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)
The Flood
Leprous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I reach for sunlight
Lift me up
As I scrape the ground
Cut my cord
While you see me climbing
Let me drop
To where I won't be found
Drown me when I reach for air
Stay with me now when I'm falling
Drown me when I reach for air
Leave me broken
While my spirit shatters
Unchain me
When I drown in shame
Blindfold me
When I search for an answer
Help me see
If I've played your game
Stay with me now when I'm falling
Drown me when I reach for air
Stay with me now when I'm falling
Falling
Blindfold me
When I search for an answer
I search for an answer
The lyrics to Leprous's song "The Flood" are dark and introspective, exploring the highs and lows of human emotion. The repeated phrase "Stay with me now when I'm falling, drown me when I reach for air" speaks to a feeling of desperation and a desire for someone to be there during both times of struggle and times of relief. Throughout the song, the singer seems to vacillate between a desire for freedom and a need for someone's help and support, as evidenced by lines like "Cut my cord while you see me climbing, let me drop to where I won't be found" and "Leave me broken while my spirit shatters, unchain me when I drown in shame."
The repeated use of imagery related to drowning, blindness, and being tied down creates a sense of constraint and struggle, as if the singer is trapped in a cycle of despair and is unable to break free without assistance. The final line, "I search for an answer," emphasizes this feeling of confusion and uncertainty, as if the singer is lost and trying to find a way out of their emotional turmoil. Overall, "The Flood" is a haunting and powerful song that speaks to the complexities of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Tie me down
Hold me back and keep me from reaching my full potential
If I reach for sunlight
If I try to achieve something greater
Lift me up
Help me rise and improve
As I scrape the ground
As I struggle and face difficulties
Cut my cord
Separate me from what holds me back
While you see me climbing
While you watch me try to succeed
Let me drop
Allow me to fail and give up
To where I won't be found
To a place where I am alone and lost
Stay with me now when I'm falling
Support me during my struggles
Drown me when I reach for air
Bring me down when I strive for more
Leave me broken
Let me be in pieces and shattered
While my spirit shatters
As I lose hope and feel defeated
Unchain me
Release me from my burden
When I drown in shame
When I feel guilty and embarrassed
Blindfold me
Hide the truth from me
When I search for an answer
When I look for understanding and clarity
Help me see
Give me the knowledge and guidance I need
If I've played your game
If I have followed your rules and expectations
Falling
Continuing to struggle and fail
I search for an answer
I try to understand and make sense of my struggles
Contributed by Elijah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.