Like clockwork, veteran and vaunted German heavy metal band Primal Fear releases albums every two years to their legions of adoring fans throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
Although since the release of their critically acclaimed and commercially successful 2016 album Rulebreaker there has been a live album (Angels of Mercy – Live in Germany) as well as the Best of Fear compilation, both released in 2017, there is no rest for the inspired, as the talented quintet is set to unleash it’s 12th studio release, Apocalypse, on Aug. 10 worldwide through Frontiers Music.
Comprised of vocalist Ralf Scheepers, guitarists Tom Naumann and Magnus Karlsson as well as drummer Francesco Jovino and bassist Mat Sinner, Primal Fear released its self-titled debut album in 1998, a year after forming. Writing and playing what can best be described as a classic metal sound, full of crunching chords, soaring vocals and relentless melodies, the band has become a popular draw on the metal concert circuit and a creative juggernaut, releasing a dozen albums over a 20-year period.
“I think every couple of years is a good frequency to bring out a new album. And as we are made up of five writing members, we have the advantage of having many ideas collected together. And sometimes we come up with even more once we are in the rehearsal studio. Everybody in the band is coming up with ideas at home and then we bring everything together, its like a harvest more or less,” said Scheepers, who co-founded the band with Sinner in 1997.
“And I think it’s the ultimate thing for a rock band, a heavy metal band to put out full albums still. That’s my personal opinion. I don’t want to miss releasing music every second year. Of course, once in a while you can release a song in between. We did that, releasing a couple of the singles every month before this album comes out. It’s the strategy of the record company to do that, together with us of course.
“Basically, I still think it’s important for a metal or heavy rock band to release a package, not just digital singles. Maybe that works for other genres, but I think for metal the real fans want to see the lyrics, they want to read about who created it and have something in their hand that is real and not just an Mp3 or whatever. I think that is still the case if you are a rock and metal fan. And the artwork is still popular. There are also great artists involved in creating album covers and packaging, and I think the fans appreciate that as well.”
As Scheepers has already stated, all five members of Primal Fear contribute to the songwriting, and even though some members are newer than others, all of them have bought into the Primal Fear sound and ethic, which is to create memorable, powerful metal music imbued with intelligent lyrics, superior musicianship, great hooks, melodies and riffs and an overriding intensity that just exudes from every note and every beat.
“We all really love writing. Like I said, we are five writing members. We are a collective team, and we know exactly what we want to hear in the first place. And secondly, whatever we release we know also what our fans like. And that’s a combination of the 1980s metal style that we all grew up with and or course with some modern styles in there too,” he explained.
“And everything has to be of a very good quality to be released. There are no fillers or anything like that. We have a pool of songs, sometimes 20 to choose from and maybe some that were not on this album will appear on the next album because we don’t write any crap. That’s a big advantage for us and it’s also why we can bring out these new albums quickly because we have ideas left over that are still really good. So, it’s like having a head start.”
While still believing that its important for the fans to make up their own minds and be free to interpret the songs on Apocalypse on their own terms and through their own filters and world views, Scheepers did elucidate a little on the meaning and inspiration for some of the tracks.
“We don’t want to be to negative but the title of the album kind of says it all. Things are not getting any friendlier nowadays. I don’t want to get too deep into it, but everybody knows what’s going on an everybody is creating their own opinions about it. And we have something to say about it as well, but it’s not obvious but packed into another story. There’s a certain kind of madness going on right now and, like I said, I don’t want to get political and mention any names, but I think people are smart and when they listen to the songs and think about it, they will figure it out,” he said.
“There are not only songs with a negative tone or a political message, we have a lot of songs that are a little bit fantasy oriented, mixed with our own experiences. So, we combined a lot of things. We write about being strong and standing up for yourself and things like that. And also, what I think the music stands for is that music can transport so many feelings, not only when you hear the vocals and the lyrics, but also there is a message in the melody. If you write good lyrics and a good melody you maybe can sometimes trigger people to somehow compile their own stories, and just feel free to interpret them in their own way.
“It’s like when you read a book and then you see the movie afterwards based on the book, many people are disappointed and that’s because everybody is adding a little bit of their own feelings and ideas about the characters and story. And I think it’s the same with music.”
One of the singles released already is the incendiary tune The Ritual, which is one of the more political songs on the album.
