Aphelion by Leprous - ALBUM REVIEW

[@sicdedworm09]

Leprous is one of my favorite bands but I’d agree that they cut their crescendos too short sometimes. Like they’ll save the best moments of the songs for the last 30-40 seconds and it’s gone. It’s like hell yeah here we fucking go this so goo- oh it’s over

[@father042]

My most anticipated album of the year so far

[@CatalystOfFire]

I'd say of the three singles so far, Castaway Angels is actually the only one I like. I feel Leprous has lost their edge not by going light, but by making their "classic sound" feel throwaway compared to the heart they're putting into their lighter works. It sounds like they put a lot less woodshedding time into Foreigner than they did Distant Bells, for instance.

[@yemmohater2796]

i think they just need to be more patient with the crescendoes. Play them for a little bit, adding a little bit for each repeat of the repeats (i.e. Slave Live)

[@DanielSantosAnalysis]

I can't wait to hear this for myself! My only problem is the inclusion of Castaway Angels since it's a cover track, it always rubs me the wrong way when artists include covers as a part of their albums. I'm sure some will disagree, but I feel albums should just be comprised of that artist's music, unless it is specifically a covers album. EDIT: Yes, I'm a huge idiot, I mixed up Castaway Angels with the song Angel by Massive Attack that Leprous covered a couple of years ago.

[@MJ-vd8bj]

Castaway Angels is not a cover. I think you mistaking it with the Massive Attack cover "Angel" which was a bonus track on Pitfalls kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4fEg3agh9WKeKc

[@DanielSantosAnalysis]

@@MJ-vd8bj oh, pfft, thanks I'm a dumbass

[@LuigiFuckingRocks89]

Ah cool stuff, really liked your dmc video, what'd you think of the album in the end?

[@DanielSantosAnalysis]

@@LuigiFuckingRocks89 I am glad you liked my video! I ended up really enjoying the album, definitely one of their better albums.

[@kalkwiese]

I've got to say, as much as I love their earlier albums, Pitfalls must be my favorite Leprous record. So if Castaway Angels is actually a lesser track here, the album must be freaking amazing

[@Psycorde]

"Viscous tar" is an incredibly apt way to describe the feeling a lot of their music creates

[@EzioMonty117]

As much as i enjoy newer Leprous albums, i will admit to them not being the most cohesive projects out there. So that is why i am so happy this album managed to win me over as much as it has. Einar's vocals have never sounded better, the instrumentation is subtle when needed but at the same time can be incredibly hard hitting, the production is pristine and clear and the songs themselves are just so good (i have been really digging Out of Here for instance). Leprous's continual growth as a band is also really appreciated. It stops them from ever becoming stale.

[@corbinm5237]

Hello Ezio 🤘

[@corbinm5237]

Leprous has always been a favorite of mine but this album is definitely their masterpiece. They got super close to perfection in my mind on Malina (basically,take Coma off and it is perfect),but they truly achieved that on Aphelion. It’s one of my top 5-6 favorite albums ever,really glad you like it too.

[@TheElevatedOne]

As I don't have the knowledge of the discography and finally listened to anything Leprous through this album, I find the album good. Can I listen through it in a sitting: Yes. Do I have favorites: Yes; Have you ever? and Castaway Angels. They feel like songs that kinda fit there but not really so I can listen to them by themselves.

[@animal1439]

The guitar solo that ends The Shadow Side is so good though! This album keeps on getting better with each listen. The only song I'm not a fan of is Have you Ever? I like the trip-hop beat/style that they tried but it just kinda falls flat for me.

[@hankkingsley9183]

You can't please all the people all the time. If the album had more variety reviewers would knock it for not having enough continuity

[@jessbian3385]

As i’ve noticed since Malina, Leprous doesn’t seem to have the best grasp on ebbs and flows in terms of an intra-album sense, like they don’t approach an album in terms of the single listen-through sense, and rather a collection of individual pieces. Malina, even though I love that album, is honestly a little flat feeling? It doesn’t deviate too much, there’s just not much of a through line tone and pacing wise. Pitfalls did this a little better, mainly thanks to Sky is Red’s crescendo and the stranger tracks like I Lose Hope and By My Throne, it had more variation, essentially. However, even then in terms of a complete piece ALBUM, for some reason it just doesn’t work as well as I think it could.

[@EuriLochus]

I agree with your take on Malina, but honestly felt Pitfalls was their BEST album at this. That one's just an album-wide crescendo.

