Leprous

The band's roster solidified by the time they recorded their debut album, Tall Poppy Syndrome in August 2008. American label Sensory Records signed the band and released the album in May 2009. Alex Henderson of AllMusic praised the band's debut for moving past the "staunchly pre-90s mentality" of contemporary progressive metal by blending the influence of Pink Floyd and King Crimson with alternative metal bands such as Tool.{{cite web|last=Henderson|first=Alex|title=Leprous: Tall Poppy Syndrome|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/tall-poppy-syndrome-mw0000817270|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=16 June 2013}}

The album received positive reviews{{cite web|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/l/gr/leprous-tallpoppysyndrome.htm|title=Leprous Tall Poppy Syndrome Review|last=Marsicano|first=Dan|publisher=About.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215321/https://heavymetal.about.com/od/l/gr/leprous-tallpoppysyndrome.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|access-date=17 November 2019}} while the band gained attention as the live band for Emperor's frontman, Ihsahn, whose wife, Starofash, is the sister to Leprous vocalist/keyboardist Einar Solberg. In 2010, Leprous appeared at ProgPower USA{{cite web|url=http://progpowerusa.com/xi/teaser-interview-leprous/|title=Teaser Interview – Leprous|website=ProgPower USA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301153134/https://progpowerusa.com/xi/teaser-interview-leprous/|archive-date=1 March 2012|access-date=17 November 2019}} and ProgPower Europe, and later supported Therion on their European tour. After that tour, the band announced that they had split with bassist Halvor Strand, who was replaced by Rein Blomquist.{{cite web|url=http://leprous.net/news.html|title=Band news|website=Leprous|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723183353/https://leprous.net/news.html|archive-date=23 July 2011|access-date=17 November 2019}}

At the end of February 2011 the band announced that they had signed with Inside Out, with worldwide distribution through Century Media.{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/leprous-signs-with-insideout-music/|title=LEPROUS Signs With INSIDEOUT MUSIC|date=28 February 2011|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=17 November 2019}} The band's debut for Inside Out Records, Bilateral, was released on 22 August 2011 in Europe and a day later in North America{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/leprous-new-album-artwork-unveiled/|title=LEPROUS: New Album Artwork Unveiled|date=29 June 2011|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=12 November 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.insideoutmusic.com/newsdetailed.aspx?IdNews=10223&IdCompany=8|title=Bilateral release date|date=24 August 2011|website=Inside Out Music|access-date=17 November 2019}} and featured artwork by American surrealist Jeff Jordan and Spanish designer Ritxi Ostariz. The album featured a guest vocal appearance by Ihsahn and trumpets by Vegard Sandbukt.

File:Leprous at Wacken Open Air 2013.jpg

On 20 May 2013, Leprous released Coal. Vocalist Einar Solberg described the album as "a more melancholic and darker album than the more playful Bilateral. By darker, I don't mean more aggressive, but more severe. There is still a big range in the dynamics, but no jumping between different moods within a song."{{cite web|url=http://www.leprous.net/band.html|title=Band Biography|website=Leprous|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103023611/https://www.leprous.net/band.html|archive-date=3 November 2013|access-date=16 June 2013}}

On 5 May 2014, the band announced the departure of drummer Tobias Ørnes Andersen. He was replaced by Baard Kolstad, who played with Leprous throughout their 2013 Coal tour. The statement also revealed that the band was working on material for their next album.{{cite web|url=http://www.leprous.net/news.html|title=Departure of Tobias Ørnes Andersen|website=Leprous|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522061616/https://www.leprous.net/news.html|archive-date=22 May 2010|access-date=5 May 2014}}

In early June 2014, Prog magazine Radio Show on Team Rock Radio in the United Kingdom published tour dates for an Inside Out records showcase featuring labelmates Haken, Maschine and Leprous for Autumn 2014 in the United Kingdom and Europe.

On 25 May 2015, the album The Congregation was released via Inside Out Music. A video for the track "The Price" was shot and then released on 8 April.{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/leprous-issue-promo-for-the-price|title=Leprous issue promo for The Price|last=Lach|first=Stef|date=7 April 2015|website=Prog|access-date=9 April 2015}} On 30 April 2015, another track of the album, "Rewind", was released.{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/leprous-rewind-in-latest-track|title=Leprous Rewind in latest track|last=Kielty|first=Martin|date=30 April 2015|website=Prog|access-date=30 April 2015}}

On 1 March 2017, Leprous announced through their official Facebook page that a new studio album would be released.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/leprousband/posts/10155386638275101|date=1 March 2017|website=Facebook|title=New Leprous studio album to be released in 2017! Stay tuned.|access-date=5 December 2017}} The album, Malina, was released on 25 August 2017.

