Text & Photo by: Patrícia Veludo. Full photo gallery at the bottom of this article. Special thanks to Free Music Events.

Promoter Free Music Events brought Einar Solberg, vocalist of Norwegian band Leprous, to República da Música in Lisbon on September 23, 2026, for an evening dedicated to progressive rock and metal, as part of the tour supporting his solo project and the album Vox Occulta. Accompanied by Jovian Moons (France), Raphael Weinroth-Browne (Canada), and Royal Sorrow (Finland), Solberg gave the Portuguese audience a night marked by a wide range of sounds.

The evening opened with Jovian Moons, who combine alternative and indie rock with atmospheric and electronic elements, followed by Raphael Weinroth-Browne, who explores the possibilities of the cello through classical, experimental, and post-metal sounds. Royal Sorrow, with their progressive metal influenced by djent and alternative metal, preceded Einar Solberg, who closed the evening with his more cinematic and orchestral solo approach through Vox Occulta.

The Atmospheric alternative rock of Jovian Moons set an immersive tone

Jovian Moons were the first band to take the stage, presenting a sound rooted in alternative/indie rock, with a strong atmospheric component, electronic textures, guitars, and engaging melodies. The project, led by Parisian musician, producer, and vocalist Lucas D’Angelo, explores an introspective and melancholic approach, creating dense and hypnotic atmospheres.

The set focused mainly on the album X Amount Of Time, released in January this year. The performance opened with “A Prophecy”, followed by “X Amount Of Time”, which was met with strong applause from the audience. The crowd’s response grew increasingly warm as the concert progressed, and the musicians’ satisfaction at the reaction they were receiving was clearly visible.

“On My Own” followed, maintaining the immersive atmosphere created by the opening songs. With “The Experiment”, the band continued exploring the different textures of their sound before moving into “The Fog”. Between songs, the audience remained highly enthusiastic, creating a close connection between the stage and the crowd.

To close their performance, Jovian Moons chose “Invisible”, ending their set to another positive response from the audience. Throughout the performance, the band’s satisfaction at seeing their music so warmly received was evident, giving Jovian Moons a very well-received introduction to the evening.

Jovian Moons (Photo: Patrícia Veludo | @patriciaveludo_photo)

Raphael Weinroth-Browne: A cinematic cello performance built through layers

Acclaimed Canadian cellist and composer, Raphael Weinroth-Browne is known for exploring the relationship between classical music and progressive metal, creating a sound rich in textures and atmospheres. He is also a member of Leprous, alongside Einar Solberg.

His performance opened with “Reflectio”, from the 2026 EP Dissolution, followed by “Ricercare”, a 2017 single. Alone on stage, Raphael used live looping to create cinematic soundscapes, recording and producing samples in real time and layering different cello parts as the performance unfolded.

The set continued with “Speed of Light”, also from the 2026 EP Dissolution, maintaining the gradual construction of atmospheric layers through the musician’s different techniques. The audience followed the performance closely, even clapping along to the rhythm created by the bow moving across the cello strings.

Raphael concluded with “Ophidian”, from the 2025 album Lifeblood. His performance ended to strong applause, a clear demonstration of the impact created by the musician’s singular approach throughout his time on the República da Música stage.

Raphael Weinroth-Browne (Photo: Patrícia Veludo | @patriciaveludo_photo)

The Progressive metal and dark electronics of Royal Sorrow brought dynamic intensity

Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Royal Sorrow combine progressive metal with elements of alternative metal, electronics, and different sonic textures, creating a diverse sound marked by heavy riffs and engaging melodies. The band released their debut album, Innerdeeps, in 2025.

This tour with Einar Solberg marked Royal Sorrow’s debut as part of this particular lineup, bringing the Finnish band to the República da Música stage in Lisbon in this context and presenting their sound to an audience ready to discover their music.

The performance opened with “Evergreen”, followed by “Release Your Shadow” and “Bloodflower”, immediately showcasing the band’s dynamics. On drums, Janne Mieskonen stood out with his precise rhythm and tight pedal work, while Eero Maijala, who also performs with Einar Solberg’s live band, provided a solid instrumental foundation. Alongside them, Markus Hentunen delivered the vocals with excellent stage presence and a highly intense performance. The band’s dark and contemporary aesthetic was also reflected in their clothing, complementing their visual identity.

