Leprous took over The Academy on Sunday 3rd March during their current tour with support from Nordic Giants and Fight the Fight.
Fight the Fight opened the night with a loud and energetic set, setting the tone for what was to follow…They took to the stage and blasted through their set list, subliminally grabbing the quickly growing audience and drawing them towards the stage with their relentless sound.
They were then followed by something completely different, but perfectly fitting for what was to be one of the gigs of the year so far… Nordic Giants.
From their dark and cinematic stage setup, to their dystopian visuals and their unusual but amazing costumes, they mesmerised the crowd with their post rock, moody, atmospheric, bleak yet hopeful sound intercut with erratic drums and samples from various sci fi films.
They truly were a visual treat, and their intense and multi genre sound filled the room completely, making it more of an experience than simply just a gig.
Fight the Fight & Nordic Giants photos:
Then came Leprous…one of the most diverse sounding and interesting progressive metal bands currently touring.
Their sound was driven by Baard Kolstad on drums…who I can only describe as an absolute beast behind the kit.
I was watching him play, and at times he seemed like a blur behind the kit, performing beats that left your head spinning with a level of precision timing you wouldn’t expect a human to be capable of.
Simen Børven bridged the gap between him and the rest of the band with the kind of deep bass grooves that you would expect to hear from Justin Chancellors bass amp, and then Robin Ognedal and co-founding member Tor Oddmund Suhrke traded guitar riffs and solos so effortlessly that at times it sounded like one person was playing both guitars…one person with four arms, that is.
This wall of sound was topped off by one of the most original vocalists currently fronting a metal band (if not any band), Einar Solberg.
I’ve genuinely never heard a live performance like it.
His range was phenomenal, ranging from low, heavy vocals to what I can only describe as ‘operatic’.
Some of the high notes he was able to hit, cutting above the rest of the music, were genuinely mind blowing, and to be able to switch between what sounded like every style of singing, while still running around the stage and alternating between two different keyboard setups, was truly something to behold.
It was this showmanship, along with every other member of the band having their moment to play to the crowd, that made it one of the most engaging live performances I’ve seen from a band yet.
Which brings me to the crowd…and what a crowd they were.
You can tell that this band have a deeply loyal and dedicated fan base, who were constantly going (depending on the song) from highly animated and knowing every word, to completely silent and studying each instrument as if it was their own personal masterclass.
Which, in a way, it was.
When leaving the photo pit after the third song, I was packing my gear away when I heard some notes on the keyboard play over a rumbling bass, to which I actually asked ‘is this f***ing Massive Attack?!’ just as the offbeat drums started…and we were then treated to one of the best versions of ‘Angel’ I’ve ever heard.
It was as if Massive Attack were on the stage, but were somehow possessed by the spirits of Pink Floyd (I know they’re not dead, but you know what I mean) and Tool, and the range of Solberg came into play again as he elevated the song to what I can only describe as beautifully haunting…and at times, especially when the song got heavier towards the end, I actually felt goosebumps.
This goes to show that when you have the talent, you can take any genre of music and make it your own, and these guys definitely have the talent.
Oh and the light show was fantastic as well.
It’s been a long time since they played here, but if they ever do come back, I’d highly advise you to grab a ticket immediately.
Leprous photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Have You Ever?
The Price
Illuminate
Angel (Massive Attack cover)
On Hold
Castaway Angels
From the Flame
Distant Bells
Out of Here
Slave
The Cloak
Below
Nighttime Disguise
The Sky Is Red
Photos & Words – David McEneanery