ALBUM REVIEW: All Is Dust – Neaera
2024 marks 20 years since German melodic death metal outfit NEAERA formed, and what better way to celebrate than by releasing their eighth studio album, All Is Dust? But it almost didn’t happen. After the release of their self-titled comeback album in February 2020, the band went back to basics by writing songs in an old rehearsal room in September 2021, but they found that the new material wasn’t working, prompting them to go for a more daring style.
The result is All Is Dust, a record that proves even eight albums in that NEAERA haven’t lost their stride. Opener Antidote To Faith is a vicious metal song whose screams by vocalist Benny Hilleke bury into your skull. The guitar riffs drive the song along, and even though it’s heavy all the way through, the vocals and instruments compliment each other and neither overwhelms the other.
In fact, even though the album is full of heavy vocals and fast-paced instruments that make you want to throw yourself into the nearest mosh pit, the songs themselves are wildly different. For example, whilst Pacifier is a mid-tempo number, the title track is a fast-paced song that verges on straight death metal with plenty of growls thrown in. Each track allows all the band members to shine, whether that is drummer Sebastian Heldt on Swords Unsheathed and Edifier, In Vain showcasing the best of bassist Benjamin Donath, or Render Fear Powerless showing off the talents of guitarists Stefan Keller and Tobias Buck. None of the instruments overwhelm each other at any point during any of the songs.
The album itself is incredibly cohesive. Whilst each song puts its own spin on the band’s style, it doesn’t sound forced. All of the songs are well-paced with smart runtimes that average at around four minutes, and at no point do they sound rushed or unfinished.
Overall, All Is Dust is a fantastic addition to the NEAERA discography, one that shows that they still have plenty of ideas up their sleeves even this far into their career. Each song has its own individual sound, which allows the band to show off their experimental side, while ensuring that it all works as an overall album as well. The instruments and vocals constantly compliment one another as the album explores various sub-genres of metal, and ultimately it shouldn’t matter if you’re a new fan of NEAERA or have been there since the start: not only is this album a brilliant celebration of the band’s long history, but it is also one of the most impressive metal albums of the year.
Rating: 10/10
All Is Dust is set for release on June 28th via Metal Blade Records.
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