "нам надоел всякий экстрим, хотим понравиться всем". И, надо сказать, что это у них практически получилось. Вся пластинка может удовлетворить практически любого прогрессивщика - тут есть всё. Но нет и жестко поставленных акцентов. "Немного кофе, немного секса, совсем чуть-чуть Тиранозаурус Рекса..."(с) Майк.
Я немного разочарован, но за то можно поставить это играть в фоне и заниматься чем-то полезным, не отвлекаясь.
РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

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Aphelion
Leprous
Tech/Extreme Prog Metal, 2021
(c) Review by siLLy puPPy, PA

LEPROUS still seems to be going strong after 20 years of existence and although the band led by lead singer Einar Solberg has been hailed as one of Norway's greatest modern progressive metal bands, the last few albums starting with "Molina" have seen a massive shedding of much of the metal and taken on more standard progressive rock as its modus operandi. With the band's eighth album to emerge in 2021, LEPROUS seems to de-emphasize the metal even further and adds all kinds of new sounds including but not limited to pop, funk, trip hop, electronica along with the progressive rock shining with a crispy clean production and the spotlight on Solberg's passionate vocal delivery.

There are still metal sounds on board however the moments of djent and guitar heft are primarily limited to power chords and the scant guitar workouts that offer a bit of contrast to the otherwise new LEPROUS sound of crafting highly sophisticated art rock with strong pop hooks. Long gone are the days of unabashed metal freneticism as heard on "Tall Poppy Syndrome" and "Bilateral." APНELION rather delivers an interesting and original hybrid between progressive rock, synthpop and what sounds like chamber rock. In addition the five official members who handle guitars, bass, drums and synthesizer includes a team of five guest musicians who offer the sounds of violin, cello and even a trumpet.

The result is an emotive display of ten tracks that in many ways follows both in "Malina" and "Pitfalls" in the mellowed LEPROUS years and for many a metal band gone this direction would've resulted in a total train wreck and scaring away of the fanbase, but LEPROUS proved long ago that this was no ordinary act and had the uncanny ability to tackle myriad sounds, timbres, textures and tones and fortify substantial composiitons delivered in a unique and oft unorthodox manner all without abandoning the pop sensibilities that have kept their music so addictive upon first experiences. Excluding the three year timespan between the band's true debut "Aeolia" and "Tall Poppy Syndrome," LEPROUS has also delivered like clockwork with a new album ever two years.

The band has released two singles off APНELION which means the point on the orbit of a celestial body that is farthest from the sun. The first was "Running Low" which shows LEPROUS in fine form in its new style with progressive rock hooks married with power chords, emotive synthesized atmospheres accompanied by the string section that delivers an excellent cello solo. With so much energy dedicated to the electronica wizardry and dedication to the perfect atmospheric ambience does tend to ignore the rock aspects much less the metal but with the second single "The Silent Revelation" the band does deliver a bit of rock guitar heft even if it seems like the odd track out on the otherwise sombre and earnest tracks tenderly crafted with the crooning moxie of Mr Solberg.

In many ways LEPROUS has followed some of the nu jazz artists from Norway such as Jaga Jazzist only it has left out the jazz but rather paints synthesized motifs around the borders of where certain jazz parts should fit. By now most older fans of LEPROUS have either adapted to the new style or thrown them out with yesterday's trash. I do personally prefer the older more aggressive LEPROUS sound but i have to admit that these guys have done an excellent job reinventing themselves as a serious art pop rock band this late in the game. While on the mellow and even maudlin side, APНELION does a stellar job of mixing synthesized driven pop hooks with chamber rock mojo. Perhaps what turns me off most about the "new" LEPROUS is that Solberg's vocals are almost set to permanent falsetto sounding something like a Norwegian version of Prince. I can live without the metal aspects but the vocal diversity? Needs more.
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Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido