"The bands that truly deserve being titled as progressive bands are the bands that dare breaking with the conventions". So says Leprous frontman Einar Solberg, and on the strength of this third album from the Norwegian quintet, Leprous certainly prove that statement to be true. There are so many different styles and influences flowing through this album that 'eclectic' would be an understatement. 'Bilateral' has elements of progressive rock, progressive metal, symphonic metal, 80's pop, 80's neo-prog, true metal and even a touch of jazz all moulded together to produce a sound that's like nothing you've ever heard before.

The likes of 'Bilateral', 'Cryptogenic Desires' and 'Restless' provide the more metallic moments, all be it in a symphonic, progressive way. The ten minute 'Forced Entry' has so many twists and turns in it that it seems to encompass all the disparate elements to this band's sound in one epic progressive track. 'Mb. Indifferentia', 'Aquired Taste' and 'Mediocrity Wins' provide more atmospheric, but still progressive moments that hint at the influence of Porcupine Tree, Radiohead, or even Muse in places.

'Waste Of Air' is a quite wonderfully insane and intense piece of twisted progressive metal madness, whilst the dark 'Thorn' even adds a bit of jazz trumpet into the mix. The influence of Opeth looms throughout the album, none more so than the fine epic album closer 'Painful Detour', arguably the album's highlight.

There's so much crammed into this album that's it's really hard to take it all in after just one listen, as the sound of the band really takes you by surprise. It's an album that commands repeated listening to truly digest it. Despite the challenging, progressive nature of a lot of the music though there's still a strong sense of melody in the vocal department, with Solberg's voice sounding at its best when he's singing with a smoother, clean style which has quite a pop sensibility to it, reminiscent of some of the more sophisticated pop from the 80's. His more growly, screaming metal moments however don't fully convince me in places.

'Bilateral' then is a challenging, ambitious and truly progressive rock album that really isn't afraid to break new ground, and will definitely appeal to fans of contemporary progressive rock/metal and symphonic metal.

http://www.leprous.net/