Genre: Power Metal
Country: Germany
Band Website: www.primalfear.rocks.de
Duration: 61:18
Killer Songs: “16.6,” “No Smoke Without Fire,” “Hands of Time”
Primal Fear have never owned the cheesy niche dominated by Hammerfall; nor have they lost themselves in immense concept records (heres looking at Iced Earth); or done sequels to their classic work (uh, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Queensryche). Instead theyve focused on churning out an impressive discography eight albums deep and written a lot of great metal. In assessing the material at hand, 2005s Seven Seals and the more experimental follow up New Religion become useful references, it was in these two previous albums where Primal Fear explored epic, mid-tempo songs that went easy on the heavy, emphasized the hooks, and literally soaredtake Seven Seals, Every Time It Rains, and Fighting The Darkness. In these, Primal Fear realized they had a winning formula that would become the blueprint for their future sound.
On this years 16.6 the current trend in the bands songwriting reaches its logical conclusion: they nearly fill the album with epic, hook-laden, emotional anthems such as Black Rain, 5.0/Torn, Under The Radar, Night After Night, No Smoke Without Fire, and Smith & Wesson. This is not to say they neglect variety, ignoring the Before The Devil Knows Youre Dead intro, opener Riding The Eagle is run-of-the-mill speed metal thats been done all over Europe for the past 20 yearsrather disappointing, to be honest. The band redeem themselves with the title track 16.6 whose riff driven simplicity is guaranteed to kill brain cells and increase blood circulation. Its a heavy, pounding single that hooks the listener in right away. For a better idea of its appeal, imagine Metallicas Sad But True combined with Rammsteins Du Hast. This German fivesome make no bones about venturing into Nu Metal territory on Soar, a groove driven MTV single reminiscent of Disturbed. Unfortunately, weaker tracks like the sub-par hard rock on Killbound and the downright corny Smith & Wesson blunt the albums lethal edge.
The screaming Judas Priest spirit that defined the bands early efforts comes roaring to life for The Exorcist as Ralf Scheepers keeps his vocals at full blast. Letting the curtains fall on their newest with a whisper, a moving ballad titled Hands of Time shows another side of Primal Fear previously unheard. Its a beautiful finishing touch for an otherwise okay album. This CD should come with the warning: FANS ONLY!
note: 6/10
Tracklist
1.Before The Devil Knows Youre Dead
2.Riding The Eagle
3.Six Times Dead
4.Black Rain
5.Under The Radar
6.5.0/Torn
7.Soar
8.Killbound
9.No Smoke Without Fire
10.Night After Night
11.Smith & Wesson
12.The Exorcist
13.Hands of Time
Line-up
Ralf Scheepers-Vocals
Henny Wolter-Guitars
Magnus Karlsson-Guitars
Randy Black-Drums
Mat Sinner-Bass
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