"Let the tempest come" CD by Neaera

by Oliver Kube (10.04.2006) After their killer debut (2005), the Münster, Germany-based Neaera recorded a follow up that not only equals that one but even outlives it. The Danish producer legend, Jacob Hansen did a perfect job, here, delivering one of the edgiest and as a whole most balanced records in his career. Fortunately, the musicians are as good as their producer and created an album on highest international metal and hardcore level. Already in the extremely bull-like opener, “Mechanisms of standstill“ provided with a powerful rhythm, the quintet shows how much they improved in composition finesses. That also becomes visible in the further course of the album, like in “Plagueheritage“, added by some classic 80s guitar lines à la Maiden & co., as well as in the instrumental “Life damages the living“ spiced up by acoustic guitars. I have rarely observed such a maturing process within only two records. Respect!