Review by JD on December 22, 2012.

Lets be truthful here, dark and nasty metal and Norway go together so fucking well, sort of like Pizza and beer on a hot day. Many of my own personal inflences in the music I love and create comes from where my forefathers came from, and I for one celebrate my lineage every time I pick up my bass and play.

Syrach (meaning Wisdom of Jesus) is a Doom Metal band from Bergen Norway. Some describe them as Doom/Death Metal, but I will have to disagree with that description. There is Death Metal elements in their music, but there is so much more. There is some Prog stylings, dashes of NWOBHM era pieces and even some slowed down Black Metal elements that seem to combine to give this band its thundering sound. I hear Candlemass, and even some Pale Divine in the sound... but as a whole, they are original.

Songs like 'A Death Tear' and 'Are You Able To Breath Fire?' are heavier than most bands stuff ever is, yet I hear this combination of melodic riffs and intelligence that seems to lift them above many. I love the looming feel of the arrangements that they use so effectively, adding in female voice in some songs to add character to the more nasty growl of the main vocalist. The resulting music is a feast for the ears that breaths what metal is. Even the recording of this album is stellar and just takes a amazing band into the phenomenal category.

Saying this straight out of my metallic heart: this is Norwegian Doom Metal that makes total sense and is so damned good. You all got to go out and buy it!!! You’ll never regret it if you do, it is that damn good!

My mission here is done, now for a cold one before I go on to the next album to review.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 9.5
Originality: 9
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by JD on December 27, 2011.

Death Metal comes in many versions and even sub versions as well but all have one thing in common when it comes down to it... sheer brutal sonic assault. I have heard many of these bands, and enjoyed many and of course found a few to be a waste of recording time and energy. It is the nature of the beast, and one that I am happy to be witness to, no matter if the band is good or bad.

Illinois based Leproso is one Death Metal band making their way through the onslaught of many bands and seem to be elbowing to the front of the pack. Mixing Death Metal from both the more simple yet frantic 80's and the nasty blood splattering versions perfected in the 90's they take it all and craft something that seems so familiar, yet still brings this fresh sound with a blistering power that is bigger and meaner than ninety percent of the acts out there. A feat that some bands never achieve. Leproso, seems to have found the foundation for what they do.

With the whole album sung mainly in Spanish, that fact never once takes away from the music. With gut hammering riffs that seen to bring a brutal assault to ever sense they can reach inside of a human being, Leproso does it in a big way. With each bulldozing note and intense beat they draw you into their music, even if not one word is understandable, that is the way a band operates.

It does not take an advanced degree in music to see that Leproso is an incredible band that I am sure will gardner a huge following in the metal scene. They have not made anything different or newer, but what the band is, is simply a good very heavy, intense blood splattered band that plays great music.

Categorical Rating Breakldown

Musicianship:9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Originality: 7.5
Overall: 9

Rating:8.5 out of 10