Primal Fear

Based out of Germany and founded by former Tyran Pace and Gamma Ray vocalist Ralf Scheepers and bassist Mat Sinner, Primal Fear's potent blend of speed and melody (intricate dual-lead work and soaring vocals) evokes NWOBHM greats like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, the latter of whom courted Scheepers after the departure of Rob Halford in 1991. Primal Fear became fixtures in the European heavy metal scene during the 2000s, releasing a slew of well-received albums, and found mainstream success in the 2010s with the release of Unbreakable (2012) and Delivering the Black (2014), which charted both at home and abroad. The group continued to find favor with international metal audiences into the next decade with hard-hitting efforts like Metal Commando (2020) and Code Red (2023).