LEONOV - SHAPE OF ASH, German PELAGIC RECORDS PEL 303-V, 2025.

ORIGINAL German ISSUE with G/F Sleeve, Limited Subscribers Edition, Red with Orange Splatter Vinyl, Still Sealed.

Excellent Norwegian Post-Rock/Post-Metal... their latest release with some really nice haunting femvox.

For 15 years, female-fronted quintet LEONOV have been honing their captivating brand of celestial doom metal. Named after Aleksej Leonov, the first human to take a walk in space, the Norwegians combine the melancholic slow burn of King Woman with the ethereal heaviness of Subrosa and an incredible voice that undeniably reminds of Julie Christmas.

Shape of Ash showcases the refined sound of a band that has been around for quite a while… a band whose career has been a similar slow burn as their music, yet a band that has managed to stay together and create music throughout all these years, despite the odds of families and the real world.

Like staring into a purgatory bonfire, listening to ‘Shape of Ash’ is a powerfully entrancing experience. Dealing with themes of helplessness, uncertainty, conflict and resolution, these four songs touch upon the many adversities of life.

Like staring into a purgatory bonfire, listening to ‘Shape of Ash’ is a powerfully entrancing experience. Dealing with themes of helplessness, uncertainty, conflict and resolution, Shape of Ash touches upon the many adversities of life.

“We envisioned the image of a holy woman in flames, peacefully smiling”, vocalist Tåran comments on the theme of the album. “It represents fire as a means of purification. We become better versions of ourselves through burning off our ego and through enduring the suffering of the human condition. To become truly human is partaking in a process of evolving, striving, being changed through love and adversity.”

From the swaying rhythm that introduces album opener «Samaritan» to the heavenly ascension of the title track’s finale, Shape of Ash is an EP with many surprising facets and nuances. It is the first time the band recorded their instruments separately, as opposed to playing live as a band in the studio. “This really made a difference in the amount of time we were able to give each voice”, says Tåran about the recording process. Calling each instrument a voice is an unusual yet fitting way of describing the interplay of instruments on Shape of Ash.

These four songs come together to portray a strikingly human conversation that is both fiery and embracing. There is always an ebb and flow of intensity which leaves us to discover a mysterious tenderness, which finds its pinnacle in the duet between Tåran and Norwegian folk singer Syvert Feed (Jake Ziah). Structured as an argument between a couple, «Bygg en Menneskekropp» features an incredible vocal performance filled with so much injustice and pain it will leave you longing for a resolution, which is provided gratuitously by the epic bridge. Channeling prime Led Zeppelin in a grand melodic theme (think «Kashmir» or «No Quarter») the song ends with a wonderful unison from both vocalists leading the way to the EP’s monumental finale. The ultimate title track functions as the final cleansing, the one end to all suffering and at the same time an experience of rapt ecstasy.

On Shape of Ash, LEONOV create moments of primordial heaviness on which Tåran’s unique voice floats atop, blends in effortlessly in some moments and takes reserved distance in others. With the 4 songs that make up this stunning EP, the band sets the bar incredibly high for their upcoming full length album. We can’t wait for it!

Tracks are: Samaritan, Auld Ashok, Bygg En Menneskekropp, Shape Of Ash.

This is the rarer, sold out, subscribers edition.

A really nice unplayed copy.

Condition is Mint/UNP (cover/record), cover has no cutout.

POSTAGE:

***For UK buyers ebay no longer let you combine orders for BIN/Set Sale/Offers, so I now have to refund the over payment on postage. International buyers please request a total for combined postage.***

UK: £4.50 for the 1st LP/2LP then 50p for each additional LP/2LP if paid for separately, up to 2 Kg (this is to take account of the additional ebay fees for separate payments). If all LPs are on one invoice/payment, total postage cost will be £4.50. Over payments on postage will be refunded.
For over 2 Kg, approximately £9 for values up to £100, £13 for values up to £200.

