I was browsing Primal Fear’s itinerary for their upcoming tour recently and was disappointed to note that out of the forty dates, none were in the UK. To be fair the band have hardly ever bothered with Blighty, so should we bother with the Fear? Emphatically the answer is in the affirmative as the band move into a new phase of their career. Their last album was Meta is Forever which was both a greatest hits record and a goodbye to the Nuclear Blast label leaving them free to pursue new pastures. So, Primal Fear find themselves on Frontiers who have released quite a few CD’s from outside their melodic rock constituency this year (i.e. Meldrum and Great White) but they haven’t lost any of their bite. 

Sign of Fear is the first song and features vocalist Ralf Scheepers unleashing his best Metal God impression in the verse before a catchy chorus that despite many listens I still can’t work out the words. Face the Emptiness wouldn’t be out of place on a Masterplan disc such is the power and melody and with Simone Simons joining in on Everytime It Rains (a big ballad) you’ve got a powerful opening salvo. The title track gives Scheepers the chance to explore the upper reaches of his range again before another killer chorus kicks in – top notch stuff despite the emo-lite lyric! 

According to bassist Mat Sinner Fighting the Darkness is the best sounding tune the Fear have ever recorded – it may well also be their most epic as it is broken into three parts including an instrumental section – it is a very satisfying piece. Blood on Your Hands and Too Much Time which is a couple of songs later are much more typical powerful, guitar-driven rockers with which we most associate Primal Fear. Sandwiched in between these two is The Curse of Sharon, which, again veers into Masterplan territory but is more riff orientated than their Teutonic counterparts. 

Psycho is more likely to be likely to be to the taste of long-term fans with its emphasis on riffs, power and power metal leanings, World on Fire sounds just like Judas Priest to begin with before moving firmly into Fear world with just a hint of Stratovarius. This just leaves The Man (that I don’t know) which is the second epic track on the record clocking in at over six minutes long and rather like the new Nightwish CD leaves the listener on a downbeat note, whereas I like to be bid adieu on a high. But that’s a minor quibble as overall New Religion is a highly effective platter and proves that there’s plenty left in the Fear’s metaphorical tank.

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Track Listing

Sign Of Fear
Face The Emptiness
Everytime It Rains
New Religion
Fighting The Darkness
Blood On Your Hands
The Curse Of Sharon
Too Much Time
Psycho
World On Fire
The Man (That I Don't Know)

Line Up

Ralf Scheepers – Vocals
Stefan Leibing – Guitars
Henny Wolter – Guitars
Randy Black – Drums
Mat Sinner – Bass & Vocals