LIVE(STREAM) REVIEW: Leprous @ The Congregation In Full
2015’s The Congregation was a landmark achievement for Norwegian prog metallers LEPROUS, it was one of the best releases of that year and achieved widespread love further around the world than any previous release. Due to obvious reasons, live shows are still nowhere to be seen globally and more and more acts are taking to the world of streaming to keep their fans happy and to help the bands survive in these volatile and tough times.
Leprous have been no slouch lately and has been extremely busy coming up with new content and streamed shows including an acoustic set by lead vocalist Einar Solberg and the band teaming up with long term musical partner and fellow Norwegian stalwart IHSAHN to perform an incredible arrangement of their music together. All moments have been worthwhile parting with money, not only to watch the band but support their careers and while their latest streaming effort, The Congregation In Full, is another celebration of their talent and musicianship, the choice to have pre-recorded the set sadly sees them drop a few points.
19:00 hits and we are greeted with the concert in full, pre-recorded and not the band performing live which is a tad strange for a show that is billed as a ‘live’ stream. The set kicks off with The Price, a track that shows off just how tight these guys are playing together. The staccato riffs stab like a dagger piercing through the track as Einar soars majestically over the top. The camera dashes between band members and shows off just how ‘in the zone’ everyone appears to be. Even without a crowd’s energy to feed off the band are out to perform at their best. Rewind and The Flood are live favourites and the band blast through them with ease while the only once before played track Within My Fence feels like it’s been played at many a show over the past five years.
Slave, Moon and Down could arguably be one the most epic three-song runs on any albums. They are brooding in atmosphere and all end up soaring towards their finales. Einar’s vocal ability is second to none and he shines once more in a live setting. Drummer Baard Kolstad, who surprises no one in being shirtless halfway through the set, is one of the most underrated drummers in prog and to any newcomers watching to stream, this is a chance to see the impressive talents on display. This is a band performing with no frills or special effects and for some that will be enough while others will compare live streams to other acts breaking the barriers of what streaming has become in the modern era.
The Congregation is an incredible musical achievement and one of the most underrated albums in progressive metal, so the choice to play this again in full for those who weren’t lucky to witness it in person is an inspired decision. It’s just a shame it was pre-recorded when many assumed by paying for a ticket and having it being released at a set time in the evening it would indicate it should have been live then and there. Be that as it may, it’s another powerhouse performance by Norway’s progressive metal heroes and they prove once again that they are masters of their craft.
Rating: 8/10