With third album Procession, Norwegian doom tinged post-metallers Leonov do a sensational job of traversing the different poles of quiet and loud. Whilst some may stumble their way through transitions Leonov does it with a melancholic breeze and Procession is one of the most breathtaking albums of the year.
The tracks here fall mostly into a gloomy post-metal which has moments of natural eruptions and release. ‘Mesos’ is a salivating example of that as the track lusciously rolls around the dreamy vocals of Tåran Reindal. There are hints of Fvnerals without as much drone, People Used To Live Here era Spook The Horses and even the grandiose glacial Sigur Rós soundscapes and In terms of post-metal ‘Amer’ and ‘Oreza’ hint towards a Cult of Luna power when they hit hard, but the songs never sit neatly in another’s footprints.
There is a really intoxicating and hypnotic rhythm to the tracks as they begin to flow, either in the heavier or lighter realms. As much as the vocal performance is exceptionally stunning the textures and tones of the instrumentation plays a pivotal role in the tracks. As ‘Amer’ sinks and rises before turning into a crunching post-metal song the guitars really control the mood. It is a song that I reached the end of and didn’t realise the slowly increasing heat as the band moved gradually, slowly releasing the pressure before the incredible finale.
This is a blend of post-metal which dwells in the darkest of corners whilst torches of flickering light offer guidance as to its whereabouts. There is a power to the soothing vocals and dark instrumentation which is transcendental in changing the mood around the space it occupies. Every moment is beautifully thought out but executed with a naturally free flowing ease. Leonov has created a memorable slice of post-metal which oozes individuality and a glowing endurance.
