Leprous

Leprous are different; it doesn't take long to figure that out. Never ones to follow in the footsteps of other acts, Leprous do their best to limit outside exposure when writing. You get that impression 30 seconds into Coal. The whole album is an enigma, a weird, cryptic creature that emerged from the shadowy recesses of progressive rock. It's impossible to comprehend and the more you try, the more you get sucked into this hypnotic beast. Compared to their previous release, Bilateral, Leprous's latest is melancholic and dark, never deviating from the gloomy atmosphere that consumes Coal. Every song breaks the six-minute mark, but they're never stale and flow together rather eloquently. Vocalist Einar Solberg provides tortured yet passionate lyrics, with the vocal performance delivering a solemn rock opera. Accompanied by intricate layers of off-time riffs, drum beats and creative instinct, miraculously Coal turns into a diamond. As an extra bonus, Isahn (yes, the one from Emperor) contributes guest vocals to the album's heaviest number, "Contaminate Me."