Malina
Malina lets the clean tones carry their own weight. Leprous reduce the dependence on distorted guitars and harsh voices, allowing rhythm, strings and Einar Solberg's singing to determine how forcefully a song communicates. The change produces some of their most approachable music without removing the unease inside it.
Bonneville begins with a small, suspended groove. The voice is exposed, and the gradual development creates tension through the relationship between bass, drums and guitar. Its eventual increase in force is effective because the restrained opening has already established a feeling worth following.
Stuck is more immediately inviting, with a bright guitar sound and a substantial chorus. The extended ending gives the cello a useful role, though the song does not always feel as distinctive as the clearer melodic writing around it. From the Flame is more concise, its vocal hook providing an immediate centre while the rhythmic details keep the arrangement active.
The quieter guitar sound makes the drumming particularly important. Baard Kolstad can add a rapid change in momentum without making the whole band become louder, giving even the more accessible songs an unsettled movement. The best passages reward following that rhythmic conversation independently of the vocal melody.
Illuminate has a strong melodic lift, while Mirage gives the band more room to develop its patterns. The latter's changes are among the record's most involving because the different sections feel connected to a developing tension. Elsewhere, similar vocal gestures can make separate songs seem closer in character than their instrumental details suggest.
The title track introduces a more fragile space, with the cello adding a direct emotional colour. The Last Milestone goes further by placing the voice with an orchestral setting and allowing the band sound to fall away. Its openly dramatic performance is a convincing ending, even if the emotional emphasis is stronger than some listeners will need.
Malina is most rewarding when its restraint creates another kind of intensity. Bonneville and Mirage demonstrate how much can happen inside a relatively clear sound, while From the Flame shows the value of a sharply defined song. The album's occasional sameness is outweighed by the care and feeling in those performances.
