Neaera - The Rising Tide of Oblivion
Metal Blade
Thrashy Melodic Deathcore
13 songs (42:41)
Release year: 2005
Metal Blade
Reviewed by Nathanael

New recruits and out for blood, German thrashers Neaera are hungry and eager to claim their own piece of the Metalcore pie. Chalk it up to none other than Metal Blade Records to snatch up this young act who, along with label mates The Red Death are the newest faces of this ever expanding sub genre.

As per usual, Neaera do what they do very well. The guitars are on The Rising Tide of Oblivion are nice and thick, punctuating every crushing riff and melodic lick. Once more, expect the usual influences from Swedish Thrash, Gothenburg Melo-Death to Massachusetts Hardcore and everything in between. With the occasional blasts and lower growls thrown in, these guys are easily comparable to label mates The Red Death, however, I find myself favoring the former for a few reasons.

One of the main deterrents for me with this release are Benny Hilleke’s vocals. While his low growls are very well executed, his regular delivery somehow fails to match the intensity of the music, steadily grating on my nerves as the album follows its course. His inability to hold screams for longer than a few seconds makes him seem slightly out of breath while his clean vocals come off sounding more comedic than compelling. While everything else sounds in place, this is my main complaint with this otherwise solid debut.

Seeing as so many other bands are currently playing this style, the separation between the leaders and the followers is becoming harder to define. Whereas The Red Death’s rougher production and more open embracing of Death Metal influences gave them the edge in my book, I can’t help but give a nod of recognition to Nearea. These guys truly handle themselves like professionals, a surprising fact considering that they’ve been together for barely two years.

Either way, Nearea are a quality act with the potential necessary to get noticed. While those tired of Metalcore (myself included) could bash this album for not really treading any new water, I’d rather not review this album for what it isn’t, but rather for what it is: a promising debut that’s worth the consideration of any fan of this increasingly popular style.

Killing Songs :
... Anthem of Despair, Where Submission Reigns, From Grief..., ...To Oblivion
Nathanael quoted 73 / 100
1 readers voted
Average:
 77
You did not vote yet.
Vote now

There are 7 replies to this review. Last one on Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:56 pm
View and Post comments