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Leprous: Bilateral

Progressive Metal

4.5/5.0

InsideOut Music
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by Craig Hartranft,  08.15.2011

Leprous' third progressive metal treatise, Bilateral, proves to be an interesting and formidable journey. Mixing creativity with perplexity, intensity with melody, Leprous offers a diverse album of music where accessibility lives (most often) peaceably with intrigue. Shorter pieces like the title track and Restless twist heavy rock and prog together. The latter has big riffage and a quick tempo in rougher modern rock package. Mb. Indifferentia, conversely, starts light invoking strong motif of melancholy (akin to some Porcupine Tree), but finishes heavy and powerful.

Some songs are obviously progressive metal, and you feel comfortable with that knowledge, such as Waste of Air and the longest and best track Forced Entry. To the latter, the metal is self-evident, yet eclectic movements and inherent melody give it an epic quality. Other songs are cryptic in their prog credentials like Cryptogenic Desires, a short strangely melodic song with a harmonious vocal arrangement and fine drumming. Acquired Taste adds some subtle symphonic notes. Painful Detour is a rather dense arrangement. It can be equally atmospheric and ethereal as heavy and foreboding; it's a shifting canvas but it works. Perhaps the signature song is Thorn, a heavy prog number that integrates, of all things, a trumpet and death metal vocals into this melodic yet quirky arrangement.

Never to be underestimated, as usual, Leprous' Bilateral is cleverly eclectic, intriguing, and entertaining. This is not your ordinary prog metal; it's experimental, somewhat technical, but always accessible for a curious listener. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Never to be underestimated, as usual, Leprous' Bilateral is cleverly eclectic, intriguing, and entertaining. This is not your ordinary prog metal; it's experimental, somewhat technical, but always accessible for a curious listener.

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