Since Leprous was founded in 2001, they've gone through a few changes in the line-up, and now consists of Einar Solberg (synth/vocals), Tor Oddmund Suhrke (guitar), Simen Børven (bass), Robin Ognedal (guitar) and Baard Kolstad (drums)
The young quintet have already made themselves visible on the Norwegian prog- and metal scene, and twice the band has made the finals in the Norwegian Rock Championship. Besides Leprous, the guys in Leprous are currently working as a session band of solo artist "Ihsahn", also known as the front figure of the legendary black metal band Emperor.
In August 2008, Leprous recorded their debut album "Tall Poppy Syndrome". As a result they caught the eye of several record companies, and ended up signing with the American label Sensory Records for a May 2009 release.
Prior to "Tall Poppy Syndrome", Leprous have recorded two demos which both received great accolades from the worldwide media, with the demo (self-financed full length album) "Aeolia" among other great reviews received a perfect 10 out of 10 score from the Norwegian webzine www.metal-norge.no. The band at that point decided to hold off on the search for a label to release their albums though, as they knew that they could create even better songs. And now, a couple of years later, "Tall Poppy Syndrome" is ready to hit the shelves.
Backed by Intromental Management & Booking Agency, Leprous spent 2009 promoting the release with numerous shows throughout Scandinavia, and entering 2010 the band and management laid plans for bringing the music of Leprous even further out to fans, by lining up shows around Europe and USA, as well as setting the band up as main support on Swedish orchestral metal band Therion's fall 2010 European tour, taking the band through no less than 17 countries in 30 days.
The music of Leprous is not an easy one to classify. Various genres are included, from progressive rock, to jazz, to pure metal. The vocals alternate between clean and growling, something which gives the music a heaviness it otherwise wouldn't have. To compare Leprous to other bands is practically impossible, but the closest comparisons would be bands such as Opeth, Arcturus, Porcupine Tree, Van Der Graaf Generator or Emperor. An interesting listening-experience for the open-minded music fan.
Studio albums
Tall Poppy Syndrome (2009)
Bilateral (2011)
Coal (2013)
The Congregation (2015)
Malina (2017)
Pitfalls (2019)
Aphelion (2021)
Live albums
Live at Rockefeller Music Hall (2016)
Demos
Silent Waters (2004)
Aeolia (2006)
Aeolus Shadow
Leprous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the city smoke
Like a wave’s undertow
The silence awoke
The city lights are blending
My eyes and my soul
Differs not day from night
As the wind sweeps the city-sky
Aeolus casts his shadow
Metropolis at his feet
As noise explodes to silence
As total chaos is unleashed
The storm eats the city heart
Pandemonium is released
Damnation of true art
No escaping the truth
The gardens all dead
No more light to inhale
The beast have been fed
I feel my own shadow
Creeping up on me
Like a wave’s undertow
I am not to be
underestimated
The opening lyrics of Leprous's song "Aeolus Shadow" convey a sense of unease and vulnerability. The singer admits to fearing their own shadow, which is figurative language for their own reflections or insecurities. They find themselves in an urban setting where the air is polluted with smoke, unable to tell the difference between day and night, and struggling to maintain a sense of self amidst the chaos. The singer is forced to confront both the external and internal pressures that threaten to consume them. As the wind picks up, they invoke the image of Aeolus, the Greek god of wind, who casts a shadow over the city. The silence is pierced by the sounds of destruction and despair as the storm unleashes pandemonium. The once-beautiful gardens are now dead, and there is no more light to inhale. The final lines imply that the singer has come to accept their shadow, recognizing that it does not define them.
The song's lyrics can be interpreted in many ways, but they generally convey themes of anxiety, fragility, and the struggle to remain oneself amidst external pressures. The imagery is vivid, combining elements of the natural and human-made world to paint a bleak picture of a society that has lost touch with its values and ideals. Musically, "Aeolus Shadow" blends progressive rock and metal elements, with complex rhythms and dissonant harmonies that mirror the song's themes of disorientation and chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
I fear my own shadow
I am afraid of my own inner darkness and the negative thoughts and emotions that haunt me.
In the city smoke
In the midst of the polluted city where the air is thick with smoke, dust and grime.
Like a wave’s undertow
Like the powerful and invisible current of a wave that drags one down to the depths of the ocean, my fear is pervasive and inescapable.
