Bilateral
Leprous · 2011
58 min · 10 tracks · progressive metal
Progressive metal intricacies intertwine with lush, emotional vocals and complex song structures that challenge conventional boundaries.
Top tracks — play these first
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Forced Entry — This track stands out with its dynamic shifts between aggressive riffs and ethereal melodies, showcasing the band's technical prowess and emotional depth.
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Restless — A highlight that encapsulates the band's ability to blend heavy instrumentation with hauntingly beautiful vocals, creating a captivating tension throughout.
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Mediocrity Wins — This song’s intricate arrangement and thought-provoking lyrics explore themes of dissatisfaction and ambition, resonating deeply within the album's overall narrative.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Bilateral showcases intricate compositions and dynamic vocal performances, solidifying Leprous's distinct sound in progressive metal.
What we noticed
- Vocals often alternate between soaring melodies and harsh, aggressive tones, creating a dynamic contrast throughout the record.
- Many tracks incorporate intricate instrumental sections that blend heavy guitar riffs with atmospheric keyboards.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic exploration with emotional peaks
- wave-like pacing with tension
- introspective moments of reflection
- engaging journey through complexity
Maybe skip if you
- seeking straightforward, catchy tracks
- prefer short, immediate gratification
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Bilateral is Leprous's second studio album, following their debut Tall Poppy Syndrome in 2009. By this point, the band had solidified their unique sound and began gaining recognition within the progressive metal community, setting the stage for their subsequent rise in popularity.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Between the Buried and Me· Haken· Tesseract
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Bilateral 4:00
- 2 Forced Entry 10:20
- 3 Restless 3:30
- 4 Thorn 5:47
- 5 MB. Indifferentia 6:33
- 6 Waste of Air 5:32
- 7 Mediocrity Wins 6:07
- 8 Cryptogenic Desires 2:45
- 9 Acquired Taste 5:13
- 10 Painful Detour 8:18
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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