Prog, Pop and Progress

By stripping back their instrumentation, Norway’s art-rock sensations Leprous have found a different beast lurking below. Heavier and catchier than ever, they hope it can help them reach new frontiers. Prog catches up with vocalist Einar Solberg and guitarist Tor Oddmund Suhrke to uncover the story behind their new album, Melodies Of Atonement.

Phil Weller

Einar Solberg, Leprous’s vocalist and chief composer, says the band’s ninth LP, Melodies Of Atonement, is lots of things. It’s heavy, stripped-back and, curiously, cites gangster rap as a major influence. But the one thing Solberg says the record isn’t, is prog. “I think this album will be quite unifying,” he says of a long-player the Norwegians hope can please fans of their earlier, more metallic material, while luring fresh listeners from outside of prog’s borders into their domain. And yet, by the record’s very nature, it’s progressive. Melodies Of Atonement is another superlative example of how Leprous are able to redefine prog’s most beloved hallmarks for the contemporary landscape. Its sound is instantly recognisable as Leprous – Solberg even admits that they “would need to make an extreme effort”…

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Prog Italia (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 153

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