1052. Primal Fear / Jaws of Death. 1999. 3.5/5

The exponential growth of the power metal genre in Europe through the 1990’s saw an explosion in not only the number of bands coming together to create the music, but the popularity of the music as a whole. Primal Fear, the band put together by former Gamma Ray lead vocalist Ralf Scheepers and Sinner bass guitarist Matt Sinner, were already in that explosion when they formed their partnership, and the release of the eponymous debut album created a new band with a sound that was in synch with the music being created.
On initial reflection, “Jaws of Death” is an album where none of the songs are outstanding, in the way that they jump out at you and make you love them. All the songs are solid and perhaps generic as a result, but in an age where singles were rarer, this album fits in with that ideal. There aren’t any songs here that you would immediately consider putting on a playlist of favourite tracks. There are no real standout tracks.
While Kai Hansen had provided lead guitar on three tracks of the debut album, for the second album the band brought in Stefan Leibing as the second guitarist, giving the band a true five-member platform, with both Tom Naumann and Matt Sinner providing keyboards on the album when necessary.

The opening of the instrumental “Jaws of Death” which then segues into “Final Embrace” is a good solid start to the album, coming at you in a fast tempo set by the double kick drums of Klaud Sperling, with a singalong chorus that makes the opening a good one. This is followed in quick succession by “Save a Prayer” which moves along a similar path with a nice solo break in the middle of the song. “Church of Blood” has more attitude in both music and vocals, the double kick drum driving the song along and Ralf’s vocals feel like they are more engaged and makes for a better listen, while “Into the Future” carries on along that same line of punchy drums and guitars and a great example of the range of vocals that Ralf Scheepers possesses.
The beginning of “Under Your Spell” brings about very strong similarities to the start of Judas Priest’s classic track “Out in the Cold” such is the similar way the keyboard opening sounds. Unlike that terrific song, this one is a bit dreary and just doesn’t quite manage to gather the momentum that has come before it. It sounds great, but it does feel like a missed opportunity to lay down a more memorable song. On the other hand, “Play to Kill” kicks back in at the right tempo and gets the album moving again in the right direction. A great guitar riff drives the songs and sets the stage for Ralf’s vocals to steal the show.
Moving into the second half of the album, the songs continue in the tempo that the band has set up in the first half, without any real change in which to differentiate what is going on. “Nation in Fear” is a case in point, sounding a bit stale and generic in song structure. “When the Night Comes” is a slightly slower tempo, a steady track that sounds very much like an AC/DC song. It’s an interesting cohesion within. Beyond this comes the final two songs, “Fight to Survive” and “Hatred in My Soul”, both which get back closer to what would be an optimum pace for this band, with Ralf again combining melodic vocals to create a more pleasing finish.
The band sounds great. Tom Naumann and Stefan Leibing on guitars do a great job and have some excellent moments when soloing. The rhythm of drummer Klaus Sperling and band leader Matt Sinner on bass is solid throughout and provide the platform, but for me it is perhaps just a bit too regimented for my liking. The double kick drums keep an even tempo throughout, which is probably just missing a bit of excitement to help lift some songs out of the average.
Trying to blend those high range vocals into the music being written is a tough task at any level. And this is where this just falls down a bit as well. Ralf Scheepers tends to sit back in a more comfortable vocal range than he has for some time throughout most of the album. As a result, it does give the songs a flatter feel musically, because we know what he is capable of. Perhaps in trying to keep his vocals in a safe zone with the songs he has cut out one of his best attributes.

Having been drawn into Primal Fear by the Gamma Ray connection on their debut album, it was a no brainer that I had to check out the follow up release in order to see just what the band could produce on their sophomore album. All of the right ingredients had been put forth on that first album without creating any massive waves. My hope was that the band would gel together better both musically and in the writing process and produce something that would be amazing. That may have been ambitious thinking on my part.
There is a trade-off between what you want and what you have. Primal Fear is a heavier version of the power metal genre because they stick with the dual guitar attack and tone out the keyboards to a bare minimum here. On the other hand, they also omit the super double-kick pace that comes with the speed metal aspect, and that drags the whole feel of the album back a little. And while everything sounds good here, there’s just a feeling that it is missing something that would have taken it to the next level.
I first ventured down the Primal Fear path just over 20 years ago, at the time when I was going down the Euro metal rabbit hole. The first album that I heard was actually the band’s follow up to this album, “Nuclear Fire”, and then “Black Sun”, both of which I loved immediately. Once I went backwards to get the first two albums, both seemed like they were a first step towards the sound that came on those two albums I first heard. It isn’t that “Jaws of Death” is an average album, it is just one where the band hasn’t quite found the best way to utilise their talents and find the sound that was to become their ideal medium. I have pulled out this album over the last week to catch up on what I have missed, as it has been a long time since I listened to this album, and overall my opinion hasn’t changed that much. The album is fine, but it doesn’t have the hooks you need for an album to grab you. Better was to come, at least in my opinion, and that was when Ralf pulled out his whole singing arsenal, and the band pushed harder and faster alongside him.
When it comes to the bands that led Europe through the 1990’s power metal explosion and into the 2000’s, Primal Fear is one of the flag bearers. Their style of music is not the keyboard-dominated one of many of the power metal bands of the continent and as a result they have the harder edge to their music that allows them to cross genres. Both the eponymous debut album “Primal Fear” and this follow up album “Jaws of Death” are a building of that style that Primal Fear took on as their own. As a result of finding their own style these two albums are both good without pushing the boundaries to their limits. That was something that came after this.

