Malina - Leprous

Whenever the prospect of new Leprous music is on the horizon I am instantly excited. The Norwegian prog titans are undoubtedly my favourite band and I put that at the beginning of this review as disclaimer. I love this band. They have the ability to portray such sombre solemn soundscapes seemingly effortlessly. The interviews and reviews preceding the release of this album highlighted a shift in direction for the band, which for the avid fan is slightly unnerving. I mean after all, “If it aint broke don’t fix it.” So, what does Malina hold in store for us?

Well, it’s certainly different, not better or worse, just different. What the hard-core Leprous fan will notice is that there are no harsh, screamed vocals on this album. This is definitely not a bad thing either. With such a phenomenal vocalist in Einar Solberg capable of hitting insane notes and evoking such chilling vibes, why not use him to his full ability? On Malina it certainly feels like Einar has been given free reign and that in my opinion is one of the albums slight down sides. Don’t get me wrong, I adore listening to Einar’s serene vocals but I feel like we have lost something with the musicianship on this album, particularly where the guitars are concerned. When the guitar work of TorO and new member Robin Ognedal is used as a pillar to the song, it shines. Mirage is a prime example of that. Now that I have just criticised the vocals I will now give them due praise, what a talented guy Einar Solberg is. He can conjure such deep emotion from simplicity and on Malina where there are a few moments where everything is stripped away he truly lets rip. Bonneville is a great example of this, after some synth work and Einar gliding above it all the song builds into a beautiful, emotional beast. The singles from the album From The Flame, Stuck and Illuminate definitely play the safe card but I feel like the other songs are far from safe choices. I think many people were wondering if Leprous were going down the radio friendly route and the answer is no way. Whilst it may not be as “heavy” as it’s predecessors the experimentation is definitely there, for this you should definitely check out The Weight Of Disaster, which in my opinion hearkens back to Thorn off of Bilateral.

Malina is a powerful album, sonically but also lyrically. It’s a pessimist’s dream. Bonneville really sets the tone, with a dark and brooding tone that just builds to the songs climax. Then there is Stuck which although is one of the albums singles, continues to the melancholic theme with lyrics like “where did I go wrong?” and the anthemic chorus line “I am stuck on mountains, mountains of doubt.” The outro to Stuck is simply sublime to the point that mere words cannot describe, you’ll just have to check it out. Leashes is another example of the breadth of the album. The intro could easily have come off of Tall Poppy Syndrome but elements of latter albums ground this as a modern Leprous classic. The lyrics again sombre, and their delivery is stellar. For me the standout song on the album is Mirage, all parties pull out top draw musicianship all building towards the chorus where Einar’s vocals deliver an emphatic victory, “I, I have been trying to break out for so long, I found my path when I thought I was wrong!”. And that 8-string guitar line, what a creepy monster of a riff that is!

I feel the album’s unsung hero is bassist Simen Borven. Many times throughout the album I have been struck by his meticulous basslines, most particularly on Mirage and The Weight of Disaster.

The album’s closer The Last Milestone is well simply beautiful. It is a duet between Einar Solberg and guest musician Raphael Weinroth-Browne on strings. Quite frankly its haunting, and one can only assume its about death, and has had me on the verge of tears a couple of times.

So, what do I make of Malina? It’s like no Leprous album you’ve ever heard before. The band have evolved to produce a cleaner sound. There are much less “heavy” parts but that is made up for in spades by the emotion evoked. It takes a while to get into the style and direction of the album but once you’ve picked it up you’ll fall in love with it. Go in with a clear mind, no preconceptions, and in fact if you have no prior knowledge of the band that probably makes it much easier, and take it for what it is! It’s different accept it and it’s great for what it is. Malina is unmistakably Leprous but exploring a new fresh sound whilst maintaining the same melancholic flood of emotion. Check it out, it’s definitely the most emotional album you’ll listen to this year.  

Must listen to songs: Bonneville, Stuck, Mirage, The Weight of Disaster.
Rating: 9/10

Sorni Nai - Kauan

There are some things that are simply just too good to keep to yourself, like the arrival of a new child or an engagement. When passion stirs up in us we feel compelled to share what is on our hearts at that time. Music is no different, sometimes something catches your ear and you simply have to pass on this new discovery. Sorni Nai is one of those moments and something I haven't felt for a long time. Kauan a small Russian band released this gem in the second half of 2015 and completely bypassed many peoples radars, however thanks to modern technology and the wonders of the internet I came upon this wondrous piece. A 52 minute ambient metal orchestral progressive ode to the victims of the Dyatlov Pass Incident, is something simply sublime.