The set continued with “Give In”, before moving into “Covert”, their new single. The song introduced a more psychedelic side to the performance, immediately encouraging the audience to dance and creating a noticeable shift in atmosphere.

To finish, “Metrograve” once again brought a strong rhythmic element, with the audience clapping along to the beat. The crowd remained highly engaged throughout the performance, and Royal Sorrow left the stage to huge applause after a set that had received an enthusiastic response from the audience.

Royal Sorrow (Photo: Patrícia Veludo | @patriciaveludo_photo)

Einar Solberg: An intimate and dramatic performance shaped by emotion and orchestral textures

Originally from Notodden, Norway, Einar Solberg is best known as the vocalist, keyboardist, and main songwriter of Leprous, exploring a progressive and atmospheric approach to rock and metal, with a strong symphonic and emotional component. In Lisbon, he presented his solo project, centred around the albums 16 and Vox Occulta.

Einar took the stage without hesitation, opening with one of his major hits, “Stella Mortua”. The response was immediate, with a highly participative audience urging the band on with “Hey, hey, hey!”, creating an atmosphere of great closeness from the very beginning.

“Liberatio”, “Vita Fragilis”, and “A Beautiful Life” followed, with Einar maintaining a constant dialogue with the audience between songs. This relaxed and personal interaction made the concert feel particularly intimate, creating the impression that the stage and audience were sharing the same space. The musical journey continued with “Serenitas” and “Splitting the Soul”, before reaching “Vox Occulta”, the single that gives its name to the latest album. The audience was clearly delighted with what they were witnessing, following every moment with attention and enthusiasm.

Next came “The Glass Is Empty” and “The Last Milestone”, the latter a Leprous song. Before the song, Einar spoke openly about depression and the death of his father, sharing with the audience the emotional weight behind these songs. That vulnerability immediately resonated with the crowd, creating a particularly intense moment in which music became a way of bringing deep emotions to the surface, sending shivers through the audience.

Einar Solberg (Photo: Patrícia Veludo | @patriciaveludo_photo)

The emotional atmosphere continued with “16”. Einar took his place at the keyboards, accompanied by the cellos of Raphael Weinroth-Browne and Maya Fridman, and the violin of Chris Baum, creating a delicate and cinematic atmosphere that once again sent shivers through the audience.

It was then time to introduce the band. Einar began with Quentin Godet on guitar, together with the orchestral string section, followed by Harrison White on keyboards and synthesizers. When introducing the drummer, Einar explained that he had deliberately left him until last for a special reason. After introducing Eero Maijala on bass, he finally introduced drummer Keli Guðjónsson, revealing that it was his birthday. The reaction was immediate, with the entire room joining in to sing “Happy Birthday”, creating a spontaneous moment that brought several laughs both on stage and among the audience.

Without letting the energy drop, “Medulla” followed, another song that left no one indifferent. Throughout the concert, Einar remained in constant motion, repeatedly climbing onto the acrylic structure on stage. His performance was accompanied by wide vocal variations, demonstrating impressive control of his voice while consistently staying in pitch and adding to the visual and musical intensity of the performance.

As the concert approached its end, Einar explained, with some humour, that they had no more songs to play. After all, they only had two solo albums, 16 and Vox Occulta, and they had already included a Leprous song in the set. The farewell came with “Grex”, during which Einar returned to the keyboards while Harrison White took up a second guitar.

Einar Solberg (Photo: Patrícia Veludo | @patriciaveludo_photo)

The concert ended with a huge round of applause. The audience clearly did not want the evening to end, extending their reaction as the musicians thanked everyone for being there. Einar and the band left the stage with smiles on their faces after a performance marked by intimacy, emotion, and outstanding musicianship.

The sound was excellent throughout the evening, contributing to the fantastic atmosphere at República da Música and allowing every detail of the music and performance to reach the audience with great clarity.

JOVIAN MOONS

RAPHAEL WEINROTH-BROWNE

ROYAL SORROW

EINAR SOLBERG