The seven seals of great power metal!
Epic riffs, grating operatic vocals, driving forceful metal, all of this the pure sound of the return of Primal Fear to the force of symphonic epic power metal. It is certainly refreshing and somewhat interesting to observe the almost infectious return of such legendary bands as Primal Fear and Nocturnal Rites to the scene this year. It is almost like a prophesised changing of the world, in an age of dying values and quality within their chosen profession, the brand of metal more and more mainstream as we speak, bands such as Primal Fear have come to set things right and to enlighten the world to how metal really should sound. With such a great task at hand, you might think that it would be easy to become buried in the challenge, overpowered by the continuing success of bland hardcore orientated bands but this is exactly the kind of thing Primal Fear thrive on, a real challenge. So far, they are also proving to be pulling it off extremely well with a sheer force and high standard that would be impossible to surpass thanks to their sixth studio album. 'Seven Seals' really is a well-deserved lesson on how heavy metal should sound in 2005 and indeed, how it should always sound.
'Seven Seals' is undoubtedly the most varied, epic and musically sophisticated album Primal Fear have released so far. All the details and styles the band has ever incorporated into their sound and much more can be found on these ten new tracks. It all stems from the masterly song writing, an expressive attitude, limitless ambition and real new horizons of atmosphere and mood that really turns this new album into a completely new breed of power metal. Effortlessly dynamic, forceful and bursting with unique and superb melodies that twist and shift throughout songs, this album really puts the spotlight on Primal Fear and catapults them way ahead of any other bands in the race to reach a new dimension of metal music. The album opener 'Demons And Angels' kicks off with a powerful collaboration of orchestral and guitar assaults, packing a thrilling staccato introduction that flows into an anthematic and rhythmic verse that introduces the listener to the extremely varied and incredible vocals belonging to Ralf Scheepers, a voice of absolute high class quality. Thundering into a soaring epic chorus the sound of the band blend in beautifully with the orchestra to paint an almost tragic and remorseful picture of deliverance, telling a story and driving with style and flair. The pounding rhythm section and massive neck breakers riffing in this track and similarly 'Evil Spell' or 'Carniwar' provide exactly the right weapons guaranteed to get everyone's heads banging while retaining an individual sense of style and attitude. 'Rollercoaster' is a real metal anthem of a track, capturing a real element of power and sophistication often found within the music of Stratovarius. Indeed this track bears all the signs of a track that has been very much inspired and written with passion, the kind of music you can find yourself speeding down a motorway listening to, the sound of this track is huge! With constant driving rhythm, immense riffs, hammer-ons and other such displays of incredible skill and addictive anthematic choruses, this track delivers the sheer force of Primal Fear's music at full volume.
The stunning heart piece of the album, 'Seven Seals' is an emotional spectrum of intricate string work, driving guitar collaborations and soaring choruses. The real element of rhythm in the chorus and the gentle touch of mid tempo catchiness turn this song into a beautiful classic. There is also a certain element of darkness to the music that really reaches out and grasps the listener further into the mood set by the gentle purring of the string work in the background, adding real enhancement to the elaborate vocal work soaring gracefully over the remorseful harmony hovering below. There is a real element of majesty and sheer beauty to this track, sitting directly between the stunning ballad style and the powerful driving and unmistakably metal styles of working that Primal Fear work with, this song is the perfect heart piece to a stunning album, a track that adds a perfect bridge between the different styles of working. 'Diabolus' is enticingly dark and almost Egyptian in orientation. With stunning string work and intriguing touches of metallic hammer-ons and riffs, the track incorporates elements of both ballad and metallic anthem, a combination perfectly executed by Primal Fear. Melancholic and melodic, the chorus sweeps over you and completely blows you away with its almost operatic appeal while the oriental modes add a touch of magic and mysticism into the music. The lyrics are remorseful yet touching and glide perfectly alongside the gradual shifting of chords. 'Diabolus' is a brilliant example of the real emotive essence of power metal at its best, mixing real rhythmic metal with heartfelt depth and emotion.
'In Memory' is a beautiful and wistful ballad, a real gentle and soft approach to Primal Fear's style that is both unusual and yet refreshing. It holds back from becoming heavy but still holds real emotional power that reaches out and touches deeply even the most frozen of souls. A beautiful, wintry and emotive guitar solo is the real highlight of the track. With gripping style, the solo flows beautifully from note to note with effortless grace that simply cannot be matched. The vocals, usually operatic and almost grating at times, are much more restrained and quiet in this piece, giving the impression of weariness and remorse, giving real flavour to a beautiful piece of music. The album ends on a calmer and sombre note but by no means a less powerful one, indeed 'In Memory' probably packs more power and emotive force than any other of the tracks in its own special way.
The immortal album 'Devil's Ground' of 2004 was thought to be Primal Fear's best work to date, and the landmark hymn 'Metal Is Forever' only saw to it that this reputation became stronger with it's success, placing Primal Fear firmly in the charts throughout Europe and Japan. This work of art was widely thought to be unsurpassable but this may soon be changed, for 'Seven Seals' certainly shows a higher level of maturity and finesse than previous works and soon the world will realise that even when you think you've created the unsurpassable, you can always create something much more powerful.