The Leavers: We Are the Leavers

The Turkish band The Leavers are new to the music scene, releasing their debut, We Are the Leavers, earlier this year. But their members certainly are not. Mert Alkaya (drums), Faruk Kavi (guitar), and Volkan Konuk (bass) all have considerable experience with bands from their native country and abroad.

The Leavers have been labeled a “post-rock� outfit. While I can hear some of that, their sound is removed from that of Tortoise and Mogwai, and, especially, Sigur Rós and Explosions in the Sky. This album is primarily progressive instrumental metal of a very high caliber. All the songs are long, with the first four clocking in at between nine and thirteen minutes, and closing with the 21-minute epic “Revival.� Some of the songs probably are a little too long; there are some unnecessary, fairly extended droning passages (one of the reasons they probably have been labeled “post-rock�) that link parts of individual tracks. But they certainly didn’t last long enough to turn me off on the effort. In addition to the ass-kicking metal, there are lighter passages that fit well with the heavier stuff, providing the proverbial “light and shade.�

I really liked this album, and would recommend it without reservation to anyone who is a fan of the genre.

Track Listing
1. The Gathering (9:27)
2. Whispers & Lullabies (10:15)
3. Light from the Dark (12:42)
4. Echoes of the Union (9:28)
5. Revival (21:04)

Added: July 23rd 2025
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 239
Language: english

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