998. Primal Fear / Angels of Mercy - Live in Germany [Live]. 2017. 3.5/5

The expectation when you go to a live album is that you will get (hopefully) an authentic live experience from the band. One that hits you with a set list that is worthy of the band touring with, and then worthy of recording for the rest of us to listen to. In many ways then the live album is at the mercy of the album the band is touring on, and the selection of songs that has made up the rest of that tour. If the album is a good one then you expect the live album to be as well. If it is only average… well… you may have a problem.

Angels of Mercy - Live in Germany is a live album that I have listened to now for the two weeks since its release, and I can’t help thinking that there is something missing. I have not seen the DVD and am not judging it on that. It just isn’t working perfectly for me, and I can’t help but wonder whether this is as live as it is suggested. Is it overdubbed? I can’t be certain. But there are a few things that aren’t quite at the top of the game nonetheless. The relative sameness of Primal Fear’s recent material (as related in other reviews) mean that if you only concentrate on that double kick keeping time throughout it can get somewhat monotonous. That’s not what you are looking for on any album let alone a live release. There are also periods where Ralf Scheepers vocal range is beginning to require a bit of a tinker, and that can be slightly distracting when listen to songs for the first time in a live setting. It’s only in a couple of places where it is noticeable, and the use of delay tries to mask that, but most fans will pick it up. And yes there are places where I’m sure a little bit of doctoring has gone on in post-production. Perhaps I’m mistaken.
The songs you love sound great hear, and the ones you don’t at least sound good. “Final Embrace” and “In Metal We Trust” open the album in style. “The Sky is Burning” is just as annoying here as it is on the studio album.

Fans will get this album no matter what and will digest it as they always do. I know that we have been spoiled by the great live albums from other bands, and that not all live albums need to be judged against them. But it comes down to needing the live sound to be transferred faithfully to your preferred format, and for the songlist to be worthy of that live environment. This is a good live album of this band. It just isn’t completely brilliant.

Rating:  “In metal we trust”.  3.5/5

926. Primal Fear / Rulebreaker. 2016. 3.5/5

Primal Fear has had a long and storied career, and some of their early albums are standard bearers of the European speed/power metal genre from the early 2000's. They were fast, fresh and powerful, and their original take on what was occurring in music at the time gives them a high place amongst those releases. In recent times, the speed seems to have leaked away from their music, which isn't a problem as long as the song writing and musicianship remains solid and accessible. As much as I enjoy Primal Fear's work, when this album came to be released I felt that, for me, it was a crossroads that had been reached, and needed to be negotiated.

First impressions can be deceiving. It is immediately noticeable that, like recent albums, that tamping down of the tempo in the songs has been continued. There is nothing frantic about the music, and in fact all of the early songs on the album have a one-time tempo, a mid-range emphasising that is not in first gear, but probably only second or third at best. That is not meant to be a criticism, but it is a big change from those early albums. It's a big pull back from the roots of the band, and of the genre they come from. The good news is that it doesn't affect the quality of the music, just that they are all back in the mix now from where they used to be. Ralf Scheepers has also dragged his vocals back from the heights of his pitch from twenty years ago to what must be a much more comfortable area for him to sing. It doesn't stop him from reaching those heights when he wants to, and there are moments he does extend himself here, but in the same way that the band's music has become less frantic, so has the vocals. Again this isn't meant as a criticism, just as a fact of comparison.
So as we have established that this is now probably more of a traditional heavy metal album than a power metal or Euro metal album, how does it stack up? To be honest, it is just as enjoyable as their recent releases. There is nothing stunning on the album, or anything that really stands out as an instant classic or divergent from the pack in regards to song quality. The opening tracks are all finger tappers, songs that have the right drum beat to drive the song along and keep it active, not allowing the mind to wander while listening to the album. Every listen to the album improves the outlook. "Angel of Mercy" merges nicely into "The End is Near", with some nice touches from guitarists Magnus Karlsson and Alex Beyrodt. Other songs that are note worthy are "Bullets & Tears", "The Devil in Me" and "In Metal We Trust". There are songs here that have lyrics that are instantly catchy - just one playing of the title track "Rulebreaker" had my young daughter and son walking around the room singing along to the chorus, though perhaps they just thought it was appropriate for their behaviour. "The Sky is Burning" is perhaps closest in breaking the mould, being more in the style closest resembling the god-awful power ballad. This is recovered by the more pleasing pace of "Raving Mad" which is the closing track on the album and completes the album in a pleasing fashion.

