Customer Reviews

Nuclear Fire

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All right, all kidding aside, no, Primal Fear is NOT just a Judas Priest clone although it seems a bit odd to me that the drum intro to "Kiss Of Death"...track 2 on this release...happens to sound almost EXACTLY like the drum intro to "Hell Patrol"...track 2 on the legendary Priest album "Painkiller."

That said, this is, without a doubt, one of THE best classic metal albums I've ever heard. Ralf Scheepers is a vocal GOD...I really think he should've been the replacement for Rob Halford in Priest rather than "Ripper" Owens (for a great example of that, listen to the Gamma Ray version of "Exciter" on the "Legends Of Metal" Priest tribute with Ralf on vocals...he NAILS it PERFECTLY.)

Every song but the somewhat over-the-top "Back From Hell" is a classic (BFH is just a little TOO much, but it's still a good tune) PF also adds in an unlisted "bonus track"...I think it's Track 10 if I remember correctly...called "Iron Fist In A Velvet Glove," a metal ballad that is easily one of the best cuts on the album, second only to the raging, headbanging opener "Angel In Black."

Phenomenal guitar work throughout the album, heavy-sounding production that loses no energy in the studio...the German Metal Commandoes indeed! Don't miss it!

I have this image in my head of a metal band who stumbles apon the Judas Priests studio notes from making Painkiller. Unfortunately, they don't speak English, so they take some classes and learn English and then record a new album, which is Nuclear Fire. Don't get me wrong, this is a fun album to listen to and has its moments, but it doesn't exactly rate with Priests work. They have some really goofball lyrics that try to follow the Painkiller model: unrelated phrases strung together to create an image (vs a storyline approach). In Painkiller, it worked well, here it doesn't because I think they need a few more English lessons.

Of course, if you don't read the lyrics, what the heck? The drums are furious, the guitars and vocalist are screaming, and the recording sparkles. Somebody get these guys a good producer so they can make some original songs and then we'll have a contender!

yup.....this album is heavy as hell!!! primal fear are in full speed/power metal form for this opus which will have your head banging throughout the whole ride.

the album kicks off with the superior track ANGEL IN BLACK, which is easily one of the best and heaviest songs PF have ever created.
now i'm not going to do a 'song by song' review for this cd. i'll just say that after the opening track this album does not let up and will pummel you into metal bliss. i keep seeing reviews that state that this cd is 'painkiller pt 2' but i really dont see it. both are amazing albums and we all know that PF has it's influence deeply rooted in priest but still, this album sounds nothing like painkiller.
the only downside to this album is the bonus track LIVING FOR METAL. it's extremely cheesy and not very good. PF has done a bunch of songs about their love of/for metal but this is not one of the good ones. it's the only blemish on an otherwise awesome metal opus by a band that is obviously in great form here.

if u like ur metal heavy and brutal , get this!! its incredible!! like painkiller era priest. best true metal around at the moment.

Bottom line... If you like metal get this album. I have been a Judas Priest fan for over a decade now and to me there is no better vocalist than Mr.Halford. Your Tates and Dickinsons definitely deserve rightful mention, but Ralf Scheepers more than holds his own and this compact disc is absolutely ... awesome! To the metal uneducated, this guy was in the running for the vacant vocalist slot left by the aforementioned Mr. Halford and did not get the job (although I think he should of). Ripper Owens is awesome and it is a hard job choosing between who would have been the better replacement, but for some reason I'm leaning more towards Scheepers for scheer range, however I am dying to see what Priest comes up with with Tim. Anyway, I'm not going to bore you with a track by track analysis of this album, but when you put it in and push play, strap yourself in and get ready for a rollercoaster ride...Enjoy!

Primal Fear delivers again on this, the third release from the band. Though there is nothing groundbreaking, Nuclear Fire is pure, vintage metal, unlike most of what is being put out today. They don't need gimmicks, DJs, other people to write their songs, or implants to catch your attention. Of the twelve tracks on this CD, only Living For Metal took more than one listen to gain appreciation. With Halford-esque screams, Tipton and Downing like riffs, PF makes me long for the glory days of Metal! If you are not familiar with PF, do not hesitate to buy any of their releases, they will not disappoint a true Metal fan.