The band released a new single, "Golden Prayers", on 1 June 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/latest-news/leprous-is-teasing-golden-prayers-for-friday|title=LEPROUS Is Teasing Golden Prayers For Friday|last=Kennelty|first=Greg|date=29 May 2018|website=Metal Injection|access-date=1 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9urirKOhgi0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9urirKOhgi0 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=LEPROUS - Golden Prayers (Album Track)|date=1 June 2018|website=YouTube|access-date=1 June 2018}}{{cbignore}}

On 25 January 2019, Leprous released a cover of "Angel" by Massive Attack, along with an accompanying music video.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/video/leprous-does-a-great-rendition-of-massive-attacks-angel|title=LEPROUS Does A Great Rendition Of MASSIVE ATTACK's "Angel"|last=Kennelty|first=Greg|date=25 January 2019|website=Metal Injection|access-date=25 January 2019}} The band had already performed the cover live during shows in late 2018.

Leprous entered the studio to record their sixth album in early 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/leprous-confirm-studio-return-to-record-album-no6|title=Leprous confirm studio return to record album no.6|last=Munro|first=Scott|date=4 March 2019|website=Prog|access-date=26 August 2019}} The album, titled Pitfalls, was officially announced on 26 August 2019, along with the designated release date of 25 October 2019, as well as the artwork and tracklist.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/45601610100/posts/10157866739960101/?sfnsn=mo|title=A new musical journey has started...|date=26 August 2019|website=Facebook|access-date=26 August 2019}}

Leprous continued to regularly perform live throughout 2020 and 2021, with the events streamed online from their home town of Notodden. This included performances of each of their studio albums (except Tall Poppy Syndrome) in full, including multiple live debuts and many songs performed for the first time with the band's current lineup.

On 9 June 2021, Leprous announced their seventh studio album Aphelion, with a release date of 28 August 2021.{{Cite web|last=Blabbermouth|date=9 June 2021|title=Leprous Announces New Studio Album 'Aphelion'|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/leprous-announces-new-studio-album-aphelion/|access-date=21 June 2021|website=Blabbermouth.net}} The band announced that the first single from Aphelion would be released on 26 June 2021.{{Cite web|title=First single and album pre-orders coming 25th June 2021!|url=https://twitter.com/leprousband/status/1402634220850319365|access-date=21 June 2021|website=Twitter|language=en}}

On 30 May 2024, Leprous announced the release date of their next album Melodies of Atonement along with its lead single "Atonement" in a blog post on their website{{Cite web|title=Leprous announce new studio album 'Melodies of Atonement'|url=https://leprous.net/leprous-announce-new-studio-album-melodies-of-atonement|date=30 May 2024|access-date=9 September 2024|website=leprous.net|language=en}} as well as their X account.{{Cite web|title=New Single: Atonement Is Out Now!|url=https://x.com/leprousband/status/1796542048704852374|access-date=9 September 2024|website=X|language=en}} Two more singles were released in the interim before the album, "Silently Walking Alone" and "Like a Sunken Ship".

Leprous' style is typically classified as progressive metal{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3308340/leprous-bilateral-limited-vinyl-details-released-want/|title=Leprous 'Bilateral' Limited Vinyl Details Released: I Want It!|last=Barkan|first=Jonathan|date=14 August 2014|website=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=17 November 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bilateral-mw0002189790|title=Bilateral - Leprous {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|last=Henderson|first=Alex|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=17 November 2019}} or progressive rock{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/leprous-frontman-einar-solberg-thinks-prog-rock-is-very-predictable-and-one-dimensional/|title=LEPROUS Frontman EINAR SOLBERG Thinks Prog Rock Is 'Very Predictable And One-Dimensional'|date=16 June 2019|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=17 November 2019}} and singled out for its progressive elements, peculiar harmonies, accomplished vocals, and blending of different genres. Their sound has also been categorized as avant-garde metal{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/ihsahn-parc_jean-drapeau_montreal_qc_august_9|title=Ihsahn Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal QC, August 9|last=Walschots|first=Natalie Zina|date=10 August 2015|website=Exclaim!|access-date=17 November 2019}} and alternative metal. However, the band's members do not affiliate themselves with a specific genre.

