heavy-metal-darkness: Primal Fear | Domination

Friday, December 5, 2025

Primal Fear | Domination | Reigning Phoenix Music

Release Date: September 5^th, 2025

Format: CD/Digital/Vinyl

Genre: Power Metal

Country: Germany

Primal Fear returns with their fifteenth album, “Domination”, a title that matches the band’s long presence in European metal. Formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner, the band built its name through a mix of steel plated riffs and soaring vocals. Over the decades the band has seen several line up changes. This new era with Magnus Karlsson and Thalìa Bellazecca as the twin guitar force signals another chapter for a band that refuses to slow down. “Domination” arrives through Reigning Phoenix Music and continues the legacy of a group that remains firmly tied to the heart of heavy and power metal.

The album hits immediately with strong songwriting and a clear sense of identity. The production from Mat Sinner together with Ralf Scheepers and Magnus Karlsson keeps everything powerful and upfront. Jacob Hansen’s mix brings weight to the guitars and plenty of punch to the rhythm section. Nothing is washed out or thin. Everything has presence and the album has a muscular character from the opening minutes to the closing moments. The sound supports the band’s straightforward approach, offering a firm foundation for the performances to shine through.

Ralf Scheepers delivers the kind of vocal performance longtime followers expect from him. His range, attack and control give the songs a commanding edge. He pushes each chorus with authority and lifts the heavier passages with the kind of power only a few singers in the scene can summon. The guitar work from Karlsson and Bellazecca keeps the material lively, firing through classic power metal patterns and melodic hooks that give the record plenty of momentum. The energy between them is clear and adds freshness without drifting from the band’s identity. André Hilgers’ drumming provides steady fire behind the band, keeping the momentum high throughout the album.

The songwriting mixes faster tracks and mid tempo heaviness, while allowing melodic sections to expand and create contrast. This balance keeps the album engaging from start to finish and as a whole the album stays cohesive. “Tears Of Fire” brings in the necessary emotional lift while songs like “The Hunter” and “Destroyer” turn up the heat. And if in “I Am The Primal Fear” chills won’t run down your spine with its chorus, then I wonder why the fuck you lisyen this music. A few songs near the end lose some impact, especially “A Tune I Won’t Forget”, which does not hold the same strength as the earlier tracks but still the album overall keeps a strong line.

“Domination” is not simply another entry in the band’s catalogue. It has the experience of musicians who know exactly how to write commanding heavy metal without excess or filler. The new guitar duo adds spark, Scheepers delivers at full force and the production keeps everything tight and energetic. Fans of Primal Fear will find a strong release that honors the band’s long history while sounding completely alive in the present. The album stands among the stronger works in their later years and confirms that Primal Fear remain a reliable pillar of German metal.

Score: 8.5