It’s really a shame, and a crime against the preservation of heavy metal music, that European bands like Primal Fear, who since the 90s have been carrying the flag as second generation successors to Priest, Sabbath, Maiden, Dio, Kiss, Metallica, etc, have yet to be recognized as such. They have earned enough fans and respect overseas in many countries to be the new guard, but sadly struggle to get that audience, moving from the smaller venues graduating into theaters, in America. “Rulebreaker” is the answer to the trend following clueless majority in the US who are either stuck in the 70s/80s, or listen to what is dictated to them by popular radio/TV and music festivals. The Fear sticking to their guns on album #11 again delivering the goods (Judas Priest pun intended), with eleven new songs any fan of the British heavy metal architects would (and should) want to enjoy and support for the future of Metal.

As a longtime fan, I can tell you this album has some of Primal Fear’s best riffs, twin guitar leads, solos, and screaming vocals that match any other their classics. No frills, added sound effects on guitars or vocals, no bullshit…’Angels Of Mercy’ screams out the door as the opener. First single/video ‘The End Is Near’ is carried by a fitting ominous riff, vocal by the son of Halford, Ralf Scheepers, complete with a nice triple guitar tandem in the solo, twin leads and backing riffs by Alex Beyrodt, Magnus Karlsson, and Tom Naumann. The end is near for those who continue to be non-believers What a great melody those guitar leads, and riffing, establish in ‘Bullets & Tears’, complimented by the bridge and chorus. What an unstoppable 1,2,3 punch! No, the Fear aren’t done as the title track keeps the crunch and punch for this mid tempo radio ready rocker.

P fear, like Priest, are famous in their history for writing a few songs with “Metal” in the title, sometimes it works, other times not so much. ‘In Metal We Trust’ is one of the better ones with its European power metal structure. The orchestrations pulled in from time to time shows up in ‘We Walk Without Fear’, backing the driving rhythm and twin harmonies, but works best during the verses. Nicely done. More of those Thin Lizzyish leads bassist Mat (Sinner) brings in from him namesake other band reappear during ‘At War With The World’. ‘The Devil In Me’ slows down the tempo, with second to last song, ‘The Sky Is Burning’, the lone ballad a solid change from the headbanging. Great soaring chorus.

Hello America!...when will you wake up!!