While all the members contribute to Leprous' music, Tor Oddmund Suhrke (guitarist) has penned most of the lyrics, and Einar Solberg (singer and keyboardist) composes the backbone for most of their songs; both are the only constant members in the band's line-up.{{cite web|access-date=10 June 2020|title='We Are Our Own Worst Critics' - An Interview With Leprous' Tor Oddmund Suhrke|publication-date=1 August 2016|first=Steven |last=Rosen|website=Ultimate Guitar|quote=... there has never been any rules in Leprous when it comes to who being allowed to contribute to writing music or lyrics, but it's true that I wrote approximately half of the lyrics on Tall Poppy Syndrome together with our former bass player Halvor, all the lyrics on Bilateral and almost all lyrics on Coal except for "The Cloak" which is written by Einar. On The Congregation, I also wrote most of the lyrics, ...|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/we_are_our_own_worst_critics_-_an_interview_with_leprous_tor_oddmund_suhrke.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223130814/https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/we_are_our_own_worst_critics_-_an_interview_with_leprous_tor_oddmund_suhrke.html|archive-date=23 February 2017}}{{cite web|access-date=10 June 2020|quote=Interviewer: Regarding losing two members; was the songwriting divided among all of you before?
Einar Solberg: On the previous albums I also had [composed] the majority of the albums, ... |url=https://www.metalblast.net/interviews/always-changing-an-interview-with-leprous/|title=Always Changing: An Interview with Leprous|first=J |last=Salmeron|publication-date=28 May 2015|website=Metalblast.net|url-status=live|archive-date=30 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530001802/https://www.metalblast.net/interviews/always-changing-an-interview-with-leprous/}} In his formative years, the frontman took singing and piano lessons and he used to notate Leprous songs but later stopped doing so after feeling that their compositions written intuitively were better.{{cite web|access-date=10 June 2020|url=http://auxportesdumetal.com/interviews/2015/Leprous2015-uk.html|title= Interview Einar Solberg |publication-date= 21 May 2015|website=Auxportesdumetal.com|url-status=live|archive-date=10 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810142428/http://auxportesdumetal.com/interviews/2015/Leprous2015-uk.html}} The band has emphasised their intention of taking different approaches on every album.

The use of eight-string guitar has been a consistent element of the band's style. Contrary to the prevalent uses in modern progressive metal and djent, Tor Oddmund Suhrke's playing style includes the use of complex chords in a variety of alternate guitar tunings (often necessitated by the fact the chord progressions are originally written by Einar Solberg on keyboard). As of Pitfalls, the use of eight-string guitars has decreased; instead, it is the first album to feature acoustic guitars, as well as band members rotating to perform additional keyboards and percussion live.

Suhrke cited the Mars Volta's Omar Rodríguez-López, Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt, Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson, and the Dillinger Escape Plan's Ben Weinman as his four biggest guitar influences.{{cite web|url=https://www.metalpaths.com/interviews/2015/09/01/interview-leprous-tor-oddmund-suhrke/|title=Interview: Leprous (Tor Oddmund Suhrke)|last=Koran|first=Andrew|date=1 September 2015|website=Metal Paths|access-date=5 December 2017}}

File:Leprous Euroblast 2014 01.jpg in October 2014.]]

• Einar Solberg – lead vocals, keyboards (2001–present)
• Tor Oddmund Suhrke – guitars, backing vocals (2001–present)
• Baard Kolstad – drums (2014–present)
• Simen Børven – bass, backing vocals (2015–present)
• Robin Ognedal – guitars, backing vocals (2017–present)

• Raphael Weinroth-Browne – cello, keyboards, backing vocals (2017–2024)
• Pedro Miguel Nuñez Diaz – trumpet (2021–present)
• Harrison White - keyboards (2023-present)

• Stian Lonar – bass (2001–2002)
• Esben Meyer Kristensen – guitar (2001–2003)
• Kenneth Solberg – guitar (2001–2003, 2003–2004)
• Truls Vennman – drums (2001–2005)
• Halvor Strand – bass (2002–2010)
• Øystein Landsverk – guitar, backing vocals (2004–2017)
• Tor Stian Borhaug – drums (2005–2007)
• Tobias Ørnes Andersen – drums (2007–2014)
• Rein Blomquist – bass (2010–2013)
• Martin Skrebergene – bass (2013–2015)

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• Tall Poppy Syndrome (2009)
• Bilateral (2011)
• Coal (2013)
• The Congregation (2015)
• Malina (2017)
• Pitfalls (2019)
• Aphelion (2021)
• Melodies of Atonement (2024)

• Live at Rockefeller Music Hall (2016)
• Live 2022 (2023)

• Silent Waters (2004)
• Aeolia (2006)

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.leprous.net/ Official website]

{{Leprous}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Norwegian progressive metal musical groups

Category:Norwegian avant-garde metal musical groups

Category:Musical groups established in 2001

Category:2001 establishments in Norway

Category:Musical groups from Notodden

Category:Inside Out Music artists

Category:Century Media Records artists