Leprous Tall Poppy Syndrome
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
Tall Poppy Syndrome is the second album from Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous, and is the band’s first release since signing to Sensory Records. Sensory has an impressive track record when it comes to discovering cutting edge progressive metal bands, but they found something quite special with Leprous.
You could accurately compare Leprous to a pair of fairly well known Norwegian progressive metal bands – Winds and Age of Silence – but that doesn’t really do justice to just how…moving…an album like Tall Poppy Syndrome really is. It’s as progressive and avant-garde as either band, but unlike those bands, Leprous’ “metallness” is never in doubt and they just seem more alive and vital than their peers. This is not a power metal band with a lot of keyboard solos, nor is Leprous another insipid Dream Theater wannabe. This is unconventional metal that combines precision musicianship, intricate melodies, a uniquely Scandinavian sense of soul-crushing melancholy, and an extreme metal ferocity that’s unleashed at just the right moments. Think Winds, Age of Silence, Opeth, Katatonia and perhaps Between the Buried and Me. Tall Poppy Syndrome recalls each of these bands, but sounds like none of them exactly.
In terms of musicianship, the members of Leprous all pass the prog metal proficiency test with flying colors. What’s nice is that they didn’t have to resort to a bunch of 10-minute instrumentals to do so. The technical wizardry they employ is all in service to fully-actualized songs and the cohesive album as a whole. There are some incredible guitar solos though, and the keyboard work…let’s just say it’s not at all surprising that Einar Solberg was chosen to support black metal icons Emperor. As impressive as the musicianship may be, it’s the vocals that really push Tall Poppy Syndrome ahead of the pack. It has a swirling mix of emotional clean vocals and tortured extreme metal growling/screaming that goes well beyond the Soilwork “screamed verse/clean chorus” template, and some insane vocal harmonies courtesy of guitarists Tor Suhrke and Oystein Landsverk.
If you’re less than thrilled, or even flat-out bored, with the state of progressive metal these days, and you have an open mind regarding the use of extreme metal elements, you really must experience Leprous. It really is a moving and unforgettable album, and is enough to restore a skeptic’s faith in the genre.
Label: Sensory Records
Lineup:
Einar Solberg: Lead Vocals, Keyboards
Tor Oddmund Suhrke: Guitar, Vocals
Oystein Skonseng Landsverk: Guitar, Vocals
Tobias Ornes Andersen: Drums
Halvor Strand: Bass
Track Listing:
1. Passing
2. Phantom Pain
3. Dare You
4. Fate
5. He Will Kill Again
6. Not Even a Name
7. Tall Poppy Syndrome
8. White
Online: On MySpace
HRH Rating: 9/10