German metalcore veterans Neaera, who are celebrating their twentieth anniversary this year, will release their All Is Dust full-length on June 28 via Metal Blade Records, today unveiling the record's first single and pre-orders.
On February 28, 2020, Neaera released their seventh album - it was their eponymous comeback record after a seven-year-hiatus - which caught everyone by surprise. Despite having been well received, the pandemic impeded the band's long awaited and already scheduled return to live stages. On February 29, 2020, Neaera played a sold-out release show, but it remained the only show for the record in years since Wacken, the Impericon festivals, and other shows were forced to be postponed until further notice.
By 2021, the Neaera collective decided it was time for new material. With a desire to return to an oldschool writing approach when songs were composed together in a musty rehearsal room, the band started the writing process. By 2022, the band recruited Janosch Rathmer (drummer of long-time friends/German post-rock institution Long Distance Calling) to record their new album, All Is Dust. Mixing and mastering for the record was skillfully 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.
Lyrically, Neaera shifted their focus a bit and put the individual, its survival, and sanity in these testing times center stage alongside lyrics that tackle global and social clamor - a shift that was arguably pandemic-related.
Comments guitarist Stefan Keller on first single, "Pacifier": "'Pacifier' is a rather typical Neaera song containing the trademarks the band is renowned for. The lyrics deal with a way to come to peace with oneself, leaving behind regrets, old pain and banishing thoughts that impede you."
Watch Neaera's "Pacifier" video below.
All Is Dust features cover art by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design (Oceans Of Slumber, Evergrey, Vomitory) and will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
- Dark Vanilla Marbled (Ltd. 700)
- Orange Black Dust (Ltd. 200)
- Gold Black Dust (EMP exclusive - Ltd. 300)
= Wooden Boxset (Gatefold Dark Goldenrod Marbled LP, Digi-CD, 7", poster, lanyard, patch, hand signed card - Kingsroad exclusive - Ltd. 300)
Additionally, a limited album/ticket bundle will be available at Kingsroad and Impericon for an exclusive Neaera record release show in Münster, Germany on September 14. Direct support for that show comes from Breakdown Of Sanity.
Find pre-orders at metalblade.com/Neaera.
All Is Dust tracklisting:
"Antidote To Faith"
"Pacifier"
"All Is Dust"
"Swords Unsheathed"
"Per Aspera"
"Edifier"
"In Vain"
"Render Fear Powerless"
"Dividers"
"Into The Hollow"
"Pacifier" video:
Neaera lineup:
Benny Hilleke - vocals
Stefan Keller - guitars
Tobias Buck - guitars
Benjamin Donath - bass
Sebastian Heldt - drums
(Photo - Xoxo Photography)