While hesitating to use the metaphor, recent albums from Primal Fear have become almost AC/DC-ish in nature. Each has as similar tempo and song layout, and after having enjoyed and experienced Rulebreaker over the past few weeks, I can only say that they are now the kind of band that you know what you are going to get. It's solid, it's reliable, and it is enjoyable. Mat Sinner retains his stamp on the band, and one can't argue with what he has managed. While some may be disappointed they haven't provided more, others will be pleased just for the fact that they have the familiarity around them once more.

Rating:  "Can't sort the pictures all blurred and skewed, dystopian vision I'm simply screwed"  3.5/5

689. Primal Fear / Primal Fear. 1997. 3/5

Primal Fear is a project that came together with the initial pairing of bassist Matt Sinner, from the veteran German metal band Sinner, and vocalist Ralf Scheepers. Scheepers had parted company with Gamma Ray a few years previous, and had since auditioned for the lead vocalists job to replace Rob Halford in Judas Priest. When that didn't come through, these two formed the band, and produced this eponymous debut album.

The influence of the writing is pretty hard to miss. Scheepers' vocals had always lent themselves to a very Rob Halford kind of similarity, and while this album is not a Judas Priest clone, there are certain nuances that can be easily heard. Chainbreaker, the very Judas Priest-esque opening song leads off with that very direction in mind. A number of other songs on the album also have that Priest sound about them, though in many ways that can be attributed to the way Ralf sings those songs than probably any deliberate attempt to make them sound like the legendary British band.
There's an interesting cover version of Deep Purple's "Speed King" (entitled "Speedking" here), one that will probably divide most listeners. Many will enjoy the faster, heavier version of the classic song and revel in it, while other will no doubt find that the general essence of the track has been compromised, allowing the best parts of the original version to leak away. I personally enjoy Primal Fear's version while still believing that the original version will always be the best. Kai Hansen makes a guest appearance on the album, laying down guitar solos on "Formula One", "Dollars" and "Speedking" which adds a nice touch.
"Battalions of Hate" is one of the catchiest songs on the album, a good rhythm and drum beat with Scheepers' vocals at his best. However, to be honest, the remainder of the album is pretty stock standard fare, which doesn't make it bad, but probably robs it of some of its originality. The songs are solid if unspectacular, and can become enjoyably familiar or steadily dull depending on your mood at the time.

There's nothing overly breathtaking here. As a debut effort it is rock solid, utilising the best aspects of the European power and speed metal genre mixed with a healthy dose from their metal influences. I enjoy the album now as much as I ever did, but perhaps the enjoyment I get from their following albums is what leads me to look for the best in this release. Not a bad starting point, but better was certainly to come.

609. Primal Fear / 16.6: (Before the Devil Knows You're Dead). 2009. 3/5

Given the super start this band had when they formed in the mid-1990's, I still look forward to each new album when they are announced. In recent times before this was released however, you couldn't really be sure what sound the band was going to go for. They were a band whose music was in flux, and the cocoon this time was even darker and dimmer than it had been.

The assortment comes straight at you from the very beginning. The album kicks off with the power metal standard of "Riding the Eagle", which is well done and includes a nice solo and melodic vocals from Scheepers. This is then followed by the heavier and harder "Six Times Dead (16.6)", whose influences are much better defined than "Black Rain", which isn't sure whether it wants to be a power metal ballad or a guitar experimental Spanish serenade. In the end, it tries to be both. Very unusual, and I don't think it works.
Perhaps the problem lies in that the band itself isn't sure in what direction it wants to go. There is none of the sheer power and sponteneity of their earlier releases. the drumming is metronome-like, but in some songs it could just as well have been replaced by a machine, such is the lack of variety (see "Under the Radar" as an example).

