Description
For 15 years, female-fronted quintet LEONOV have been honing their captivating brand of celestial doom metal. Named after Aleksej Leonov, the first human to take a walk in space, the Norwegians combine the melancholic slow burn of King Woman with the ethereal heaviness of Subrosa and an incredible voice that undeniably reminds of Julie Christmas.
Shape of Ash showcases the refined sound of a band that has been around for quite a while… a band whose career has been a similar slow burn as their music, yet a band that has managed to stay together and create music throughout all these years, despite the odds of families and the real world.
Like staring into a purgatory bonfire, listening to ‘Shape of Ash’ is a powerfully entrancing experience. Dealing with themes of helplessness, uncertainty, conflict and resolution, these four songs touch upon the many adversities of life.
Like staring into a purgatory bonfire, listening to ‘Shape of Ash’ is a powerfully entrancing experience. Dealing with themes of helplessness, uncertainty, conflict and resolution, Shape of Ash touches upon the many adversities of life.
“We envisioned the image of a holy woman in flames, peacefully smiling”, vocalist Tåran comments on the theme of the album. “It represents fire as a means of purification. We become better versions of ourselves through burning off our ego and through enduring the suffering of the human condition. To become truly human is partaking in a process of evolving, striving, being changed through love and adversity.”
From the swaying rhythm that introduces album opener «Samaritan» to the heavenly ascension of the title track’s finale, Shape of Ash is an EP with many surprising facets and nuances. It is the first time the band recorded their instruments separately, as opposed to playing live as a band in the studio. “This really made a difference in the amount of time we were able to give each voice”, says Tåran about the recording process. Calling each instrument a voice is an unusual yet fitting way of describing the interplay of instruments on Shape of Ash.
These four songs come together to portray a strikingly human conversation that is both fiery and embracing. There is always an ebb and flow of intensity which leaves us to discover a mysterious tenderness, which finds its pinnacle in the duet between Tåran and Norwegian folk singer Syvert Feed (Jake Ziah). Structured as an argument between a couple, «Bygg en Menneskekropp» features an incredible vocal performance filled with so much injustice and pain it will leave you longing for a resolution, which is provided gratuitously by the epic bridge. Channeling prime Led Zeppelin in a grand melodic theme (think «Kashmir» or «No Quarter») the song ends with a wonderful unison from both vocalists leading the way to the EP’s monumental finale. The ultimate title track functions as the final cleansing, the one end to all suffering and at the same time an experience of rapt ecstasy.
On Shape of Ash, LEONOV create moments of primordial heaviness on which Tåran’s unique voice floats atop, blends in effortlessly in some moments and takes reserved distance in others. With the 4 songs that make up this stunning EP, the band sets the bar incredibly high for their upcoming full length album. We can’t wait for it!
FOR FANS OF
GGGOLDDD, King Woman, Marriages, Subrosa, Cult of Luna, Julie Christmas, Chelsea Wolfe, True Widow, Spurv