CDs & 7" Singles are FREE with LPs, otherwise £2.30 for the first then 50p for each additional. Thicker CD Box Sets are the same as LPs due to the size/weight. For larger orders cost will be the same as LPs depending on the weight/value.

CANADA/JAPAN/ASIA/ZONE 1: 
Tracked: 17/20 GBP for 1st LP (for under/over 500g), 2 LPs 20 GBP, 3 LPs 24 GBP, 4 LPs 27 GBP, 5 LPs 28 GBP, 6-7 LPs 30 GBP.
1st CD/Single is 6/9.50 GBP (for under/over 100g), 2 CDs 9.50 GBP, 3/4 CDs 13 GBP.

USA: Tracked: 17 GBP for the 1st LP (under 500g), 2/3 LPs (under 1 Kg) 20 GBP, 3/4 to 6/7 LPs 23 GBP.
1st CD/Single is 6/9.50 GBP (for under/over 100g), 2 CDs 9.50 GBP, 3/4 CDs 13 GBP.

AUSTRALIA/ZONE 2: Tracked: 19/23 GBP for 1st LP (for under/over 500g), 2 LPs 23 GBP, 3 LPs 27 GBP.
1st CD/Single is 6/9.50 GBP (for under/over 100g), 2 CDs 9.50 GBP, 3/4 CDs 13 GBP.

PAYMENT:

PERSONAL CHEQUES IN UK STERLING/ PAYPAL.

GRADINGS:

I DO TRY TO PLAY/TEST GRADE ALL THE LPs I SELL.

MINT:

RECORD: PERFECT...AS NEW CONDITION, SO NO DETEORIATION IN THE SOUND QUALITY…bear in mind that not all ‘new’ LPs are Mint because of the quality of the pressing etc...also SEALED/UNPLAYED LPs should be Mint.

COVER: AS NEW CONDITION WITH NO OBVIOUS DEFECTS.

M-: RECORD: SLIGHTY WORSE THAN Mint, LP may have the odd surface mark due to removal from its sleeve etc…but should have minimal noise and is still in great condition.

COVER: SHOWS SIGNS OF BEING HANDLED WITH THE ODD CREASE/TINY BIT OF WEAR or a Mint cover with a deletion/cutout hole or notch.

EX: RECORD: MOST REGUARLY PLAYED LPs KEPT WITH CARE FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY...LP may play with more hiss/slight crackle but not louder than the music.

COVER: SLIGHTLY MORE WEAR/CREASING/BENDING even some very slight ring wear...or may be a M or M- cover with a tiny split seam or a tiny sticker tear, but still nice.

EX-: Record & Cover a bit worse than EX, but better than VG+.

VG+: RECORD: LP PLAYS WITH MORE NOISE DUE TO EITHER DIRT OR STRONGER SURFACE MARKS BUT NO BAD MARKS/SCRATCHES and is STILL IS IN A VERY LISTENABLE CONDITION though starting to affect the music to some extent.

COVER: HAS QUITE A LOT OF CEASING/BENDING often with FADING/RING WEAR/ STICKER TEARS/TEARS...or may be an EX cover with a split seam(s).

NOTE: Any buyers looking for reasonably nice playing records should avoid anything below VG+.    

VG: Not exactly ‘Very Good’, an often-misinterpreted grade, most VG records I’ve bought have some obvious defects affecting the record and/or cover.        RECORD: THE SOUND QUALITY OF IS AFFECTED BY SURFACE MARKS/ LESSER AUDIBLE MARKS/SCRATCHES or DIRT etc...but still plays through and is still in quite a REASONABLE condition for playing, though obviously affecting the music to a greater extent.

COVER: PLENTY OF CREASING/BENDING/FADING/RING WEAR but still in one piece.

G: LP still plays through but is very noisy due to scratches/dirt etc....but still not totally trashed!

COVER: AS VG BUT TORN and starting to fall apart.

F/P: LP is trashed...for ornament purposes only.

PLEASE NOTE GRADING IS SUBJECTIVE AND EVERYONE CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION (for instance, some sellers don’t grade below VG). Myself, I think there should be an obvious difference between each grade.