Primal Fear

Like many European Power Metal bands, Primal Fear rarely tour North America. Sadly, this countries hard rock and heavy metal listeners (as far as the masses) never became fans of what really was the next wave of Heavy Metal in the 90s to succeed the pioneers from the 70s and 80s like Maiden, Sabbath, Priest, Kiss, Dio, etc. We (thankfully not me) were busy buying into the anti-metal Nu Metal (Korn, Limp Dick), grunge, alternative, etc. while the purists, Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian, Stratovarius, Edguy, Hammerfall, Primal Fear, all remain underground in America, yet thrived elsewhere around the world. Thankfully, at least Iced Earth, and recently Kamelot, Sonata Arctica, and Nightwish making a larger dent in concert attendances. Wake up America, preserve the future for traditional Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.

With that being said, Primal Fear have been carrying the flag for Judas Priest fashioned metal since 1998, and rightfully earned their spot next in line, grandfathered in you can say, after the Metal Gods retire. Doesn’t it make sense? I’d like to see someone succeed Priest after retirement, playing large theaters, possibly small arenas. Who better than the Fear.

The latest album, “Delivering The Black”, is their 10th, still lead by founding member/bassist Mat Sinner and singer Ralf Scheepers, joined by on again-off again original guitarist Tom Naumann (in for Magnus Karlsson), Alex Beyrodt (2009-present), and Randy Black on the drums. For this U.S. tour they are playing four from the new album, title track, ‘Alive & On Fire’, and ‘When Death Comes Knocking’, and ‘One Night In December’. Sandwiched between are classics ‘Angel In Black’ and “Nuclear Fire” (from the album of the same name), with ‘Chainbreaker’ and ‘Running In The Dust’ off the debut. And if you’re doubtful of Scheeper’s abilities, hearing this guy’s perfect pitch and control during ballads ‘Seven Seals’ and ‘Fighting The Darkness’ gives nothing short of the chills and assures me, as Yoda says “there is another”. My only complaint, again, we get nothing from the “Black Sun” album, and ‘Metal Is Forever’ only from “Devil’s Ground”, how about ‘Suicide and Mania’ too? Maybe next time?