Taking an influence from the extreme metal of the 90s, LEERE are a Swiss duo, a side project of MOONFROST multi-instrumentalist, Thorn, and vocalist Sarcamon.

"Bleak" is a perfect name for this six track release; the album sounds dark and moody, with sparse arrangements and simple, yet fast paced playing. Put it together, however and the disjointed nature of some of the vocal parts combined with the playing makes about as much sense as a chocolate teapot.

Sometimes bands like this revel in terms like "horrific", as the whole genre of death and black metal revolves around the darker, gorier side of humanity. Here though, I can only use it to mean that it's horrible.

Opening with the pain of "Expanding Isolation", LEERE starts as it means to go on, with no discernible melodic content, and very little in the way of riffs or original ideas. Other than different patterns of screaming, the six tracks all sound very similar.

"Roots in a Skull" has an extended intro, which sets quite a dark and depressive mood with the repeated high speed chords before the vocals come in, screaming over the top, not really doing anything to add to the sound of the track. The song does, however, include one of the few clear lines on the album "Black metal sacrifice". Although if it's this album that is going on the altar, then I don't think that as an offering it would be accepted gladly.

Somehow, all six tracks beat the 5-minute mark; hugely overusing all of the pretty stock ideas, and dragging the songs out with little in the way of change or variety to break up the album.

The biggest shock is that somehow, the outro instrumental lasts for over 10 minutes. Opening with strange noises before a couple of piano chords are played, the track is a very slow burner and, in some respects, the best track on the album; Successfully creating a chilling mood with the repeated, incredible simple ideas which slowly change over the course of the composition, becoming spooky synths before going back to being sound effects again.