The Dyatlov Pass incident centres around nine very experienced Russian skiers/hikers who ventured into the Ural Mountains but never made it to their end destination, Otorten. On the slopes of Kholat Syakhl something bizarre happened. After setting up camp for the night the explorers startled by something fled their camp in little more than what they had been sleeping in, wading through deep snow, barefoot in the dead of night. When the bodies of the victims were discovered some had sustained significant injuries such as fractured skulls and major chest fractures that would have taken serious force, but no external injuries were found and there was no sign of a struggle. Some of the bodies contained high levels of radiation and orange lights in the sky had been reported by other hikers in the area on the night of 2nd February 1959.

To this day nobody knows what indeed happen that night but this album serves as a chilling tribute to those who died. The album is sadly all in Finnish (for some reason Kauan write their songs in Finnish) so I can't tell you about the lyrical content but with the orchestration, artwork and sinister, solemn vibe emanating from this piece you don't need to understand what they are saying to know what is going on. This album is truly stunning by how it leads you through a complex array of emotions and like the explorers on their journey as a listener you can feel what it must have been like to be out there in the wilderness in the winter of 1959. The heavier screamed passages may not be everyones cup of tea but serve well as adding to the drama alongside the equally eerie synth and keys work. The music, the concept and the artwork have been done to perfection.

This band have pulled off something stunning, not just as a piece of music but a complete artwork and lasting monument to those who lost their lives that tragic night. It is not just a piece of music but a vast soundscape in which you can immerse yourself in and take that fated journey that Dyatlov's group took.

Sorni Nai - Kauan is out now through Blood Music 

The stuff you normally listen to

I must say that over the past few weeks I have been incredibly unadventurous in my musical musings and haven't really put much thought into what I have been listening to. I came across the list of songs that I had been putting together for the next load of notable mentions and it was full of the same old stuff - a ton of Norwegian stuff, something I haven't heard in ages, something new or something that has caught my attention. This however got me thinking that actually we forget how great some of these pieces are. We put them on when we get up, in the car on the way to work, when we are at work or when we are casually browsing the internet but we forget what made us like them in the first place. So whilst today's list of songs may not be a wild leap into the unknown here are some great tracks that I have embraced into my day to day listenings.

Hymne Til Havet - In Vain
I bloody love this song. Well in fact the whole album Ænigma, In Vain have created a brilliant soundscape with this album. Hymne Til Havet is for me one of the standouts on the album, sung totally in Norwegian and layered vocal harmonies you get the vibe that vikings could have been belting out this chorus as they left their Scandinavian shores into the vast ocean. The guitar work and song crafting on this piece is sublime. Ænigma is a masterpiece and something all metal fans should check out even if you're not into all this viking awesomeness.

Tyrants - Immortal
I haven't really listened to much of the Norwegian Black Metal titans, Immortal, but I stumbled across this track and was blown away by the sheer power of it! Some times black metal needs to take the pace down just a notch for its true power to be heard and that is just what Immortal have done here. Simple but effective Norwegian Black Metal.

Physical Education - Animals As Leaders
And now for something completely different. I'm not a massive fan of the band but this song really caught my attention. That catchy little melody that runs through the song is incredibly infectious that mixed with Tosin Abasi's signature jazzy bass thumping technique give this song a fantastic groove. It's not much of a shred fest but more for the musical connoisseur taking a trippy journey to the djent side.

The Unbinding Truth - Dååth
Tech/melo-death band Dååth had completely slipped off my radar for a long time. I loved this band a while ago but for some reason I haven't listened to them in ages. This track from their astonishing album The Concealers highlights everything great about this band. The guitar work that Levi and Werstler come up with is mind blowing, that compounded with the crushing vocals of Sean Zatorsky you are left with this little beauty.

