Neaera – Interview

Leestijd: 3 minuten

Toen de metalcore opkwam, was het de Duitse band Neaera die veel indruk maakte. In het kielzog van As I lay Dying en Heaven Shall Burn tourden zij destijds al door Europa. Dat was nog voordat het rijkelijk geprezen Let The Tempest Come uitkwam. Inmiddels is de band een kleine twintig jaar en vele albums verder. Daarom had White Room Reviews een interview met Neaera.

Dat interview met Neaera kon natuurlijk niet los gezien worden van de release All Is Dust. Die langspeler verscheen in de tweede helft van juni via Metal Blade. Er werd gekeken naar de ontwikkelingen in de band, maar ook naar de toekomst. Check het interview met frontman Benny Hilleke onder de video.

Het interview met Neaera

WRR: ‘Compliments with your great, energetic record All Is Dust. What did you use as inspiration to write this record?’
BH: ‘ Thank you!!! I’m really extremely happy to hear that! I think we had to “sort” everything out a bit after the last album. One week after the release of the last album, all clubs were closed due to the pandemic and all festivals were canceled. I would say that the emptiness and uncertainty during that time eventually gave us new inspiration.’

WRR: ‘Let The Tempest Come is still one of my all time favorite records. Compared to that time, what is changed for Neaera in all those years?’
BH: ‘I would classify Let the tempest come as one of our most “melodic” albums, with the following albums it got a bit darker and finally culminated in Omnicide- Creation Unleashed. For many people at the time, the record was too far away from the Neaera they knew from the first 3 albums. After that we went back in the direction of the first 3 albums and I think that with ALL IS DUST we now have an album that manages to reflect the trademarks of all our records.’

Twenty years

WRR: ‘It is almost twenty years since your first record. What is the most precious moment in Neaera in all those years?’
BH: ‘Phew, very good question! Fortunately, there have been a few in such a long time (but also a lot of bad ones haha). But the following moment comes to my mind: One of our biggest supporters was my grandpa, no joke! He was always wearing proudly  Neaera shirts and never missed an opportunity to talk about his grandson and his death metal band, haha. We’ve often played at the Vainstream festival in our home town of Münster. My grandpa was always there.  At some point I brought him on stage and thousands of metal fans cheered and shouted for him: Grandpa Heinz, Grandpa Heinz!!!  That still gives me goosebumps.’

Beers & future

WRR: ‘Nowadays there are a lot of different beers to buy. What is in your opinion the best beer to enjoy All Is Dust with and why?’
BH: ‘That’s true! Hmm  I’d say one with as low an alcohol content as possible, so that the headache from the constant headbanging to the record and the hangover the next day isn’t too bad, haha. Oooooor one with a lot – if you dont like what you heat at all, haha.’

WRR: ‘What are the plans for Neaera after All Is Dust is released?’
BH: ‘We’ll be playing some very cool festivals, including the mentioned Vainstream again ( on our release day). After the confirmed shows , we’ll unfortunately have to take a longer break for family reasons.’

Inmiddels is bekend geworden dat Benny Hilleke na de geplande shows ter promotie van Neaera even een break neemt. Zoals te lezen is, heeft dat te maken met familiare zaken. Of en wanneer Neaera terug aan het front is, is niet duidelijk, maar All Is Dust kan natuurlijk wel genoten worden. Mocht die nog niet in het bezit zijn, check dan deze link. 

TRACKLIST ALL IS DUST

01. Antidote to Faith
02. Pacifier
03. All Is Dust
04. Swords Unsheathed
05. Per Aspera
06. Edifier
07. In Vain
08. Render Fear Powerless
09. Dividers
10. Into the Hollow

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