Einar Solberg / The Garage / London
April 2026 saw the release of the stunning sophomore solo album “Vox Occulta” from Einar Solberg, best known as the frontman of Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous. Currently touring across Europe to promote his new album, tonight saw him stop off at The Garage in London, for the only UK date on the tour. As an album “Vox Occulta” is a bold, heavy and symphonic statement and this was one show, we were not going to miss.
A packed roster, with three support acts before the main event, and up first are French Alt-indie, electronic project Jovian Moons, created by Paris-based music producer Lucas D'Angelo, who was previously the guitarist in the metal band Betraying The Martyrs. This is Jovian Moons first ever gig in the UK !
Jovian Moons deliver a set packed with driving rhythms and hypnotic basslines, with songs that explore concepts such as identity, solitude and the passage of time. What struck me was the range of musical styles / influences in the set with tracks that sound post-rock, and then elsewhere, the electronic elements come to the fore, creating vast cinematic sounding numbers. At times the groove takes on a funky fun style.
I was really struck by Jovian Moons, their sound is infectious and spell-binding, weaving us along a sonic journey with its hypnotic melodies and groovy beats. There’s an almost ambient element to the progressive sound at times too which works really well.
It may be their first UK appearance, but lets hope it’s not their last. The kind of band that would fit in perfectly at something like Arctangent.
Next up is cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne. The Candian has been a member of the Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous alongside Einar Solberg since 2016 and he has performed worldwide with artists such as Apocalyptica, Hania Rani, Evanescence and Devin Townsend, to name nut a few!
Stepping out to loud cheers he takes his place and sits centre stage. The lighting is simple, often a white spot pointing down on him and his cello, making for a dramatic sight, which emphasises the performance we’re about to experience !
Raphael uses a loop pedal to record sections of notes, or thumps on the cello, to build complex layers of sounds, over which he performs the main cello lines. Somewhat similar to Jo Quail who also performs with a classical cello, but whereas Jo Quail mixes that classical base with complex ambient sounds, Raphael delivers a classical sound brought to life with metal !
Somewhat like Apocalyptica, it is loud, robust and grandiose and filled the Garage. Raphael is a charismatic performer, putting his whole being and spirit into the performance, his facial expressions emphasising the emotion of the tracks, and each one ends with a bow thrust high into the air in triumph. Each track is met with shouts and cheers.
His use of looped layers and percussive elements was clever and enjoyable. A thoroughly enjoyable, and very different performance !
It’s almost time for tonight’s headliner, but first we finish off the support set with Royal Sorrow, a Finnish progressive metal band. Stepping out into the spotlight, dressed in black, outfits designed to look torn and ragged, they proceeded to deliver a fantastic set of energetic modern prog metal.
Their sound is melodic but each track is packed full of catchy choruses and riffs. It builds on Raphael’s set before, increasing the noise levels and at times, surprisingly heavy ! Confident and stylish they were certainly a hit with the London crowd, and their visuals worked really well too. There is a fresh energy to them that got the crowd engaged early in the set. A band that could certainly pull off a headline set, and I hope we see them tour the UK in the not too distant future.
Mad rushing round and reorganising, as the stage is prepared for tonight’s headliner, Einar Solberg. Best known as a founding member of Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous. Formed in 2001, part of what makes Leprous stand out is the vocals, delivered by Einar, which are emotional and delivered in an instantly recognisable soaring falsetto but his incredible range allows him to mix this with some top notch harsh vocals and occasional metal scream.
“Vox Occulta” is his second solo release, which came out in April this year. It is a bold, heavy and symphonic statement, which was recorded in collaboration with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. I was intrigued to see how this full orchestral recording would translate to the live stage.
To deliver the goods, Einar is backed by an impressive truly international group of musicians. On guitar is Frenchman uentin Godet (Gadinja, ten56) and on bass is Finn Eero Maijala who just left the stage with his band Royal Sorrow ! The drumseat is occupied by Keli Guðjónsson (Agent Fresco). Englishman Harrison White plays the keyboards (Novena, Leprous) whilst they are joined by American Chris Baum (Bent Knee) on violin and Canadian Raphael Weinroth-Browne and Russian/Dutch Maya Fridman on cellos.
The lights dim and the musicians take their places, dressed in black hooded robes, before Einar himself takes the stage, in a bright red, hooded robe. Very gothic, very dramatic ! The opening track is Stella Mortua, the opening track from “Vox Occulta”. Instantly you forget that the album was recorded by a full orchestra, the assembled musicians bring the new material to life, with the string section and keys giving the sound depth and complexity making it sound ‘bigger’ and more dramatic. You know how sometimes you hear folk say ‘I don’t known how two people (such as The Meffs / Virginmarys) can make so much sound ?’ The same applied here, for such a relatively small group of musicians, the sound was orchestral, and magnificent.
Einar removes the robe and is dressed in black tie as if heading into London town to some swanky restaurant for the evening. The change adding to the dramatic visuals. The set is a mix of material. All but one of the tracks from “Vox Occulta” make an appearance, and form the spine of the set, but there are also songs from his solo debut “16” and a nod to Leprous too.
The orchestral instruments are obviously there to bring “Vox Occulta” to life, but the format also works really well with the material from “16” as well. Tracks like Medulla go down a storm with the London crowd, many of whom are die hard Leprous fans, judging. By the t-shirts on display, and the audience were fully involved, singing along with gusto to tracks like Over the Top.
Highlight of the set had to be an emotional rendition of The Glass is Empty from his solo debut “16” a track about his family life growing up as a teenager. The mood stayed emotional and dark as Einar sat at the keyboard, and backed by a cello and violin he delivered a powerful version of The Last Milestone a track by Leprous. Just stunning, and had the whole audience in awe.
The key to the whole performance though is Einar’s stunning vocals, demonstrating a wide range, from deep rich lows to soaring sustained highs. Grex from the latest album is a great example, sounding just as grand and majestic as I hoped it would, led. Y those magnificent vocals. The clarity and strength of his vocals is amazing to experience, and the symphonic “Vox Occulta” is the perfect magnificent backdrop, which he brings to life so effectively. There’s an ethereal, unworldly feel to his singing and we’re all mesmerised track after track.
The time flies by and before you know it, its over. The performance has been a whirlwind from start to finish. Indeed the whole night has flown by. What seemed to be four VERY different styles / performances, worked so so well together as a whole, building the atmosphere, ready for the grandiose finale !
“Vox Occulta” is an impressive album, which I highy recommend you give a listen to, and tonight brought it to life in the most dramatic way possible. Amazing on every level…..
