The
European power metal combo Primal Fear has been kicking around the metal
underground for years, refining their brand of melodic riffing and soaring
vocals. Their sound, highly influenced by Gamma Ray (who has traded members with this band) and Judas
Priest , was introduced on their 1998 eponymous debut. The following year found
them gathering a press following when Jaws of Death garnered positive reviews from most
respectable metal critics. On top of that, their European popularity flourished
as power metal enjoyed moderate success in the overseas mainstream.
Nuclear
Fire followed in 2001, leading to their first U.S. appearances in the guise of
several large metal festivals throughout the year. They returned to the studio
in early 2002, recording and releasing Black Sun by the end of spring. 2004's Devil's
Ground and 2005's Seven Seals saw the
band expanding their fan base via a run of heavy touring, including a European
and Japanese tour with Helloween, and 2007's New Religion featured a guest
vocal from Epica's
Simone
Simons, as well as ambitious orchestral arrangements from Matz Ulmer and Mat
Sinner. 2009 saw the release of the band's eighth studio long player, 16.6
(Before the Devil Knows You're Dead), followed in 2012 by a string of
well-received LPs that included Unbreakable (2011), Delivering the Black
(2014), and Rulebreaker (2016). In 2017, they issued the live album Angels of
Mercy as well as the single "If Looks Could Kill."
Although
they’ve been going for over 20 years now 'Apocalypse' is the only Primal Fear
material that I have knowingly heard. I have listened to 'Apocalypse' several times
now and it is a good album. However, it
did not impress me enough to make me want to go out and buy their extensive
back catalogue. There isn’t actually anything wrong with the album but sadly
there wasn’t a single track on the album that made me sit up and think 'holy
sh*t that’s a great song'. What I did notice is that the composition of
'Apocalypse' is extremely well done and it flows beautifully; the atmospheric
opener reaches a crescendo that sets the tone for the rest of the album.
Although I couldn’t pick a track that really
stood out, what I did hear was a very polished melodic metal album that will
have any self respecting rock fan shredding their air guitar and double kicking
their phantom drum kit to the blistering paced 'New Rise' and 'The Ritual'. 'King Of Madness' does slow things down a touch
then the breakneck speed resumes with 'Blood Sweat And Fear'. For the next five
tracks the foot comes off the accelerator slightly, almost coming to a halt when 'Eye Of The Storm'
fades out. However, there was one shot of nitrous left in the tank and when it was
hit 'Cannonball' came flying out of the blocks to bringing the album to a high
speed conclusion.
For
me Apocalypse is a solid 8/10 album.
Ralf
Scheepers – lead vocals
Mat Sinner
– bass, vocals
Tom
Naumann – guitars, backing vocals
Alex
Beyrodt – guitars
Magnus Karlsson – guitars, keyboards
Francesco
Jovino – drums
Tracklisting -
Apocalypse
New Rise
The Ritual
King Of Madness
Blood, Sweat & Fear
Supernova
Hail To The Fear
Hounds Of Justice
The Beast
Eye Of The Storm
Cannonball
• Official Website: www.primalfear.de
• Facebook:www.facebook.com/PrimalFearOfficial
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