Pitfalls is the sixth studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous, released on 25 October 2019 via Inside Out Music and preceded by the singles "Below", "Alleviate", and "Distant Bells".

Pitfalls charted higher than its predecessor Malina in the Wallonia region of Belgium, Finland, France, the UK (rock and metal releases), and Top Heatseekers in the US.

Leprous recorded the album from February to July 2019 at Ghostward Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, with producer David Castillo and mix engineer Adam Noble, who was chosen in pursuit of a different sound.

Cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne and violinist Chris Baum contributed additional music, receiving MIDI files of their segments prior to recording.

[12] "I Lose Hope" was frowned upon in its infancy, but reached new potential in studio, at which point Børven and drummer Baard Kolstad applied a groove reminiscent of hip hop.

[20][21][22][23][24] Dom Lawson, reviewing for Blabbermouth.net, beheld "Below" as evocative of "grateful tears", termed "Observe the Train" an "elegant" chamber pop waltz, and gave thanks to "The Sky Is Red" for its "feverish prog worship", "conviction and class".

[26] Scott Medina at Sonic Perspectives declared Pitfalls to be "exquisite", taking note of Solberg's "angelic falsetto highs and powerful lower delivery".

Medina praised "I Lose Hope" and "Observe the Train" for their catchy choruses and effective arrangements, thought "At the Bottom" offered thrilling dynamics, and lauded Leprous for displaying their full range on "The Sky Is Red", which he dubbed a "brilliantly enigmatic" closer.

[5] Metal Storm designated the final minutes of "At the Bottom" as the highlight of the album, appreciated the choruses on "Alleviate", and favoured "The Sky Is Red" for its rhythmic complexity, technical virtuosity, and "captivating" hooks.

[29] Tuonela Magazine's David Araneda likened the opening track to a James Bond score when alluding to the string section, which was said to complement the "warmth" of Solberg's voice.

[30] Fraser Lewry of Louder Sound opined, "Pitfalls packs such an emotional wallop you almost fear for the health of its instigator, but it also feels joyous.

[31] Conversely, Sputnikmusic levied the main criticism on Solberg's dominant role and remarked that it could have been his solo album;[28] Metal Storm did so as well, decrying the pervasive presence of vocals for relegating guitars and drums to the background and writing that "not enough of the material on Pitfalls offers up an emotionally resonant experience at the level of past work".