The silence awoke
In the midst of this chaos and noise, I suddenly became aware of the deafening silence and solitude that surrounds me.
The city lights are blending
The artificial lights of the city blur and dissolve in my eyes, leaving me without a clear sense of day or night.
My eyes and my soul
The lack of distinction between day and night is affecting my inner self and my perception of reality.
Differs not day from night
I can't differentiate between the brightness of the day and the darkness of the night due to the pervasive light pollution in the city.
Entering black hole
I feel like I'm being sucked into a black hole of darkness and despair, unable to escape the grip of my own shadow.
As the wind sweeps the city-sky
The violent winds of the city are taking over and reshaping the skyline as I watch helplessly.
Aeolus casts his shadow
As the mythological god of winds, Aeolus casts his shadow of destruction and chaos over the entire cityscape.
Metropolis at his feet
The god-like figure of Aeolus stands tall over the vast landscape of the modern metropolis, looking down on the tiny human figures below him.
As noise explodes to silence
The sudden lull in the deafening noise of the city is almost as terrifying as the noise itself, as it reveals the emptiness and void that lies beneath it all.
As total chaos is unleashed
The sudden unleashing of total chaos is like a vicious storm that tears through the city streets, destroying everything in its path.
The storm eats the city heart
The storm is taking over the heart of the city, devouring its buildings, its streets and its people.
Pandemonium is released
The unleashing of chaos has led to the release of evil spirits and malevolent forces that are wreaking havoc throughout the city.
Damnation of true art
The chaos and destruction that is being unleashed is destroying not just the physical structures of the city, but also the beauty, art and creativity that once existed within it.
No escaping the truth
No matter how hard I try to ignore it, the truth of my own inner darkness and fears is inescapable.
The gardens all dead
Even the natural beauty and life within the city has been destroyed, leaving only barren and lifeless landscapes behind.
No more light to inhale
The pollution and destruction has left no trace of light or hope, leading me to suffocate in the darkness and despair.
The beast have been fed
The destructive forces within myself and the city have been unleashed and have devoured everything in their path, leaving only darkness behind.
I feel my own shadow
Once again, I feel the overwhelming presence of my own inner darkness and negative thoughts creeping up on me.
Creeping up on me
My own shadow is a constant, ever-present force that follows me wherever I go, always lurking in the background.
I am not to be
Despite my best efforts to escape my own shadow, I know that it will always be a part of me, something that I cannot run away from or avoid.
Contributed by Oliver R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@xavierrepetti13
I fear my own shadow
In the city smoke
Like a wave’s undertow
The silence awoke
The city lights are blending
My eyes and my soul
Differs not day from night
Entering black hole
As the wind sweeps the city-sky
Aeolus casts his shadow
Metropolis at his feet
As noise explodes to silence
As total chaos is unleashed
The storm eats the city heart
Pandemonium is released
Damnation of true art
No escaping the truth
The gardens all dead
No more light to inhale
The beast have been fed
I feel my own shadow
Creeping up on me
Like a wave’s undertow
I am not to be
@Ryguypie17
1:00 - holy shit
1:11 - HOLY SHIT
@Thad11
That is the highest scream I've ever heard!
@minecraftdrummer4994
C6
@gavinmeriablenow
@Matthew absolutely unholy for anyone, much less a guy, to sing
@xavierrepetti13
I fear my own shadow
In the city smoke
Like a wave’s undertow
The silence awoke
The city lights are blending
My eyes and my soul
Differs not day from night
Entering black hole
As the wind sweeps the city-sky
Aeolus casts his shadow
Metropolis at his feet
As noise explodes to silence
As total chaos is unleashed
The storm eats the city heart
Pandemonium is released
Damnation of true art
No escaping the truth
The gardens all dead
No more light to inhale
The beast have been fed
I feel my own shadow
Creeping up on me
Like a wave’s undertow
I am not to be
@abstractalgo
This is great. Amazing work!
@Christian-tb4yx
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiihhhh!!!!!!!
@Bolthorn86
Leprous, In Vain e Opeth. Tanto basterebbe, in questo momento.
@deadmanwithpitchforkarms8376
Are those really high vocals Einar or some other band member? He hasn't done this kind of vocals anywhere else on their discography other than the demos.
@NicolasPL_
I don't think he can reach that high anymore :(