“That’s an example of what’s going on in the world. And without saying the name again … well maybe we can say it’s Trump. Politics are really split and it’s the same here in Germany by the way. If you are saying the wrong thing, people take it so personal and that’s what I don’t understand. Why can’t they just let people have their opinion and accept their opinion, even if they don’t agree with it. Why do we have to fight about it? It’s bullshit. And it’s become a dangerous situation. We can’t discuss anything calmly these days, especially on social networks where everything is so f***ing angry these days. People aren’t listening any more,” Scheepers said, adding that Hail to the Fear is an anthemic metal song that is a play on the band’s name, but is also a song about being determined and rising above the chaos.
“You have to give yourself hope for something better. It is going to be better and new and you will get through it when you come out on the other end. There were situations in my life where I thought things couldn’t be any worse, but I never thought about giving up. And basically, the message here is if you are having setbacks, they are only making your stronger. You are learning from your experiences, both your good experiences and your bad experiences. The song Cannonball is kind of like that too, but its more of a fun song. No matter what we read, and see, no matter what’s going on, go out there and shoot like a cannonball.”
At the heart of Primal Fear’s success has been the dynamic musical duo of Scheepers and band co-founder, producer and bassist extraordinaire Mat Sinner. It’s a relationship that pre-dates Primal Fear, but which is as collegial, collaborative and creatively fulfilling 20-plus year later as it was right from the band’s inception in 1997.
“We have been through a lot. There has, of course, been the business relationship. But we have been touring together and writing together for so many years there is also a friendly relationship and being buddies. It’s a very good thing. And I think the secret is we give each other space sometimes. There have been some tours where I just want to have some peace and don’t want to see anybody, and I think that’s the same for anybody else in the same situation. Every once in a while, when you are at your job you just want some time to yourself,” Scheepers said.
“We have also learned to realize when maybe it’s not a good situation to talk to this guy or that guy. It’s got to do with respect and we have a lot of respect for each other and that counts for everybody in this band. When you’re touring for weeks and weeks on one bus and your own little space is nothing more than a bunk and everything else is being shared by 10 to 15 people that’s not easy. You really have to learn how to live like that. There are lots of bands out there who get into fights in those situations and we have always somehow survived it.”
And even though Primal Fear has dealt with it’s fair share of lineup changes, Scheepers prefers to see this as a positive as it means there is often a real injection of energy, creativity and new perspective into the band.
“We have had members leave and sometimes you have people who just don’t fit together any more, which is like a relationship with a wife or a girlfriend. But when you have new people come in, and they are a fan of the music they are so excited, and the new member reminds you of what you have done in a good way. It’s a positive kick in the butt for everybody. You don’t have to be a fanboy, but you have to appreciate what the band does and especially appreciate the music. Basically, that’s how it is in Primal Fear,” he said.
Guitarist Tom Naumann is also an original member of the band, but he has taken extended breaks from the band, the most recent going from 2007 to 2015. Second guitarist Alex Beyrodt has been in the band since 2009, keyboardist/guitarist Magnus Karlsson since 2008, with the latest member being former U.D.O. drummer Francesco Jovino signing up in 2015.
Primal Fear has an ambitious touring schedule for the foreseeable future, according to Scheepers.
“We’re finishing off some festivals in the summer and then we’re going to tour with Riot from America in Europe, including Germany, Hungary, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, the U.K., Slovenia, Slovakia and Switzerland. We’ll visit almost every country in Europe, and then we are going to Japan in November and Australia. Next year we are thinking about Scandinavia and South America is maybe waiting for us next year,” he said, adding that as much as the band would love to come to the U.S. and Canada, it has to make sense business wise.
“With North America, it’s not an easy situation. We always have to pay so much in advance and pay for all the working visas for all the musicians and technicians who are coming with us. We have to put up a lot of money up front and it’s not easy to get enough tour dates guaranteed to make it worth the trip. Even in a best-case scenario, you’re lucky if you can come back breaking even. But we are working on it.”
For more information on Primal Fear, the new album Apocalypse and further touring information, visit www.primalfear.de.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and author based in Napanee, ON, who has been writing about music and musicians for a quarter of a century. Besides his journalistic endeavours, he now works as a communications and marketing specialist. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
SHARE THIS POST:
