I’m going to review this album in the coming weeks — actually it’s slated for Monday, Nov. 26, if you’re curious — but as I watch the wobbly Wonka-esque letters of Greenleaf‘s new lyric video for “The Rivers Lullaby” roll past, I can’t help but be reminded of the clip Truckfighters put out in 2016 for their song “Calm Before the Storm” (posted here) that wound up catching such hell for directly telling the story of a grisly murder that took place in both bands’ native Sweden. It doesn’t seem like Greenleaf are talking to the same circumstance, but in lines like “Came from the shadows” and “I’m gonna have what it is mine,” the sense of threat comes through clearly as they touch on the title of the record itself, which is Hear the Rivers.

They’ve been out supporting the album alongside Samavayo and only have a couple of dates remaining on the tour, but expect Greenleaf to hit the road again in 2019, since that’s basically their modus nowadays. Album cycles. Since 2014’s Trails and Passes (review here), they’ve been a full-fledged touring act, but Hear the Rivers, which follows 2016’s also-righteous Rise Above the Meadow (review here), is their first with the complete lineup of vocalist Arvid Hällagård, bassist Hans Fröhlich and drummer Sebastian Olsson around founding guitarist Tommi Holappa, who has essentially transmuted what might’ve been the continuation of his other outfit, Dozer, onto what was once a side-project while retaining Greenleaf‘s signature classic heavy rock elements.

I haven’t seen this lineup of Greenleaf live, and it’s starting to give me that existential ache. Sadly it won’t happen on this tour — off to Eindhoven! — but hopefully at some point soon the paths will align.

Enjoy the video and the song. The album is out now:

Greenleaf, “The Rivers Lullaby” lyric video

GREENLEAF give a second glimpse of how the rivers sound by revealing “The Rivers Lullaby”. Today the Swedes illustrate the floating stoner groover with a lyric video that underlines the song’s essence in the typical GREENLEAF way.

The band on the new video and their plans for the next weeks: “We feel very happy with the lyric video for “The Rivers Lullaby”. It captures the mood and the essence of the song itself that for the most part describes a reaper’s helpless and weary thoughts. We also can’t wait to get on the road on Thursday and play this beast of a song for a live audience!”

GREENLEAF – Remaining dates w/ SAMAVAYO:
14.11.18 DE – Cologne / Helios 37
15.11.18 UK – London / Underworld
16.11.18 FR – Paris / Glazart
17.11.18 NL – Eindhoven / Helldorado Festival*
*without SAMAVAYO

Line-up:
Arvid Hällagård: Vocals
Tommi Holappa: Guitar
Hans Fröhlich: Bass
Sebastian Olsson: Drums

Greenleaf on Thee Facebooks

Greenleaf on Instagram

Greenleaf at Napalm Records

Napalm Records website

Napalm Records on Thee Facebooks

Greenleaf at Sound of Liberation

Tags: Borlange, Greenleaf, Greenleaf Hear the Rivers, Hear the Rivers, Napalm Records, Sweden

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 14th, 2018 at 5:20 am and is filed under Bootleg Theater. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.