Leprous - 2025 - An Evening of Atonement [Live]

(126:00; InsideOut Music)






















Leprous have been at the forefront of prog metal for some time now, and it is nearly 20 years since their debut, ‘Aeolia’. Following on from their ninth studio album, 2024’s ‘Melodies of Atonement’, they recorded their gig at Tilburg and have made it available in multiple versions, including Blu-ray, but I am just listening to the straight double CD which in itself is more than two hours long. Only two people still remain in the band from those early days, guitarist Tor Oddmund Suhrke and lead singer/synth player Einar Solberg, but musically we have a band who has changed quite a bit and just by listening to this one would not realise they are a quintet with two guitarists in the band.

I cannot help but be reminded of Marillion in many ways, as yet again we have a band which has become a singer and backing musicians, and while I firmly believe Solberg has an edge on Hogarth and is one of the most amazing vocal gymnasts out there, this feels less like a collection of songs and more like piece which have been put together to allow Solberg to show off his talents. Vocally he is immense, and there is apparently very little he cannot do, but I find myself looking back at my review of his 2024 solo album where I said, “He is an incredible singer, who demonstrates here that he does not need any studio trickery to perform in ways which are beyond most singers, but...” It is the “but” which is the issue, as while this live album is incredibly polished (too much so), with musicians who really know their place and what is required of them, just being an incredible singer doesn’t change the fact that much of this is one-dimensional, bland, and ultimately boring.

I did enjoy 2013’s ‘Coal’, but the albums I have heard since then have left me wanting more, and for me this release is a case of endurance as opposed to enjoyment.   

Kev Rowland, January 2026

Links:
https://leprous.net/
https://www.insideoutmusic.com/

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