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)
White
Leprous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scream for deliverance
Fake your own reverence
Drifting in and out, I won't lie
Insecure my visions blind my
Sight, my means, my faith, my view
I hate myself for trusting you!
Find the door, egress this white world
Tie these chains and link what's, take what's
Mine, what's yours, you're mine, not yours
Above discoloured vomit pours
Justification of violence of worst kind
I wish I knew it when,
White did not mean the end
When transfixion occurs as the first state
White is all that I see
This is how she came to be
No contradiction in warfare and worship
Sing me a lullaby
Please, can you dry this eye?
The lyrics of Leprous's song "White" explore the concept of betrayal and the feeling of being trapped in a toxic relationship. The first few lines set the tone for the song, referring to a "pale aversion" or a dislike of something that is not strong enough to drive one away from it, and being stuck in a "fatal alliance". The singer of the song is clearly feeling trapped and desperate for a way out, as they "scream for deliverance" but also feel the need to "fake [their] own reverence" – possibly pretending to be more invested in the relationship than they really are.
The lyrics then move on to describe the singer's inner turmoil, as they struggle with their own insecurities and doubts about the relationship. They feel like they are "drifting in and out", unable to fully commit or let go, and their "visions blind [their] sight", making it difficult to see the truth of the situation. The line "I hate myself for trusting you" confirms that the singer has been betrayed in some way, and that this betrayal has caused them a significant amount of pain.
The chorus of the song talks about breaking free from this toxic relationship, but the imagery used is bleak and violent. The singer wants to "egress this white world", which seems to represent the world they are trapped in with their partner. They want to "take what's mine, what's yours", indicating that there is some sort of ownership or possessiveness at play. The line "above discoloured vomit pours" is particularly vivid and disturbing, suggesting that the singer feels like they are drowning in filth and degradation.
Overall, "White" is a complex and emotionally charged song that touches on themes of betrayal, insecurity, and violence. While the lyrics are sometimes difficult to interpret, they evoke a powerful sense of hopelessness and desperation.
Line by Line Meaning
Pale aversion in fatal alliance
There's an unpleasant feeling between two things that are causing each other harm.
Scream for deliverance
Cry out for help.
Fake your own reverence
Pretend to have respect for something you don't really believe in.
Drifting in and out, I won't lie
Going in and out of consciousness, telling the truth.
Insecure my visions blind my
My lack of confidence keeps me from seeing things clearly.
Sight, my means, my faith, my view
My eyesight, my abilities, my trust, and my perspective.
I hate myself for trusting you!
I regret believing in you.
Find the door, egress this white world
Locate the exit and leave this colorless, oppressive environment.
Tie these chains and link what's, take what's
Secure these connections and claim what belongs to us.
Mine, what's yours, you're mine, not yours
What belongs to you is also mine, and vice versa.
Above discoloured vomit pours
Revulsion is overwhelming.
Justification of violence of worst kind
Making excuses for terrible brutality.
I wish I knew it when,
I would have preferred having this knowledge earlier.
White did not mean the end
The color white didn't signify the conclusion of things.
When transfixion occurs as the first state
When fixation begins at the outset.
White is all that I see
Everything that I look at appears white.
This is how she came to be
This is how she came into existence.
No contradiction in warfare and worship
Fighting and faith are not incompatible.
Sing me a lullaby
Sing me a soothing song.
Please, can you dry this eye?
Could you please wipe away my tears?
Contributed by Tristan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.