Detailed Reviews [Neronia - 2019 - "Second World"]

Prolusion. German band Neronia can trace their history all the way back to the start of the 1990's, then operating under a different name, but for the last two decades they have been using the Neronia band name and been regular providers of new studio material. "Second World" is the band's sixth album using their current name, and was self released in 2019.

Analysis. I understand that Neronia started out exploring material closer to the progressive metal sphere back in the day, but the last time I encountered material by the band I found them to have a sound and orientation that was much closer aligned to neo-progressive rock. As of 2019 my impression is that the band have taken a break from their earlier progressive rock orientation and have chosen to venture forth into more mainstream oriented landscapes. We do get the occasional quirky composition that probably belongs inside a progressive hard rock context here, and we also get plenty of atmospheric laden compositions retaining some of the features one can also encounter among neo-progressive oriented rock bands on this album, but by and large this is at best a production with a few nods in a more progressive orientation. What we do get a lot of are songs with a more generic melodic rock orientation and a little bit of a hard rock swagger. A steady driving bass line is a vital feature throughout, with emotional lead vocals placed on top of gentle wandering clean guitars that often have a little bit of a ballad touch to them. Soft, floating keyboards and floating atmospheric laden guitar soloing emphasizing the gentle aspects of the landscapes explored. On occasion we are provided with a harder edged surge by way of guitar riffs, and sometimes with complete songs exploring the harder edged aspects of the band's repertoire too, but only rarely are these landscapes explored within a structure or framework that is all that interesting from a progressive rock perspective. For my sake I can and will enjoy a good album of melodic rock and hard rock, but on this occasion I do find that the band are just lacking those details that will elevate the album experience up to a more interesting level. We do get a couple of highlights with 'Kiss of a Rainbow' and 'Different View', but too many other songs just lack the features that manages to engage me as a listener on a deeper level, and a few too many songs come across as a bit too pedestrian and imaginative for my taste in music. Your personal taste in music will obviously be a deciding factor for this as well as all other albums, but my impression is that the commercial and artistic reach of this production will be on the more limited side of matters.

Conclusion. Neronia as of 2019 isn't a band that has all that much to offer for people with a more clear cut interest in progressive rock or progressive metal. Fairly straight forward and pleasant melodic rock is the dominating trait on this production, with some surges and more elongated trips into hard rock territories with an occasional nod in the direction of progressive rock here and there. My impression is that those with a more defined interest in easygoing melodic rock with some hard rock flavoring will be the audience most appreciative of the contents on this album, but even so, this is a production with more of a limited reach also in that context.

Progmessor: January 2023
The Rating Room