Melbourne-based progressive rock and metal composer Leonard Kopilas has long been an envelope-pushing force in genre-defying music. With six solo albums to his name and experience performing with esteemed acts like Vanishing Point and Gamma Ray, his career reflects both relentless creativity and continuous evolution. His latest release, Sigma, unveiled this February, serves as yet another bold statement—combining complex songwriting and enchanting production into a sound quest that challenges and lures in equal measure.
Refreshingly concise and engagingly written, Sigma offers more thoughtful instrumentation and exhilarating moments than its predecessors. Limitations breed creativity, and the leads and solos that Kopilas has crafted through having one hand apiece bound to the guitar and keyboards are often wonky in intriguing ways, especially evident in the cosmic centerpiece riff heard in “Barbarous Relics.” Yet these moments are mere embellishments in the diverse array of tautly crafted pieces of progressive metal on display. From the aggressive grooves of “Afterschock” and “Renaissance” to more melodically inclined fare such as “Archangel” and “Myth Universe,” Leonard Kopilas uses this record as a playground to explore several tonal varieties of prog/power metal, and there isn’t a track to be found that I would not call a winner. Having said that, Sigma is an album that never fails to engage. This consistent level of engagement is only possible because Leonard places strong songwriting before instrumental showmanship. Tracks endeavor to be dynamic whenever possible. “A Stitch in Time,” for instance, smoothly transitions in and out of a slow, moody bridge that contrasts wonderfully with the otherwise propulsive nature of the song.
Leonard Kopilas has an amazing knack for arranging dynamic compositions in such a way that there is always some melody to latch onto, resulting in an album that is supremely confident and perfectly paced. Sigma is also one of a small handful of instrumental progpower metal albums I’ve heard in quite some time that actually gives a damn about doing something interesting with the genre, and is currently my front-runner for power metal-tinged record of the year.
Stream/download Sigma from Bandcamp. Follow Leonard Kopilas on Facebook.
Leonard Kopilas has an amazing knack for arranging dynamic compositions in such a way that there is always some melody to latch onto, resulting in an album that is supremely confident and perfectly paced.
