APHELION

In concordance with the stylistic lineage of recent Leprous albums, 'Aphelion' from 2021 eventually represents an exercise in mastery of the musical musings of preceding studio effort 'Pitfalls' - an experimental, moody post-progressive sound that dares to invoke an electronic pop sensibility and render the Norwegian band's very own branch of "slow storm build-up" heavy rock into a fascinating and eclectic experience of music that only seemingly utilizes the means of expression of the metal genre, but in reality takes the material a step further, veering into some uncharted territories, that is without a doubt the case here. One might as well make the point that there is little variation in the band's output since their fifth album 'Malina' came out in 2017, but each LP feels like a fervorous step forward in the exploration of previously unheard of before soundscapes, with the band melting together a myriad of styles and tropes within their pot.

'Aphelion' is no exception from the rule, yet it is one of the most consistent and coherent listens out of the entire recent catalogue, with its cinematic soundscape and moody passageways, there is a smoothness to the album that is perhaps counteracted by its labyrinthian instrumentation, giving way to the impressive vocal work of band leader Einar Solberg, as we observe him getting better with each new Leprous album. There is a familiar feel to 'Aphelion' but also a warmth that makes it immediately appealing. Starting off rather impressively with explosive and miraculously beautiful tracks like 'Running Low', 'Out of Here', and 'All the Moments', there is a clear tone of pensive melancholy to this work, all while the band provides the soundtrack to a rather exploratory musical odyssey, from the sweeping guitars and the pitch-perfect drum patterns to the orchestral bits and the ambient waves of synthesizer sounds. It seems like Leprous are still stronger when it comes to the heavier department of their music ('The Silent Revelation', 'Nighttime Disguise'), with the gorgeous crossover pop-metal numbers on this album, while the more forgettable pieces of music are represented by these structure-less and ghostly songs in the second half, 'The Shadow Side', 'On Hold', and to an extent 'Castaway Angels'. Still, a really solid work, 'Aphelion' is yet another excellently-crafted album by Leprous.

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