Aphelion
Aphelion finds Leprous moving between spare electronic passages and much larger rock arrangements. The Norwegian band keep Einar Solberg's expressive voice at the front, but strings, synths and an active rhythm section give the music several other points of interest. Their seventh album is adventurous in its choice of sounds, even when its repeated quiet-to-loud movements become easier to predict.
Running Low opens on a large scale. The vocal hooks and dramatic instrumental setting make the song an immediate statement, with enough rhythmic force to keep the detail moving. Solberg's delivery can feel almost too emphatic, but the chorus gives that intensity a clear destination.
Out Of Here works from the opposite end. A pulsing synth and a simple processed beat leave the early vocal exposed. When the band enter more fully, the change has weight because of the space that came before it. Silhouette uses a firmer electronic pulse, with the drums and keyboards creating tension through their uneven interaction. Baard Kolstad's playing adds character well beyond keeping time.
The Silent Revelation brings a clipped, funky guitar figure into the picture. Its contrast between a busy opening and a quieter verse is effective, although the interruption can also hold back the groove. Across the album, the willingness to change direction is both a strength and a source of uneven pacing. Some attractive ideas are put aside before they have fully settled.
On Hold gives the more restrained approach time to develop, while Castaway Angels offers a clearer melodic release. These quieter songs make a useful contrast with Nighttime Disguise. The closing track brings more forceful, technical riffs and a broader internal structure, including a return to rougher vocals. It gives the ending a sense of movement that the less eventful passages sometimes lack.
Aphelion succeeds most when the whole band shares responsibility for the drama. The production reveals plenty of instrumental detail, and the combination of electronic rhythm, strings and rock has a clear identity. Similar openings and repeated changes in intensity limit the surprise over a full album. Even so, the stronger songs provide a convincing reason to follow Leprous beyond a conventional metal sound.
