German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have issued the following update:

"The Primal Fear crew is in full swing - cover artwork, photos, booklet and the video clip are in progress and will be be finalized during the next two weeks. Dennis Ward worked on a remix for the song 'No Smoke Without Fire' for a release in Japan!

Here are two shots from the video shoot.

Primal Fear are confirmed for the Metalway Festival 2009 in Zaragoza - in addition we play festival shows in Austria, Romanian, Czech Rep. etc - an update on the festival schedule will be posted here soon!

We plan to tour South America in August, US East Coast in September and when we're back from the States, we will start our European Tour at the end of September and October together with our friends of BRAINSTORM. Be prepared for some more Primal Fear action soon!

Check out the Fanclub page Metal Commando for great news on the forthcoming Listening Session!"

As previously reported, Frontiers Records recently issued the following update in regards to Primal Fear's forthcoming album, 16.6 (Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead), due via the label in May:

Produced again by Primal Fear's own Mat Sinner and engineered and co-produced by none other than Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69), the new Primal Fear album marks the first full comeback by guitarist Henny Wolter and the debut by one of the worldwide most respected guitarists Magnus Karlsson, since he joined the band one year ago!

Wolter and Karlsson both participated in the songwriting and pre-production, which took place at Karlsson’s Stuntguitar Studio in Sweden. The band recorded 4 weeks at the famous House Of Music studio including Randy Black (drums) and vocalist extraordinaire Ralf Scheepers.

After the Xmas break the band recorded some small overdubs and started the mix with long time collaborator Achim Koehler. Finally Ted Jensen mastered the album at the Sterling Sound in New York.

The new Primal Fear album titled with the codename of 16.6 (Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead) will be released in May 2009 by Frontiers Records. The new songs will include a lot of the Wolter/Sinner/Scheepers vibe from the Nuclear Fire album, then follow the path of New Religion and some real surprises!

Mat Sinner comments: “I’m really proud of our work. The guys of the band and the entire team did a killer job! I love the crystal clear sound of the album and total dedication of the players. The fans of our first albums will really love the new tracks, plus there are a lot of sophisticated more stuff on 16.6 following the path of Seven Seals or New Religion.“

Guitarist Henny Wolter added some notes to some song titles:

"'Riding The Eagle' is bringing back that Nuclear Fire vibe with a full speed double bass groove and those typical heavy guitar-fiffs and high speed twin leads that Primal Fear stands for. Above all it's that mix between full throttle metal and melody with Ralf Scheepers powerful vocals on which Primal Fear built their reputation.

'Six Times Dead (16.6)', the title track and a superheavy guitar riff, stomping groove with a new approach and a message to the fans; 100% Primal Fear!

'Black Rain', a nearly 7 min. epic with big instrumentation, and a heavy Arabian atmosphere. Lots of variations and sophisticated playing and singing. This song strongly carries the handwriting of the new bandmember Magnus Karlsson, who is known for these skilful and tasty arrangements.

'Under The Radar', another traditional Primal Fear speed rocker, a hymn with the classic Scheepers vibe.

'Torn', seven minutes of pure music and the most ambitioned song and riff we’ve ever recorded, killer stuff, very groovy and a great melodic vocal line.

'Soar', pure energy combined with a driving groove, a majestic halftime chorus and a great experimental breakdown part - one of my favourite tracks on the new album

'Hands Of Time', this will be a real surprise for everybody. There is always at least one track on a new PF album, that is different - this time it’s 'Hands Of Time' with four guys sharing the lead vocals - a very cool song!