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.
Rating: 9/10
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