Overall, they have moved away from any definition of speed metal that they might once have had, and in its place is a combination of melodic and power metal tunes that, on the whole are not bad songs, but likewise they do not have anything that sets them apart from each other. Songs like "Smith & Wesson" and "The Exorcist" are like that for me on this album. I like the songs, but they just feel like they have missed a trick with them! Scheepers does not extend his vocal range at all, Black's drumming could have been played by just about anyone on the planet, while the guitars are efficient without being scintillating.

It is disappointing more for the fact that the band itself are better than they have produced on this album. It is average, middle-of-the-road fare that only offends those of us who expect more from them. Such is the standard timing and beat throughout, you could almost send yourself off to sleep listening to it. Probably not the greatest compliment for a metal band.

598. Primal Fear / Unbreakable. 2012. 3.5/5

Primal Fear have built themselves up to the kind of band that you want to be - they have the reputation that, once you know they have a new album on the way, you are excited about it, and look forward to hearing it and buying it. As a band you couldn't ask for much more than that. Given the excellent quality of  their previous release, 16.6: (Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, this was one I was looking forward to.

Overall, it is another great Primal Fear album. The songs here are more melodic that those on recent releases, and the keys are more prominent. From the very beginning the album is kick-started and driven by the powerful drumming of Randy Black, who again excels in the precision and speed of his tubs, and the vocals of Ralf Scheepers, who just keeps the intensity of the songs at a premium. These two are the stars on the album for me.
You won't find anything too different on here than you can find on other Primal Fear albums. There is the mix of the faster speed metal type songs as well as the power metal slower ballad style songs. My preference has always been for the faster, heavier songs, such as "And Then There Was Silence" and "Unbreakable (Part 2)", whereas the token balled "Born Again" for me is in the category of song filler - not a bad song, but not one that does anything for me.

It may sound a little generic in places, but that is a small price to pay for a band that continues to produce such wonderfully adept albums. For me it doesn't quite match the previous album, but it certainly ranks ahead of its predecessors New Religion and Seven Seals.

507. Primal Fear / Horrorscope [EP]. 2002. 5/5

Released in 2002, this is an excellent five track EP which is worth picking up if you can still find it.
I just love “Under Your Spell, if only for the fact that it is (apparently) the entrance theme music for a German handball, according to their website the Frisch Auf Göppingen. That is magnificent. I’d watch more handball just for that reason.
There is also an unreleased bonus track from the Japanese version of Jaws of Death called (of course) “Horrorscope”.
Mixed with these are three cover songs – Gary Moore and Phil Lynott’s “Out in the Fields”, Accept’s “Breaker” and Rainbow’s “Kill the King”. All are superb renditions of these classic songs.

All in all, for an EP, you can’t do much better.

Rating: A great slice of music. 5/5.

229. Primal Fear / Devil's Ground. 2003. 4.5/5.

The next in the Primal Fear collection, and this takes an even greater leap into the upper echelons of modern metal greatness.
The stage is set as Ralf Scheepers screams out “METAL IS FOREVER!!” as the first thing you hear on the album, and from there it only gets better.

Though everything this band has done has been metal, this is another leap forward. This is really fast, and really heavy, in a heavy metal way. On this album, Primal Fear have taken all of the best aspects from power metal, heavy metal, thrash metal and speed metal, and fused them into an absolutely brilliant and exciting album.

So why is it that this band has almost no exposure outside of Europe? I still find it amazing. If this had been marketed and promoted in the right way, every fan of heavy metal in the world would have become a fan of this album and band, I am sure of it. The musicianship is just fantastic, and Ralf's vocals have lost nothing over the years. They are a terrific package.

Choosing my favourites here is like listing the entire contents of the album. If forced to do so, I would choose Metal Is Forever, Suicide And Mania, Visions Of Fate, The Healer, Soulchaser and Heart Of A Brave.

Rating : One of the very good surprises I received in 2003. Magnificent. 4.5/5

134. Primal Fear / Black Sun. 2002. 4/5.

For a band that was originally labelled as just a Judas Priest rip-off band, Primal Fear have continued to rack up some pretty impressive albums. This is just another one, and a great example of what they do best – German Power Metal.

From the very beginning of this album, there is little doubt as to what is to follow – fast guitars, pounding drum beats and screaming vocals. From Countdown To Insanity and Black Sun, through to Lightyears From Home and Mind Control, This is another great album. He may on occasions sound a lot like Rob Halford, but Ralf Scheepers just keeps 'delivering the goods' (a little Judas Priest pun for you :) ) with his vocals, while the band are still rock solid perfect.
Having grown out of the legacy of Helloween and Gamma Ray, Primal Fear may not have the same standing as those two bands, but they are just as important in the ever growing European power metal scene, and this album shows why.

Rating : Another excellent example of how Euro metal is beginning to influence so many others. 4/5.