Neaera

German metal has always been a genre in which you need to pay close attention. The pace grows by the minute, and the insanity grows even quicker. I’ve been keeping my eye on Neaera for about three years now, and they keep getting louder, heavier, and more unbelievable as the years roll by. Since 2003, the band has released three full-length albums, Armamentarium being the latest. Initially the album was only available as a download—or illegal download—but was recently released on compact disc with a bonus track not available online.

The album opens up with “Spearheading the Spawn”. With a title like that you know it’s going to be epic. The majority of the track has the same tempo and same riffs being repeated, ultimately making the song a bit more linear than usual. The bridge however is entirely different from the rest of the track—a typical Neaera-style breakdown.

“Liberation” is the closing track of the online album, which features guest vocals by Markus Bischoff of Heaven Shall Burn. Bischoffs’ vocals are quite distinguishable, and sent chills right up my spine once he joined the lunacy. The track is a bit on the slow side for Neaera, though it still delivers the regular wallop you’d expect from the death metal kings.

The bonus track, “The Cleansing Void”, is simply a rerecorded version of “The Crimson Void” from Let the Tempest Come. The only difference is the intro. The track opens with an acoustic piece and jumps into distorted guitars and the usual pounding drums of Sebastian Heldt; however, instead of Benjamin Hilleke uttering his low growl, Jacob Hansen (producer) sings with clean vocals. It is very rare that something like this is even attempted, and even more rare when it comes out spectacularly.

Armamentarium is the band’s greatest achievement to date. With Metal Blade Records standing behind them, one can only imagine how much more the band will grow.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Spearheading the Spawn
02. Tools of Greed
03. Armamentarium
04. Synergy
05. Harbinger
06. In Loss
07. The Orphaning
08. The Escape From Escapism
09. Mutiny of Untamed Minds
10. The Need For Pain
11. Liberation
12. The Cleansing Void

Run Time: 56:57