Lera – Rêverie (Review)

Lera are an Italian post-metal band and this is their debut album.

Containing a graceful mix of post-metal, doom, and post-rock, Rêverie is a 40-minute journey into intricacy and heaviness. Lera have produced a record that is worth spending time with, unravelling its charms and secrets.

For initial reference points, think of a mix of bands such as A Swarm of the Sun, Briqueville, Cult of Luna, Isis, Obscure Sphinx, Pelican, and Year of No Light.

A record of atmospheric weight and elegant presence, Rêverie is an expansive record that moves the listener through a range of textures as it travels through its running time. Lera craft post-metal soundscapes that benefit from the heaviness of doom and the delicacy of post-rock. It’s a compelling recipe that they have developed, making for music that is imbued with feeling. The post-metal build/release mechanic is skilfully used, as is a certain level of dramatic dynamics. The latter is all about the guitars, as on occasion they can twist and turn like living things, searching for meaning as the music relentlessly unfolds.

Lera are tagged as instrumental on Bandcamp, but they do actually have a very capable singer. In places her voice is used like just another instrumental layer, but at others she is a potent focal point all of her own, so the instrumental tag is doing her a disservice in this sense. Having said that, Rêverie definitely does have the feel of an instrumental album overall, so I suppose it doesn’t really matter. Either way, it’s good stuff, and her voice adds value when it’s used.

Rêverie is an enjoyable record that takes multiple visits to truly appreciate. It’s a slow burner, gradually weaving its immersive sound around the listener, drawing them further and further into its world with every exposure. Lera have done well here, and I’ll look forward to what they come up with in the future too.

Highly recommended.