Germany's power metal veterans Primal Fear are now on their 15th studio album, and with that comes a new line-up as well. For Domination, founders Ralf Scheepers (vocals) and Mat Sinner (bass, vocals), are joined by longtime guitarist Magnus Karlsson, and new blood Thalia Bellazecca on guitars and drummer Andre Hilgers. Domination isn't reinventing the power metal wheel, but it's an enjoyable slab of power metal as only this band can deliver.
With 13 songs, it's a tad on the longish side, but where Domination excels is its ability to crank out one memorable track after another, filled with Scheepers' trademark metal wail and loads of super-crunchy riffs and sizzling solos. The best of the bunch is the energetic opener "The Hunter", the crushing "Destroyer", the singalong ballad "So Far Away", and the absolutely face-melting "I Am the Primal Fear", the latter including one of the best choruses in a metal song I have heard all year...it's one of those songs I play over and over and never get tired of. "Heroes and Gods" approaches speed-metal territory, "Eden" is soaring, mid-paced melodic metal, and 'Crossfire" features a roaring Scheepers over a wealth of crunch-o-rama. There's even a fun instrumental "Hallucination" thrown in, something I'd love to see more from these guys. Bellazecca and Karlsson prove to be a sensational guitar duo here, so we don't lose anything on the six-string side of things with this new configuration.
Familiar but oh so enjoyable, Domination is another in a fine line of albums from Primal Fear. If you love the band, this will be sure to get your metal juices flowing.
Track Listing
1)The Hunter
2)Destroyer
3)Far Away
4)I Am the Primal Fear
5)Tears of Fire
6)Heroes and Gods
7)Hallucinations
8)Eden
9)Scream
10)The Dead Don't Die
11)Crossfire
12)March Boy March
13)A Tune I Won't Forget
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