Norway’s progressive metal band Leprous were founded back in 2001 but they still manage to surprise with new ideas on every new album. Not satisfied by just sticking to a single musical style, Leprous from Norway decide to use ingredients from such different genres like black metal, screamo, jazz, industrial and progressive rock, and put it all together into their very own sonic universe. Starting with the five and a half minute long “Foe”, the listener is immediately immersed into a hypnotic maelstrom that might confuse the heavy metal fans, but definitely intrigue those in search of something more adventurous. A high number of breaks, time signature and pace changes make sure that the listener will be entertained throughout the full hour of the record. Other tracks that deserve to be singled out are the very dark Mars Volta like song “The valley” with its haunting bass kicks and sinister synths and the last unsettling “Contaminate” which guests Ihsahn from Emperor and producer of this record.
Coal is definitely not an easy listening album, not that anyone would expect such a thing from Leprous. The band once again succeeded in getting attention with their music.