It’s all about blackness and abysses. The artist must have been watching Breakfast TV, or the German equivalent of it. “Reue” (Regret) is Leipa’s second album. The man behind it known as Noise is also responsible for Kanonenfieber, a more war-oriented black metal band.
A withering guitar strain leads to an explosion of black metal. The rasping vocalist rants. “01.09.2015” is a template of black metal and its aggression and contempt. “Fremdkörper” (Foreign Body) starts in similar fiery vein. Drums trigger at pace. The grey guitar riff that we heard on “01.09.2015” is here, but this is a whirlwind as “Fremdkörper” heads off at speed, switching tempo and direction towards one of oppression before the sparks fly again. From quiet beginnings, the title track breaks out into an expanse of fire. I hesitate to call it atmospheric or epic, but it is big, booming and rusty black metal. “Tier” (Animal) is an all-out assault, blasting drums and all, turning into another in-your-face blackened rant. This album is nothing if not persistent, as “Abgang” (Exit) treads a familiar fiery path, laced with uncompromising riffage and angry vocal growls. “Schlaf” (Sleep) starts with a slow build-up and has the quality of attrition which characterises this album. More unusual is the spoken section as the hanging sound of death is provided by the instrumental output. The ambience here is one of tragedy. For me “Schlaf” had more impact than the others as it enveloped us, the listeners, more in its gloom and fire. The rapid-fire assault returns with “Rauch” (Smoke). Noise growls furiously and intently, breaking off for a quiet passage, and returning for a further explosive outburst, accompanied by a bleak guitar line. It’s intense as is all the album, but I found it all somewhat formulaic.
“Reue” has power and evil intent, but perhaps with exception of “Schlaf” I didn’t find it discomforting or impactful at all. By and large it passed me by. Ferocity alone is not enough. I found the structure of these black metal pieces largely uniform, and whilst it’s true to the genre with the fire and aggression, this album didn’t light me up in any special way.
(6/10 Andrew Doherty)
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