Let's break it down:
* Simile: The phrase compares something to lead, using the word "as." This comparison is meant to evoke the feeling of something being slow, heavy, and lifeless.
* Polysyndeton: This literary device uses multiple conjunctions (in this case, "and") to create a sense of deliberate slowness and weight. The repetition emphasizes the qualities being described, making them seem even more prominent.
Therefore, the phrase uses both simile and polysyndeton to paint a vivid picture of something that is sluggish, cumbersome, and lacking in vitality.