Leprous is a progressive metal (early) / rock (later) band from Norway, formed in 2001 with the first album released in 2009. The group was founded by singer and keyboardist Einar Solberg and guitarist Tor Oddmund Suhrke. Both are the remaining founding members left and they are the main songwriters. Since 2015's The Congregation Solberg is gradually dominating the writing process. The band trademark sound is characterized by peculiar singing style, and blending of different genres such as experimental rock, avant-garde metal, and pop..
The follow-up to 2017's Malina, Pitfalls is Leprous' sixth studio album. While Malina was already a divisive record, Pitfalls is even seen as the biggest production and a musical departure for the group yet. This time around, Leprous brought in a cellist, violinist, and classical choir for the production. The first single "Below" opens the album featuring string arrangements, electronic elements, acoustic and organic parts. It has a very emotional and melancholic vibe to it and it sets the mood for the album. Pitfalls was mostly written and composed by Einar Solberg during a dark moment of his personal life. The lyrics and musical direction certainly reflect that state of mind as he used this album as a therapeutic channel. The result is an emotional listening experience across the 9 tracks / 55 min.
Among other highlights is "Alleviate", a great short and engaging single, and "Distant Bells", a 7-min jazzy prog rock track with a beautiful use of the string instruments. Both tracks are good examples of Solberg's great vocal performance. He is using his range and versatility going for those high notes and sometimes putting some drive in heavier parts. While those songs are melancholic with slow tempo passages, they also display good energy and beautiful melodies. It was a good decision to release both as singles before the album was out. "At the Bottom" brigs on the 80's synth giving it a retro feeling during its 7-min with ups and downs. "Foreigner" is the upbeat rock track that even reminds me of Kamelot. I wish we had others like it. It's a nice injection of energy towards the end of the album and before the epic 11-min closer "The Sky Is Red". This song features the only guitar solo of the album. The Pink Floydian interlude using the choral is a very nice touch to finish the album.
Where does it all leave us? The album starts well with "Below" and has a good sequence of songs in its second half , but there's also low points early in the album and during some tracks. Sometimes the drum beats are simple pop groove or the slow parts drag for too long. For example "I Lose Hope" is too poppy for my taste and "Observe the Train" too much of an "ambient song". Overall, those slow, pop and dragging moments can be very demotivating and leaving me with a sense of wanting more. The problem is that we know Leprous can get us there because of the better songs.
Pitfalls is a leap of faith into a different and challenging territory and, as confirmed by the band themselves, a departure from their previous sound. For me personally, the gap is too wide and Pitfalls sounds more like a Solberg solo album than Leprous. Time will tell if this is the new direction or a one off experiment. But objectively, it's clearly a well written and produced record and very emotional. There are great moments here that will work well live. I suspect a good part of the fans will dig Pitfalls, but like Malina it will continue to be divisive.
DR: 6
Genre: Progressive Metal
Released by Inside Out Music on October 25th, 2019
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Rating System
98 - 100 Perfect
92 - 97 Excellent
86 - 91 Great
81 - 85 Very Good
77 - 80 Good
69 - 76 Mixed
58 - 68 Bad
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