Much like a good horror series, metal musicians always want to up the ante and hit fans with their heaviest stuff yet on their most recent release. This is exactly what Leprous set out to do with Melodies of Atonement, released on August 30th.
While the album takes a more minimalist approach by nixing the orchestral elements, it gives the core band members a chance to shine.
By the band’s own admission, the new album is heavier than what came before but still very much Leprous at its core. A tour under the same name was soon announced with Fight the Fight and Monuments. The tour made its way through New York City on Friday the 13th, with many fans ready to support the Norwegian metal group.
Unfortunately, monuments had to back out of the tour due to illness, and The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die were announced in their place for the first half of the tour, and Earthside took over for the second leg.
New York fans had some extra confusion thrown in when the venue changed from Webster Hall in the East Village of Manhattan to the more intimate Racket NYC in the meatpacking district two miles away without much notice.
A fan’s Reddit post posted on the day of the show helped many attendees find out ahead of time while others were left hustling to make it to the show on time after arriving at the wrong venue.
Still, the new venue proved an excellent option for Leprous and company as it brought the fans and bands close together for a great night of music. That night officially kicked off with the metalcore band Fight the Fight out of Norway.
The group immediately got fans moving with “Serpent of the Sand” and “Ascent,” immediately winning over fans that were digging deep growls and energetic guitar riffs.
For the most part, the band transitioned between tracks, including “Shining” and “A.I.,” without much fan interaction between them, but on two separate occasions, the band made it a point to tell fans how big of a deal it was to them to cross performing in New York City off their bucket list. Their first stop in the Big Apple proved they were ready for the grandeur of it all.
Fight the Fight
Photo Credit: Andrew Fiero
Up next to the stage was The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die. While their name may seem like a mouthful, their live show will leave you speechless. The Tri-State based group consisting of David Bello (Vocals), Katie Dvorak (Keyboard, Vocals), Chris Teti (Guitar), Josh Cyr (Bass), and Steven Buttery (Drums) have a unique atmospheric indie sound.
The group captivated fans from the get-go with “Dim Sum” and “We Saw Bird Through The Hole In the Ceiling” while fans moved to the music. The set continued through “Katamari Duquette” before closing with “P Markets”.
The band will be missed when Leprous heads into the second half of their American tour, leaving Earthside with some big shoes to fill. No further tour dates are currently announced for the group but fans should keep posted for the next time the band is in their area.
The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die
Photo Credit: Andrew Fiero
Anticipation was hitting a boiling point as Leprous was next to the stage. The logo for the new album donned both the banner behind the band as well as the drum set. With deep reds illuminating the stage, Einar Solberg (Vocals, Keyboards), Tor Oddmund Suhrke (Guitar), Robin Ognedal (Guitar), Simen Børven (Bass), and Baard Kolstad (Drums), and touring member Harrison White (Keyboards) received a hero’s welcome as they took to the NYC stage.
The band immediately showed off the new album with “Silently Walking Away.” Throughout the set other new tracks including “I Hear The Sirens” and “Like a Sunken Ship” captivated fans while older tracks including “The Price” off of their 2015 release The Congregation gave older fans something to sink their teeth into.
Speaking of older tracks, Leprous started experiencing technical difficulties halfway through the sets. Solberg joked with fans with what he referred to as “awkward small talk” for a few moments while hoping the problem would be resolved. When it was clear the problem was going to take a few more minutes, the band used the opportunity to dig deep into their past with 2009’s “Passing” (Tall Poppy Syndrome), a track not often played live by the band any more.
“Passing” didn’t require the downed laptop and pleased fans as it replaced “Alleviate” on the printed setlist. By the time it continued with “Unfree My Soul,” the problem was resolved, and the rest of the night went without a hitch.
Later in the set, the band invited some lucky fans on stage to sing along with “Faceless”. The track also features a fan choir on the album. This could easily become a huge staple in the band’s live shows as it has been so far this tour. After the track, the bandmates each made sure to greet the fans that had come up on stage with handshakes and hugs as they left before moving on to “Slave.”
After “From the Flame,” the band closed out their main set with new hit “Atonement” while adding the outro to “The Sky is Red.” The band then all congregated center stage for a curtain call bow as they took in the adoration of their fans.
Fans up close to the stage could see there was no encore listed on the setlist, but that didn’t stop a boisterous chant of “One More Song!” from taking over the venue. If you’re going to do an encore, might as well add your own spin on it.
Leprous upped the ante when they returned to the stage. Solberg lobbed a water bottle into the crowd, with whoever caught it getting to choose the final track. “Stuck” took the honor of closing out the night, and it felt like the band would have gladly played all night had it not been for the venue’s curfew.
Lepous continues to evolve and perfect their craft. Melodies of Atonement marks the next step in the band’s evolution. The tour is a loving tribute to the band’s past and present and is highly recommended. For fans that attended the Friday the 13th show in Manhattan, the change in venues was a blessing in disguise.
The more intimate environment with no barricades or separation from the band led to it feeling like the fans and band were closer. Throughout the night, there were very few cell phones out, and nearly everyone was singing and moving to the tracks. It felt like a concert should be.
The band continues the Melodies of Atonement Tour with Fight the Fight and Earthside through October 5th before heading to Australia and then Europe with their last currently posted show, bringing them back home to Norway for a show in mid-February of next year. The band has also released a documentary of behind the scenes footage from the rehearsal room and beyond titled “Leprous – The Road to Nashville” that featured three episodes and a live Q&A.
All in all, the rest of 2024 into next year is looking bright for Leprous. If this tour is anything to go by, fans will be anxiously awaiting their return to the States again soon.
Leprous
Photo Credit: Andrew Fiero
