I had forgotten the name Leonov in the time it has been (a tumultuous five years) but when their PR reached out to me and sent me their new video, I knew I had something special in my hands. Their previous release was already quite good, now that I had gone back to rediscover it and this single is even better. In case you've forgotten (like I did), Leonov traffic in the type of moody, groove-centric post-metal that I absolutely adore; think Night Verses or Telepathy but closer to their moodier sounds, stripped bare of their progressive flair. Oh, and also add absolutely captivating vocals that enhance the etherealness of the compositions to a wonderful degree. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, didn't I just describe Callisto? In any case, head on down below for your first taste, where you can decide for yourself which of my name drops is more appropriate.
Comparisons aside, I am in love with this track. It strikes that balance I love between dark atmosphere and meaty delivery, reminding us that melancholy almost always has an edge and that exploring that edge makes for great music. To accomplish this, "Procession" is carefully constructed, more than just build up. It flirts with the heavier elements of its sound over and over again, always withdrawing just before everything really breaks out into noise. That is, until around the four minute mark when the hounds of the groove section are fully loosed and the guitar wakes its deeper voice and the track collapses/ascends into its furiously heavy and busy outro.
In short, if you're a fan of post-metal and are looking for something clever, restrained, and expertly crafted, this is a band to watch and a track to dive deeper into. This single comes to us from the same-titled album, Procession, due for release on November 24th via Vinter Records. You can head on down below to their Bandcamp to pre-order it. I'll also remind you when it's time to buy it; you won't want to miss this one.
Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 10, 2021