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Germany's Primal Fear is essentially a supergroup of power metal musicians that includes bassist Mat Sinner (Sinner, Silent Force, Jorn), drummer Michael Ehré (Metalium, LOVE.MIGHT.KILL, a ton of others), guitarist Alex Beyrodt (Missa Mercuria, Silent Force) and the inimitable Ralf Scheepers (Gamma Ray, the breadth of a hair away from singing for Judas Priest) so even the most casual fan has to at least be aware of them by now. They've been cranking out classic slabs of crunchy, melodic power metal every couple of years like clockwork, with Metal Commando their thirteenth full-length.

Metal Commando finds Primal Fear at the top of their game. They break no molds, so if you've heard any of Primal Fear's previous albums or Deris-era Helloween, post-Scheepers Gamma Ray, Iron Fire, etc., the songs will sound familiar but not boring or generic. If you are going to write an album that is right down the center of a specific genre, you had better write stuff that is good. Like, really good, and that is just what Primal Fear have done. Whether it is the double-kick speed of "Halo" or the lighter-waving acoustic guitars and heartfelt singing on "I Will Be Gone" or the epic, 13+ minute "Infinity", there is not one weak song, not one note out of place, not one chorus that won't stick around long after the song is over. It's an album of supremely catchy vocal lines and tight twin-guitar harmonies with power, aggression, and speed to spare. There are no surprises but that matters little. If you like crunchy, melodic power metal, Metal Commando is an album to own.