Review Summary: Leprous yet again strays away from their prog metal origins to give us another softer prog rock record that blends pop and electronics in more exciting ways than ever before.
I’m going to be honest: I don’t love most of Leprous’ early work. I prefer the more mainstream approach the band gave us with 2019’s
Pitfalls. Though I think most fans of the band will enjoy this album more, their mileage may vary. Again, we see a departure of their signature prog metal beginnings for a prog pop-rock outing that delivers their best work yet by blending a bit of old with the new.
The opener, “Running Low”, is a slow build to a simple yet addictive chorus that will echo throughout your mind for days to come. Not only does it deliver on that chorus, but the strings add stunning theatrics that build to a breathtaking finale of epic proportions making it my favorite track of the entire record.
The guitar tones and synths in “Out of Here” take us on an ethereal journey that culminates in a groovy crescendo midway through. The synths return with a bigger presence in “Silhouette”, but it’s the strings that are the standout here. “All The Moments” slows things down a bit with impressive piano work that blends so effortlessly with Einar Solberg’s vocals.
“Have You Ever?” begins with ominous synths with a slow beat stitched together by Einar’s harmonies. The vocal effects on the chorus are simple, but are effective in drawing us in with the more barren verses and bridges. Leprous’ excellent use of their instrumental arsenal comes into full force here. This is easily one of the standout tracks.
“The Silent Revelation” doesn’t do anything new by this point, but it excels in its execution. What follows though is another standout track in “The Shadow Side”. The poppier approach of Leprous’ newer sound shines by showing us here that we can have sophisticated pop music in 2021. It also shows that Einar’s keyboard work in these past two records has reached new heights. The guitar solo near the end then neatly wraps up all of the emotion that has oozed out over the last four and a half minutes.
The nearly 8 minute epic, “On Hold”, brings us some of the best lyrics on the whole record. Dealing with insecurities, conformity, and struggling with his own identity in the darkest of times, Einar lets us in more than ever. The guitar work is restrained and explodes in a Muse-esque sequence at the end that culminates in quintessential Leprous fashion.
“Castaway Angels” strips away the complex foundation of the band to let Einar’s voice and an acoustic guitar take full control before the rest of the band comes in to elevate the emotional finale. This beautiful track is easily one of the best here.
The closer, “Nighttime Disguise”, is the closest we get to their older work. Though it doesn’t entirely reach their progressive metal roots, it’s one of the more proggier tracks. With some of the best guitar work over this 56 minute journey, this is a fitting way to close the record. The last minute is a masterful ending that ends with the only harsh vocals heard across the entirety of
Aphelion. It’s truly a work of art.
Leprous have had a long and consistent journey to get to this point in their career. They’ve reinvented themselves over the past two years, and this record proves that this evolution was the correct path. With plenty of proggier work in their back catalog, the band has found a new spark in the ways of a more digestive and poppier sound that allows theatrics and Einar’s voice to shine like never before. Though most hardcore fans will probably lean towards favorites such as
Bilateral,
Aphelion has become Leprous’ crowning achievement in creativity and songwriting.