The sheer volume (in every sense of the term) of high quality, precision-crafted heavy metal currently pouring out of Germany never ceases to amaze me. Year after year, obscure but highly talented acts such as Helloween, Sinner, Pink Cream 69 and their countless contemporaries have continued to inundate the world with a steady outpouring of highly melodic, dramatic and painstakingly well-played metal. Right in the melodramatic thick of it all has been Primal Fear, the highly (and rightfully) successful side-project-turned-full-time-band of bassist Mat Sinner (Sinner) and vocalist extraordinaire Ralf Scheepers (Gamma Ray, Tyran Pace). Tagged by many critics (in both praise and derision) as a modern-day, Continental European version of England's near-legendary Judas Priest, this gathering of high-decibel over-achievers has been around since `98, yet have already unleashed this, their third album (how many bands can you name, in this day and age, that manage to crank out one album per year?). In any case, "Nuclear Fire" is a nicely packaged collection of considerably heavy, often fast tunes which, again, recall the classic works of Judas Priest and other fine vintage metal acts. And if popular culture has led you to think of metal as a bunch of loud, noisy, simplistic, detuned riffs banged out over a hip-hop beat by guys who appear to have their pants around their knees, then, in the words of a certain well-known metal anthem, you've got another thing coming! Punctuated by sprawling, mechanically precise drum fills and Ralf Scheepers' sinus-straining, almost operatic wail, "Nuclear Fire" starts off with a bang ("Angel In Black") and never lets up, save for the almost mellow tracks "Now Or Never" and "Iron Fist In A Velvet Glove" (I'm still confused by that one). Some of the more intense tunes approach the feel of vintage Metallica, though most of these tracks lean towards the more melodic European style of metal than the punishing mid-tempo grooves of the modern American variety. Another key element of the band's sound that deserves mentioning is Stefan Leibing and Henny Wolter's tasty, intense and melodic guitar solos (lots of jaw-dropping harmonized lines!), which serve as the icing on the cake for these very traditional, yet well-conceived songs. My only complaint would be the overabundance of those faster, edgier tunes. It's not that these tracks aren't up to the compositional standards of the rest of the album (or that I can't handle the heat), there are simply too many of them, diminishing the album's fun factor somewhat. But despite such shortcomings, I've got to commend these guys for their hard work, because their music, by it's very nature, is immeasurably more skillful and musical than that of 98% of the heavy bands currently hogging the limelight is likely to ever be.

Update: "Black Sun" has been released since, and although some say otherwise, I'd say "Nuclear Fire" remains the band's heaviest, most aggressive album to date.

"Nuclear Fire" is the third studio album by German power metal band "Primal Fear" originally released in 2001. "Nuclear Fire" would prove one of the highest selling albums of "Primal Fear" to date while establishing a firm presence for the band into the millennium.

In retrospect, a number of reasons appear to justify the success of "Nuclear Fire"; foremost it was the first album to feature the `Space tales' concept, with lyrical themes evolving around a crew of heroes battling their way through space, facing a number of challenges. This lyrical format arguably allowed for more intense performances, aggressive lyrics all covered by an agonizing feeling. Another potentially contributing factor to the success of the album is the addition of the first "Primal Fear" promo video for the song "Angel in Black".

In terms of technique "Nuclear Fire" is filled with devastating riffs, twin guitar melodies, catastrophic rhythm section and intimidating high pitched vocals. Regarding the band's formation, the album saw the first line up change for "Primal Fear" with guitarist Henny Wolter replacing Tom Newmann, joining Ralf Scheepers (v), Mat Sinner (b), Stefan Leibing (g) and Klaus Sperling (d). Favorite tracks include "Iron fist in a velvet glove", "Red Rain", "Now or never", "Angel in black" and " Nuclear Fire".

"Nuclear Fire" was another step in the ascending course of "Primal Fear" introducing the name into new markets while also establishing the group as a headlining act (touring wise) internationally.

I don't care if other people say it's some kind of Judas Priest rip off. This is a damn good metal band! I can't stop listening to it! It has everything im looking for when i want to crank the stereo and shake the foundations! Good work guys!

3 and 1/2 stars. . . This is a descent album by Primal Fear, not my favorite, but still a good listen. The arrangements are not as solid as other albums, but it still delivers with great vocals and guitar. They are a great metal band, and actually never released a bad album. I would have given the album four stars if it weren't for the lack of solidarity and melody.

Buy it