Initial Analysis: Primal Fear, "Code Red"
The Metal Commandos return in a reflective mood
Released: September 1, Atomic Fire
“We need a guide back to sanity”
Almost nobody would’ve expected (or wanted) a pandemic record from Primal Fear, but that’s pretty much what Code Red turned out to be. From the basic circumstances surrounding the recording, with a good chunk of the band recording separately in their home studios to a sizable portion of the lyrical content, the band’s 14th album focuses on the world outside more than anything else they’ve done in the past.
But context matters, and this one has more than one might expect for a band as seemingly basic as Primal Fear. Beyond the pandemic itself, there were some business concerns in the form of a shift from Nuclear Blast to the newly formed Atomic Fire Records, though this had more to do with the co-founders of the former label basically splitting the roster. And within the band there was more going on than immediately met the eye: for one, although Magnus Karlsson had largely functioned as a silent member for over a decade, almost never playing shows, up to now he had been a primary writer alongside mainstay and driving force Mat Sinner. But on Code Red he appears to have taken a major step back- although he is still credited as a member and has been acknowledged as contributing to the writing and recording, he does not appear on any of the promotional photos or videos, his name is listed last on the roster, and the lack of writing credits in the booklet makes his actual involvement much more ambiguous. Instead, Tom Naumann appears to have stepped up in a big way, apparently playing all of the rhythm guitar and likely composing much of the music (while he had returned to Primal Fear full-time with 2016’s Rulebreaker, he didn’t contribute to the writing in a significant way until 2020’s Metal Commando) in addition to co-producing the record.
More than all of that, though, is what was going on with Mat Sinner. The reasons remain unclear (the prevailing rumor is that he had a major adverse reaction to a Covid vaccine), but the founding bassist, songwriter and producer has been in such ill health over the past two years that he apparently had to learn to walk all over again. He seems to have recovered enough to write, perform and produce this record, but despite appearing in photos and videos remains unable to play shows or tour. Likely because of all of this, there is a level of introspection in the lyrics that is certainly surprising for a band mostly known for writing tunes about the awesomeness of playing heavy metal.
But introspective and reflective Code Red is, right from the start. “Another Hero” ostensibly begins as another trademark Primal Fear anthem, and more or less that’s exactly what it is, but the bridge and chorus have a palpable melancholy, largely coming from Ralf Scheepers and his more modulated high notes, and there is a similar pensiveness to his vocals on the bridge of the following “Bring That Noise”- to be fair, it’s actually some of the finest singing of his entire career, but then again, this is on a song that’s all about how much metal rules, so why so sad? And this vibe of desolation permeates much of the record, from the infidelity lament of “Deep in the Night” to the nihilism of “Their Gods Have Failed” and the closing duo of “Forever” and “Fearless”. This even turns up on the anthems, with “Play a Song” sounding more resigned than triumphant: Scheepers moans “Don’t think about tomorrow, play a metal song” at the end it feels more like he is bemoaning the dying of the light than pumping his fist in celebration. And then there is the semi-epic “Cancel Culture”, which is actually not exactly what the title would suggest: Sinner and/or Scheepers clung to one aspect of the definition without comprehending its full usage in the lexicon, and either way is a misguided and unnecessarily melodramatic number that only adds to the feeling that the guys aren’t as jazzed about robotic eagles as usual.
Adding to all of this is Scheepers largely working within his mid range and not wailing with nearly his usual frequency (there is nothing here that comes remotely close to his battering howling on “Sign of Fear”)- he still sounds great, but there is no mistaking that he is taking fewer chances with his vocal cords these days, and it adds to the feeling that he and the band are coming up for air, taking stock of the world around them and feeling compelled to speak their minds, for better or worse.
The music doesn’t inherently follow suit, though the thickness of the riffing assumes a certain context when juxtaposed with these words and vocals. Scheepers previously claimed that every member had a hand in writing songs for Code Red, including drummer Michael Ehré, though most of the music has a distinctly Naumann feel (the primary riff on “Deep in the Night” sounds almost exactly like “Dollars” from the first PF record). At the same time, there is an immediacy to the playing that does bring these tunes to life, though while the band opted out of a super-lengthy epic this time around (the two longest tracks max out around the 7-minute mark), both of them have the same basic structure and melody, and both “Cancel Culture” and “Their Gods Have Failed” trudge along and dampen the vibe.
But Primal Fear, especially its two principals, fundamentally understand their mission statement, so they still bring the thunder when they need to. Even with the context above, “Another Hero” and “Bring That Noise” smoke righteously, and while “Steelmelter” isn’t nearly as frantic as its title suggests, “Raged by Pain” is a quintessentially Primal Fear barnburner, right down to its broken English title. And ever since Naumann came back, there has been a confidence and ease to the way these guys play together, and that comes across on record, which makes Code Red a fun listen from beginning to end, even with the questionable moments and lingering air of discontent. It’s not one of their all-time best, but it doesn’t sound rote either, and for a band 25 years into their discography that stands as quite an accomplishment.
Rating: 3.5/5