[@jessbian3385]

@@EuriLochus It definitely was (was, now that aphelion is out) their best. The only thing that I would change is that Foreigner KILLS the momentum that COULD BE, going from Distant Bells, which may be their best song, smacking right into Sky is Red. I might say it could be between Below and I Lose Hope, help the slightly slow pacing in there.

[@EuriLochus]

Jess Bian I’ve honestly had similar thoughts!! I’ve also messed around with the idea of Pitfalls just ending with Distant Bells, which is kind of fun. But Foreigner and Sky are too much of bangers to leave out

[@dabrowski7555]

On hold is the most interesting song imo.

[@jessbian3385]

I’ve come back after like 10 listens and I really feel they took all my small complaints about Pitfalls and addressed them. First thing I wanna say is this is an ALBUM right here. I always felt all of leprous’ albums fell flat when considered one piece to sit through fully. Pitfalls improved this but didn’t perfect it. This album is a GREAT front-to-back listen. I think Nighttime Disguise is good but really should’ve been longer, it does feel cut short, as you said. I really think every song on here was fantastic, except for two: Silent Revelation and On Hold. These two really didn’t add anything new to the lineup of songs. On Hold wasn’t bad, but its payoff really didn’t reward the buildup, it felt somewhat like Alleviate. Silent Revelation honestly just felt like it didn’t add a single thing to the construct of this album, and it’s not catchy… not much else to say. Every other song felt like they had the clear conceptual placement and tone and NAILED it. I wanna call out Have You Ever? specifically because I feel like on Pitfalls, this would’ve fallen flat, but the PUNCH and DRIVE this album lets every song have elevates it to being stellar. This puts up a good fight against Congregation as my favorite Leprous album. Congregation has Red and Triumphant as its obvious weak songs, this song has its own weaker few, but the overall quality is pretty great.

[@yogevlevy2043]

I love this album. it start amazing with Running Low. all the tracks until The Silent Revelation are great. But I didnt get into the next few songs after that, they were not that interesting and I think they were just fillers. I thinking the exact opposite of you when it comes to On Hold and Castaway Angels. I felt like On Hold does'nt get anywhere. but Castaway Angels... WOW, this is definitely one of my favorite Leprous songs. And the last track (The suprise) was really cool too, Although you're right, the Growling part end too quickly. I think this album deserve a place in my top 10 of the year.

[@stuartraybould6433]

Yeh, I've loved Leprous even the last couple but for some reason I'm in no hurry to get this. I will get around to it but there are other albums that will come first. I hadn't used to feel like this about Leprous, I hope their best isn't already behind them.

[@funnyperson4027]

I really liked everything before this… but this album just seems too radio friendly for me so far. I really love leprous but I hope that there are some more technical tracks on here

[@CatalystOfFire]

I don't know if radio friendly is how I would describe a band with two drum sets and a cello, but I definitely think that it's experimental in a way that sidesteps their strengths.

[@funnyperson4027]

@@CatalystOfFire yeah fair I see what you mean. guess I am just a bit sad that there isn't anything like "the sky is red" on there so far.

[@CatalystOfFire]

@@funnyperson4027 absolutely.

[@BrandonM.N]

Really good album! Just a tick below Pitfalls for me however. Great review and cheers from Minnesota!

[@yotamdelazerda8455]

Sorry, I know it's completley unrelated but aren't you gonna do a review of BTBAM's Colors II? I've been waiting for your take on this epic album ever since it got out. Anyways, love your reviews, I'm just really waiting for this specific one 😅

[@NotesReviews]

I didn't get an early copy and there's a lot to cover. I hope to get my thoughts out on it by the end of this week early next week

[@gomez9325]

Colors II and this album is a great double drop

[@lamperier]

I perfectly agree with you on every points. That's all

[@nconstant]

Great job on the review. Now I can go back to Bilateral...

[@carlmanu]

This album is Pitfalls 2.0 to me. Nothing overly new. Nothing particularly amazing but there is nothing wrong with it either. However, Leprous is starting to become a voice centric avant-garde band that revolves around lavish falsettos, prolonged score-like string sections and falls short in crescendos. Kind of like a verminophobic soprano screamer pulling out on you at the culmination. I just can’t do it twice.

[@fercontreras8]

How did you get early access?

[@alerlyking]

Reviewers get albums early

[@nicolasbascunan4013]

IMO, Malina was the last great album.

[@MontanaDG]

Shadow Slide 🤪

[@Psycorde]

It's completely unrelated, but you look like Jonathan Davis

[@plompiderunglaubliche8764]

New leprous is cringe