From their record label’s website, “In 2022, the band asked Janosch Rathmer to record the band’s new album, “All is Dust.” The mixing and mastering were skilfully executed by Kristian Kohle at Kohlekeller Studios who adorned the songs with a powerful yet organic sound that perfectly fit the band’s vision of their new material and approach. Aesthetically, the band yearned for a new approach and asked Greek artist Giannis Nakos to freely create something fitting for the album. Lyrically, NEAERA shifted their approach a bit and put the individual, its survival and sanity in these testing times center stage – beside lyrics that tackle global and social clamour; a shift that might have been pandemic related.”

“Antidote to Faith” is the first cut. As is often the case in this style of music, the band has the one extreme down pat, and that is the Death side of the music, but the melodic side still needs some development. “All is Dust” has a slightly slower, but similar sound, and the band isn’t winning much in the way of originality points. The riffing is too elementary, and they aren’t branching out at all. “Swords Unsheathed” is too similar to the other songs, and I am at a loss so far. The vocals are delivered in exactly the same way, and again, the riffs are just too damn simple sounding.

In keeping the same sound going even more, “Per Aspera” comes in very innocuously, and it’s clear at this point in the album that the band has no intentions of changing their sound at all. “Edifier” is faster, but still doesn’t represent a change in sound, and at this point, the album is quickly becoming painful to listen to. “Render Fear Powerless” is yet another similar sounding song. It’s safe to say that this album is deeply disappointing. “Into the Hollow” closes the album, and that point can’t come soon enough for me. I hate to be so critical, because the quintet does have talent, but it’s a shame they wasted on a clearly playing it too safe album.

Not being familiar with this band, I accepted the promo mostly because they were signed to a major label. One thing about certain labels, however, is that some of them aren’t interested in their bands experimenting at all, but just want the same sound delivered over and over again. I’m not sure if this applies to Metal Blade necessarily, but that is exactly what we have here and it is disappointing.