November 16, 2011

Bilateral - Leprous



Leprous are a fairly unknown band from Notodden, Norway. Even among metal heads, few claim to know them. But they're not just another band form Norway, they're the backing band for one of Black Metals' Emperors: Ihsahn (pun intended). To any metal fan, that fact alone should be an unquestionable seal of quality.


However, to try to qualify Leprous based on their relation with Ihsahn is an absolute error. Leprous practice a rare blend of metal, prog and power. Their sound falls on the same category as Opeth's, Porcupine Tree's or Devin Towsend Project's, the undefined: it's a genre on it's own with specific rules that apply solely to it's own universe.


Although their first releases might have suffered from schizophrenia, Bilateral is a mature album in which every track has value on it's own and as part of the whole.


Instrumentally, the work is flawless: two guitars, bass,  keys (that organ...), a powerful voice and drums that feel and sound like an orchestra, various movements flowing and fighting for space at the same time and genius ecstatic moments where one has to wonder if there's anything else beyond that.


All in all, this is one of my favorite albums of all time.




Web: http://www.leprous.net

No comments:

Post a Comment