Search - Primal Fear :: Jaws of Death

Judas Priest clone? eh, maybe not...

Lincoln 6 Echo | Harrisburg, IL USA | 02/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK, first a little background on the formation of Primal Fear. From a German Power Metal band called Gamma Ray that spawned from the '80s band Helloween came Ralf Scheepers. Ralf Scheepers left Helloween to form Gamma Ray. He sang for Gamma Ray for their first four albums. By this time, Judas Priest was doing auditions for the replacement for Rob Halford. Ralf Scheepers tried out for the job. Didn't get it. Came in third. Of course, Tim "Ripper" Owens got it. Anyway, Ralf was determined to show the metal world that he had the pipes to replace Halford and formed Primal Fear. OK, got it? Good.



Well, Primal Fear's first debut 'self-titled' album was what some people thought that Judas Priest should have done instead of "Jugulator". Which may be true. It sounded very Judas "Painkiller" Priesty. But now with their second album "Jaws of Death", the band has expanded their sound which gives them a slightly more original sound. EDIT: Actually, after futher and closer listening, Primal Fear, at least with this album, sound like what early '80s Ozzy Ozbourne and Def Leppard would have sounded like had Rob Halford been the singer. You get guitar wails similar to what Rhandy Rhoads did and later what Zakk Wylde would do. You also get a bit of that High N' Dry and Pyromania guitar riff sound from Def Leppard. But mostly an Ozzy sound over-all with Halford on vocals, but updated to the new millenium's metal scene.



That said, if you like old school metal from the early to mid '80s especially Judas Priest and Ozzy, but can't really stomach Hammerfall's really, really old school sound, then Primal Fear is a great alternate choice."

Jaws of Death Explodes!!

bks1023 | Redding, CA | 05/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This piece of primar fear work is definitely their best effort...more driving riffs, and very catchy, yet not trendy choruses (save a prayer, church of blood) that even have harmony!!! Like three step harmony....not quite Alice In Chains "Dirt" harmony (the best metal harmony album ever), but pretty close. The combo, of slow, crunchy riffs (church of blood, When the night comes) and heavy, somewhat faster crunches (save a prayer) mixed with Ralf's kickin' vocals and backup harmonies, makes this definitely Primal Fear's best effort, and one of my favorite CD's (Have had it in my CD player for over a month straight, you know that's good). I have been listening to metal for almost 20 years and have only a handful of bands that I really look forward to hearing new music from (Maiden, Slayer, Megadeth, Priest,). But, this band is one of if not the best new straight ahead metal band without the stupid Alt Rock trendiness to come about in the last 5 years. The reason for this is due to the fact that they're from Europe where the metal has stayed pure when America metal turned into Alt Rock/watered down ... music. Primal Fear Kicks [bootie]..........Anyway, Jaws of Daeth really is good to listen to.Brian, Redding CA"