Mass Darkness - Ihsahn 
Finally! It is here! The lead single from Ihsahn's upcoming album Arktis has arrived. As he has said in various interviews this album is going to take a more structured approach to song writing compared to that of Das Seelenbrechen and this song certainly follows that sentiment. As straight up as a Black Metal song could possibly be, Mass Darkness, is a nice intro to what I'm sure will be contender for album of the year. The song also features a not too annoying Matt Heafy on vocals for the chorus "Give in!"'s - It's an Ihsahn song after all, he could redeem pretty much anything.

Top Notch
Ok so I am introducing a new category which I am sure will only feature when something is extremely good. I went to see Steven Wilson this past week again in which he played the whole of his most recent album Hand. Cannot. Erase. meaning that his song Routine was played once again. Knowing how much it impacted me the last time I saw him perform it I said to myself I would not be moved to tears again. Well it was extremely hard. The way Steven and the band deliver this song is a pure work of art. The story, the music and the visuals are all impeccable to get you to just watch the music video would not do it justice but I will get you to do that anyway. It was absolutely stunning and someone who you must see live.

Albums that need talking about in 2015

It's that time of year where every media outlet is publishing their heavily commercialised "Top Album's of 2015" lists. It makes my blood boil to see some of the suggestions that some people are making for their albums of the year so I have decided to do something a bit different. Some albums from 2015 that have caught my attention for one reason or another - as you will see these aren't in any order of what is the best and what is not but more of a list what has been released and what I feel needs to be said.

Dormant Heart - Sylosis:
Sylosis are one of those bands that have stuck to their guns through and through but made a progression from album to album. I really started to get into their when Edge of the Earth was released, I loved their fast paced thrashy riffs but with much more technicality and atmosphere that your average thrash band. Fast forward a couple of years and we are here with another stellar release. Dormant Heart encapsulates Sylosis' essence nicely but is a definite step forward from Monolith. I feel that this album is much more of a package and flows nicely. Where The Wolves Come To Die is probably one of the best openings to an album I have heard in a long time, setting the scene nicely for what follows. If you are a fan of them but haven't listened to them in a while or someone who likes a bit of blackened thrash this is a great place to start.

The Congregation - Leprous 
Coal has to be one of my all time favourite albums. It was something fresh to me and nice refreshing shift away from modern progressive metal, so when Leprous announced the release of The Congregation I couldn't wait to get hold of it. It does not disappoint. If you are expecting Coal 2  you are not going to get it. The Congregation has a different vibe to it and feels a little more split up. You can certainly dip in and out of this album whereas Coal was very much a whole project. That being said it doesn't spoil the album. Einar Solberg's vocals are haunting as ever, on this effort laying off of the screamed vocals a bit more. The musicianship on this album is top notch and I love what they have done on it. While the album is full of absolutely impeccable songs, are a cut above the rest. The Flood with it's throbbing bass pulse kicks the song off then Einar comes in serenely to rest above it. The emotion is gigantic when it you hit the drop sending chills down your spine. Fantastic synth and vocal work there. My only criticism is that, it should have been the first song on the album, they did it live and it worked so well. Moon again is just one of those immense pieces where the instrumentation works so well for Einar to come in and just use his voice to the best of his ability and soar over the top. The Congregation is just fantastic - a great album for those who want to get into the band but don't know too much about them and for the long term fans of the Norwegian prog titans. Expect to hear a lot about this band in the near future.

Solar Storm - Rendezvous Point
Whilst we are on the topic of Norwegian prog, Rendezvous Point have come out of the same group of musicians that Leprous and Ihsahn mix with but have adopted a more mainstream prog metal style resembling the likes of Haken and dare I say Dream Theater. For a debut album this is pretty stunning. I love Petter Hallaråker's guitar work on this album, and he can certainly pull it off live too. Through The Solar Storm is a great opener and leads nicely onto the lead single Wasteland.  I do feel that vocalist Geirmund Hansen pushes his vocals too hard to fast into the songs though, particularly Wasteland, if he can sort this for the next album I feel they could be destined for great things. Each song on this album deserves a mention because they are equally good. If you are into your modern prog then do check out this band.

Bloom - Caligula's Horse
Another band that I happened to stumble upon in my heavily progged out year. Caligula's Horse are a fantastic modern prog outfit from Australia. I checked them out after Tesseract toured Aus with them and was pleasantly surprised by their intricate melodies and moods created by guitarist and songsmith Sam Vallen. Naturally people are raving about the album's single Marigold (which is a good song don't get me wrong) but I think the album's strength comes from songs like Daughter Of The Mountain. Firelight is another stand out song, an ode to those who we have loved and lost too soon. Overall this album is a really nice refreshing take on modern prog.

Hand. Cannot. Erase. - Steven Wilson
The follow up to the stunning The Raven That Refused To Sing (and other stories) landed in the first part of 2015 and it did not disappoint. This concept album is little short of a masterpiece by the progressive legend. I know I harp on about this one track but it is simply breathtaking, Routine steals the show on this album. Steven and Ninet Tayeb absolutely deliver a masterpiece on this track, the emotions are so thick that the live performance had me ever so close to tears, it is absolutely phenomenal. I don't think that Hand is quite at the same level as The Raven but it is still a stonking piece of work. Perhaps a tad difficult for a first time listener but one for the eclectic fan. If that wasn't enough Steven is releasing a stop gap album in the first part of 2016 to bridge the gap to his next full solo effort. People are asking when a Porcupine Tree reunion is coming and I am going to be bold and say, "Do we really need one?". Steven's solo work has been validated in its own right and he still plays the Porcupine Tree songs live so do we really need it. I don't think so.

International Blackjazz Society - Shining 
After the astounding One One One I was super excited to see what Shining delivered. To be honest I was a bit disappointed when I heard IBS it wasn't, in my opinion, anywhere near the same quality of its predecessor. However, there are some jems on the album the most notable being House Of Control  which is brilliant. I was getting to the end of what seemed to me a mediocre album when suddenly this came on which made me sit up and take note. House Of Control is in some respect a bit of a ballad, if Shining could do such a thing, but the way they do it is astonishing. Jørgen Munkeby's vocal performance particularly on this track conveys a ton of emotion, giving it a very personal vibe that is often lacking on "ballads". While the rest of the album has hints of greatness it is a very mediocre effort with a gem hiding in its mix. I look forward to hearing what Shining do next.

De Gjenlevende - Galar
Ok I am so late to the game with this band. I was looking through someone else's top ten albums of the year and I must say the artwork caught my eye so I thought I would give them a listen and see what they were like. I must say I was blown away with what I heard. If you're looking for some well composed atmospheric Black metal then seriously check this album out. What I like about this album so much is that it feels more like a composition than someone just sitting down with a guitar and blasting out riff after riff. A number of different classical instruments have been used on the album and it all helps to build a dark brooding atmosphere. For me there is no bad track on the album and even the classical track Ljós is simply stunning and fits right in. Another great track is Bøkens Hymne, it starts with this funky little classical section before replicating the same section this time with crushing guitars and wondrous black metal vibes. Even though it is entirely in Norwegian, it doesn't detract from what an amazing piece of work this album is. Don't knock the bassoon, listen to this album!

Silence In The Snow - Trivium
Right the gloves are off. I have had it. I am done. What on earth were Trivium thinking with this album. Some people say it's "a natural progression" or "Matt Heafy has found his voice and is doing what he always wanted to do, sing". Bollocks. I am sorry but it is not just the vocals on this album that have wound me up so much with this band. I was a massive Trivium fan and I liked the way that the band were changing and growing all the way up until In Waves. When In Waves came out I thought, ok this is good but I feel it could be better, I like the way that you're heading back to the Ascendancy kind of vibes. Then Vengeance Falls came out and I was severely disappointed. Whilst there were glimmers of good riffs most of the songs structuring was poor. So Silence was announced earlier in the year and I thought "Ok this will be interesting to see what they do here". The song Silence In The Snow wasn't actually that bad. I thought ok this a bit more technical, Heafy is trying to be Dio which is pretty annoying but its not a bad song. Then I heard the rest of the album, and my head sunk. Most of the songs are very short, repetitive and unimaginative with the most boring drum lines from Mat Madiro - who has subsequently been dropped by the band. I'm sorry but you can't tell me that the band are now making the music they "always wanted to make" when you look back at the complexity of something like the Shogun or the hardcore values of Ascendancy.  Silence In The Snow is extremely underwhelming and falls short on all fronts. I just hope with the addition of Paul Wandtke on the drums they can work back to what they used to be. I am not asking for Ascendancy 2 or Shogun Strikes Back I am just asking that they simply stop messing about trying to be radically different with each album, find a style and work on it. They have polarised their audience and are fast becoming a joke.

The Book Of Souls - Iron Maiden
This may not be what you expect, don't worry after what you have just read I am not about to light up one of the biggest heavy metal bands of all time. I will say though that The Book Of Souls did disappoint me. I have huge respect for Maiden, I think any metal fan does, and I couldn't wait for a follow up to The Final Frontier which was in my opinion a pretty solid release. I heard the single Speed Of Light  and was a little disappointed, but nevertheless the song grew on me and I quickly picked up my guitar and started playing riffs from it it. When the album came out I couldn't wait to put it on and the disappointment hit again. Am I forcing myself to like this? Is it genuinely bad? Is it me? I would say that The Book Of Souls is not a brilliant album in comparison to what the band have recently released. It feels like they have bitten off more than they can chew, with this being the longest album they have ever released. There is something to be said for a band releasing a live sounding album dont get me wrong, but I really feel that if they had spent a bit more time on this album, cut some of the crap then they would have had another great album on their hands. So for me The Book Of Souls is an ok release but as every fan would admit, I can't wait to see what they do next!

Paris, Ihsahn and Shining

Well its been a odd couple of weeks in the world of music. I don't want to talk to much about what has happened in Paris but it goes without saying that it has hit the music industry hard. To have a terrorist attack happen in a place where people go to escape the world is just unimaginable. The night the attacks happened I was watching the live feed and as soon as I saw that it was the Bataclan venue my ears pricked up. That was such a popular venue, it was always popping up on the touring roster. Then of course we found out the enormity of what had gone on and I was left gobsmacked. There are no words for what has happened. I have since been to two gigs following the attacks and the talking point at both was the events in Paris both by the bands themselves but the fans. My heart goes out to all of those in Paris who were caught up in this tragic incident and of course their friends and families. However the people who carried out these attacks want us to worry, fear them and to take away our fun, so we have to stay strong and carry on going to gigs and support our touring music industry.

Ihsahn's band: Einar Solberg - Keys, Kenneth Kapstad - Drums, Not sure who but looks around my age - Guitar and Ihsahn - Guitar and Vocals

So with that in mind I went to go and see Ihsahn, the Norwegian Black Metal master at the Camden Underworld. I was so hyped for this show! The chance to see one of my favourite artists of all time play a rare headlining club show in London was something I could not pass up. With support from Voices, who were an interesting black metal band, and Krokodil who were a slower more chuggier version of Mastodon and the Master himself, Ihsahn it was certainly a gig to remember. There was just one issue... set times. The doors were at 6 and I had left the venue by 10:15 at the latest ... All bands played shorter than expect sets. The quality was fantastic but the quantity was lacking somewhat. Ihsahn opened up with a couple of songs from his latest (curveball) release Das Seelenbrechen before launching into Frozen Lakes On Mars and A Grave Inversed from After which were both monstrous. The Black Metal legend also dropped a new song My Heart Is Of The North from his upcoming album which will be released in February (expect an announcement imminently). 

As he finished with The Grave from Eremita there was a kind of dissatisfaction with the shortness of the set that a lot of people remained in their places baying for an encore - sadly it never came. Overall it was a phenomenal show and I am so glad I got to see such a legend of the black metal scene which I am so interested in. 

Jørgen Munkeby pointing the finger

Some friends at the Ihsahn got me feeling sorry for myself that I wasn't seeing Shining a few days later again at The Underworld. I took the plunge and bought a ticket. There were four bands on the bill; Jack Dalton - who were interesting - dont really know where to place them, Raketkanon - who were ... well ... um ... extremely bonkers (randomly running off stage, making out with other members of the band and a ton of effects. Yeah weird, but they held a crowd!), Caligula's Horse - Haken meets Karnivool and Guthrie Govan and finally Shining - Blackjazz titans from Norway. The bands that stood out were Caligula's Horse and Shining. I have only recently heard about CH and I really dig there stuff, they have had some flack for sounding too similar to other bands in the current progressive scene but I don't buy it - they put on a stunning performance and they were a refreshing band to watch. They dedicated their song Firelight to those caught up in the Paris attacks (they had played Paris the night before) and it was incredibly moving. Do check them out -  they have just released an new album Bloom. Shining were insane. Opening up with the iconic I Won't Forget is something that I literally won't forget! Unfortunately I was clock watching to make sure I didn't miss my train home but they are a band not to miss - if you get the chance go! They also played House Of Control from their new album International Blackjazz Society which is my favourite from the album and something I never thought they would play! Do check them out. 

