Leprous headlined at White Oak Music Hall in Houston, Tx on October 2nd, 2024 with support from Earthside & Fight the Fight on their Melodies of Atonement Tour!
Leprous is a Norwegian progressive metal band originating from Notodden and was formed in 2001. Their current lineup consists of lead vocalist/keyboardist Einar Solberg, guitarist/backing vocalist Tor Oddmund Suhrke, guitarist/backing vocalist Robin Ognedal, bassist/backing vocalist Simon Borven, drummer Baard Kolstad.
Leprous began their set with the lead-off track “Silently Walking Alone” from their recent release “Melodies of Atonement“. First of all, I’ve got to say that this album is quite dynamic and very moving. While still showcasing their progressive heaviness, they also display such sense of emotion with Solberg’s incredible vocal range placing you into a trance. “Melodies of Atonement” is a culmination of the band’s two decades of experience, solidifying its place as one of the most top tier albums in its genre. Following was “The Price” and “Stuck”. The latter being from their 2017 release “Malina“.
Solberg speaking before “Stuck”:
“Actually this is our first ever headline show in Houston. We played here with Between the Buried and Me in 2015. Thanks for coming again! This one is from ‘Malina’.”
Next up they returned to their latest release with “I Hear the Sirens” and “Like A Sunken Ship“. Although, “Melodies of Atonement” made up nearly half their set. They still played deeper cuts from their discography such as the next song “Passing” off their first album “Tall Poppy Syndrome“, dating all the way back in 2009.
Not only was this the highlight of the evening, but it’s my personal favorite off the new album. They invited Leprous fans onto the stage to perform alongside them for “Faceless“.
Solberg speaking before “Faceless”:
“So at the very very end of the album recoding of ‘Melodies of Atonement’, we decided to do something quite interesting. We decided to invite fans from all over the world to sing on our album. That sounded like it was going to be so cool and so amazing. Well I forgot that I was going to have to listen through everything and that took a long time. It was between like 500-1,000 people who sent submissions. I had to listen to it while being on tour in Europe. So I was just sitting backstage listening. I did that for the whole tour almost. In the end we ended up with 170 amazing singers from all over the world. It was the biggest choir ever. So give it up for them amazing Leprous fans. This is ‘Faceless’.”
The progressive metal titans decided it was time to start wrapping things up. As all good things must come to an end. They concluded their set with their massive new hit and I would go as far as saying title track for their new album “Atonement“. This came as a delight to all the fans, despite this being the end to a memorable evening.
Solberg speaking before ‘Atonement’:
“Houston, you’ve been very good to us and we’ve had an amazing time! Thank you so much, but all good things must come to an end. (crowd screams no) No? What do you mean no? Have you ever experienced any good things that has lasted forever? I don’t really believe that. The limitation is what makes it good. If it just went on forever it would become boring. No matter what it is.”
“We have one more song for you guys!”
Before leaving the stage they encored with “Forced Entry” after letting the crowd choose from three songs!
Solberg speaking before encoring with fan choice ‘Forced Entry’:
“Which song do you want to hear? Forced fucking Entry? May I guess it’s because you like quantity over quality here in Texas?”
Setlist:
- Silently Walking Alone
- The Price
- Stuck
- I Hear the Sirens
- Like a Sunken Ship
- Passing
- Nighttime Disguise
- Unfree My Soul
- Below
- Faceless (with fan choir)
- Castaway Angels
- From the Flame
- Atonement
- The Sky is Red (outro)
Encore:
- Forced Entry (fan choice)
Earthside is an American progressive metal band originating from the New England region of the US and was formed in 2014. Their current lineup consists of guitarist/backing vocalist/programmer/additional keyboardist Jamie Van Dyck, keyboardist/programmer/percussionist/additional guitarist Frank Sacramone, bassist/backing vocalist Ryan Griffin, drummer/backing vocalist Ben Shanbrom.
Van Dyck speaking about their upcoming album:
“It was brutal making this album, but in walking away from the finished result, we all seem to have this sense that the 15 or 16-year old versions of ourselves—perhaps the fully developed inner child in each of us—would have been over the moon at what we’ve created—and that’s an extraordinary feeling. If this work has the ability to reawaken that deep thinking, feeling, and creating part of even a few people who hear it in the midst of the increasingly cynical and vacuous world we live in, then as artists we feel we’ve done our job.”
Van Dyck speaking about this being their first time performing in Houston for awhile:
“Houston we do have a problem, which is that we haven’t been here in nine years! I’m guessing like one or two people at most were in this crowd. We played with Soulfly and Soilwork in 2015 at Scout Bar. Anyone at that show? Alright, I think I estimated right one or two. First time back here in awhile so it feels good!”
Van Dyck speaking about Leprous’ drummer:
“One thing that all three bands have in common is spectacular drummers. I don’t think you guys know this, but Leprous’ drummer Baard Kolstad is kind of… He’s spectacular, but I’m going to give you a fact you might not know which is that he’s actually involved with all three bands. He drummed on Fight the Fight’s newest record. He collaborated on a song with us, which you will be hearing in a little bit. Also, as you know plays in Leprous. So he is the common threat of all three bands.”
Setlist:
- We Who Lament
- Watching the Earth Sink
- Let the Truth Speak (Drum solo + middle section)
- All We Knew and Ever Loved (2nd half only)
- The Closest I’ve Come
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