LEPROUS: Tall Poppy Syndrome (PROGRESSIVE METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Eccentric, rich, devilishly intriguing, the music of this young Norwegian combo is difficult to describe. Therefore, it is quite difficult for me to write this column today; and even more difficult to convey in simple words what these Scandinavian troublemakers are conveying in their music! The most impatient of you can spare yourself reading the article and settle for the note, which alone will justify the purchase of this very beautiful outing. As for the most curious (and bravest!), let them jump to the next paragraph!

Formed in 2001, Leprous only released two demos before this album; the fault is a multitude of line-up changes that obviously affected their ability to compose. Nevertheless, listening to Tall Poppy Syndrome never reveals the slightest hesitation, and we quickly come to believe that these wanderings were beneficial....

Indeed, the whole album highlights a delirious, impatient and dynamic youth, a crazy energy emanating from all the tracks. Although they are varied, they form a coherent whole. Leprous succeeds where many bands that choose to mix genres as their artistic credo fail. The intention is commendable, the progressive metal being in its entirety a genre sclerosed by repetition for many years.... The result is also good! We sail from aerial melodies ("Fate", "White") to resounding grooves (the central bridge of "He Will Kill Again"), from wild riffs to the edge of black metal (undeniable Emperor influence on the introduction of "Not Even A Name") punctuated by transient growls... The apparent cacophony that settles in at times (the demonic piano of "Phantom Pain") never lasts, but it often takes patience and even tolerance to understand the orientation of each track. Some will succeed without difficulty, others, perhaps less accustomed to the impulsive and unpredictable nature of this music, will be at pains, but everyone will have to applaud the quality of writing of these songs!

Helped by a warm and organic production (notably the rhythm section, mixed to perfection), the musicians give free rein to their inspiration, full of the almost childish madness that is so lacking to most of the well-established bands... There are some influences here and there (The Mars Volta for the frenzy and the obvious desire, Tool for the underlying groove and some sounds, Myxomatosis for the slightly dissonant side of some parts), but none of them come to harm the Norwegians' enterprise. Melted, they bring a lot but do not take anything away.

So, childish appetite or grown-up maturity? Probably a little bit of both.... It is difficult to expect the longevity of such music, and its authors, but let us bet that this release will allow Leprous to extract himself from the multitude of their "competitors". Warmly recommended to all progressive metal lovers who want to stick something "new" between their ears. - Official website

LEPROUS

TALL POPPY SYNDROME

LASER'S EDGE

PROGRESSIVE METAL