Apart from those gigs I have been listening a lot to those bands. I have also checked out Ihsahn's wifes work as Starofash. Her electronic album Ghouleh is pretty damn good check it out if like electronic experimental music. So here are the things that caught my ear in my Notable mentions playlist! Until next time,

Cheers!

Silva Magna - Starofash: Interesting electronic/atmospheric work from Heidi Solberg Tveitan!

Can Utility And The Coastliners - Steve Hackett: Yes Steve Hackett from his Genesis Revisited album this one has Steven Wilson on vocals.

Chaos Reigns - Trivium: Ah *sigh* possibly the last decent Trivium song. Simple, heavy and Matt Heafy screaming like he used to ... I'd love to see the band bring out something like this again. 

Shatter - Krokodil: As I said in my review, seriously chuggy and tasty riffs!

House Of Control - Shining: I checked out the new Shining album and this song just leapt out at my it was not was I was expecting at all - Love it!

Welcome

Welcome to this new blog of mine based around music. For those who know me about just over a year ago I got my degree in Music Journalism and then pretty much walked away from the music industry to get a job in another field of work. To tell you the truth, I haven't done any reviewing since. So why go back to it? Well, I miss spouting off about my favourite bands or completely slating the things that I really don't get on with.

Over the past few weeks I have been to a a few shows that have made me think, "blooming heck that was awesome! I need to tell the world about that band!" So that is why I am back - to let you all know what's caught my attention, what I'm into and who I have been/am going to see! This is purely a part time thing and I will update it as and when I can. If you want to suggest things to me then by all means do so! If you want to meet up at gigs I am down for that too. I will also be putting up my "Notable mentions" Spotify playlist which you can subscribe to.

I hope to give a very brief explanation as to why each song has made it into the playlist too so here goes:
The Hunger - Rendezvous Point: I saw these guys support Leprous the other week and they are a pretty solid group. If you are into your 8 stringed progressive metal like Haken and Leprous then check these guys out. Debut album Solar Storm just dropped.
Open Car - Porcupine Tree: Seeing Steven Wilson play at the Royal Albert Hall a few weeks ago was simply the best show I have ever been to. Honestly. He played this at the show and it wont stop going round in my head!
Elevator - Ihsahn: I wanted to check out Ihsahn's album Angl before catching him at The Underworld in a couple of weeks and this song leapt out at me. That descending riff had me reaching for my guitar in an instant! Looking forward to seeing the master playing - my first time seeing him.
A Gift To Afterthought - Caligula's Horse: You can probably tell the music I listen to now ... These guys popped up on facebook and the artwork for their new album Bloom caught my eye so thought I would check them out. I love the guitar work on this song ... it's like Guthrie Govan meets Haken meets Karnivool.
Moon - Leprous: Ok, I have a serious love for this band. The Congregation is not as good as Coal BUT Moon is just a phenomenal track. Vocalist Einar Solberg blows my mind every time I listen to it. I know it's very much an Acquired Taste (cheeky Leprous pun there) but if you dig it check this song out.
Fem Soler - Ørkenkjøtt: Anyone good with Norwegian? I know I have OD'd on Norway in this playlist this time round but another cracking band from Norway. If I remember correctly Ihsahn tutored these guys and helped to record this album. Another proggy Norwegian band ... the lyrics are all in Norwegian but hey the music is top notch.
Liquid Memories - The Moor: NOT A NORWEGIAN BAND - These guys are from Venice and to be honest I don't know a great deal about them! This song from their album Year Of Hunger is a cracker, it's not totally 100% there but if the guys can build on it for future releases watch out for them!

So that's all from this first blog post! I hope you enjoy it and I will do my best to keep it updated with all my musical adventures in the future!
Cheers,
Charlie

Leprous putting on an amazing show in London!