Hardcore metal guitarist Tobias Buck was tired of playing in the Munster death metal outfit Malzan so he grabbed drummer Sebastian Heldt (the two had played together during a 1998 Munster talent competition) and singer Benny Hileke, a newcomer to the power metal world. After working together for a few singles, the group desperately needed a bassist and contacted Buck's former Malzan band mate Benjamin Donath to join. By 2003 the quartet deemed themselves The Ninth Gate and started performing at local German bars including their first concert at Luna Bar. While the group instantly saw underground metal core success, they knew that a significant piece was missing. With the addition of second guitarist and former Malzan member (the group had finally disbanded at this point) Stefan Keller, who had been working with another thrash metal band but chose to join the Ninth Gate to incorporate some of his own ideas, the group was complete.

After the final quintet was settled, the guys recorded their seven track demo at the Docm-Klang Studio in Osnabruck. After some time the groups singles were being played at some of the most famous Munster night clubs and earned the boys series critical and commercial acclaim (though underground).

Just a year after they formed Metal Blade Records offered the boys a record contract. With a necessary name change, finally to Neaera, by the end of the year the group had created their debut album with their new name. The Rising Tide of Oblivion had thirteen tracks, several of which were their popular underground hits. Just a year later they returned with Let the Tempest Come, followed by Armamentarium in 2007.