After nearly a decade, Primal Fear parted ways with Nuclear Blast (bassist Mat Sinner worked in the home office, as well as having his surnamed outfit signed to the German label). Guitarist Tom Naumann has also been sacked, allowing Henny Wolter to return for the first time since Black Sun. Sadly the NB swansong, Seven Seals fell on deaf ears (perhaps hastening the change of address) – it was an excellent, varied platter precisely what the band needed in the post-Judas Priest reunion days. That trend continues on these 11 tunes, yet a wider palette from which to paint, without alienating the tried and true fan base. Most of the nuances are up early, following the first single, a drum monster called ‘Sign Of Fear’. ‘Face Of Emptiness’ could have come off the last outing (big lively sound, classical underpinning) and Simone Simons (Epica) guests on ‘Everytime It Rains’, an orchestrated power ballad duet. You really need to listen closely to realize it’s Scheepers, and the Eastern-influenced beats aren’t typical Primal Fear either. The title track sees the band back on familiar (devil’s) ground, courtesy of the soaring vocals. But then, just when one thinks they can dismiss it as a “heard it before” number, the third verse drops into haunting, echo voiceover and spirited guitar break. ‘Fighting The Darkness’ is a three-part composition (almost nine minutes total), beginning with Scheepers’ expanded range backed by piano and violin that morph into swirling synthesized orchestra, very ‘70s AOR stadium rock radio, with multiple voices. Part 2 (‘The Darkness’) is an instrumental: guitars with bowed strings backdrop, before ending with an appropriately entitled ‘Reprise’. ‘Blood On Your Hands’ is familiar territory, speedy, traditional, but the vocal delivery is very staccato, almost mechanical/industrial, especially the chorus. ‘The Curse Of Sharon’ has little bits of ear candy (Scheepers accented, almost a cappella shouts, then gang vocals). ‘Too Much Time’ sets a blistering pace, complete with video game flourishes on guitar breaks! ‘Psycho’ is the first truly mid-tempo cut, plenty of guitar and another slightly modulated voiceover. ‘World Of Fire’ would be a fitting rocking sendoff, but they opted for an introspective ballad, ‘The Man (That I Don’t Know)’ instead. Hopefully those who think they know Primal Fear will give this disc a chance, as it (once again) journeys into “new” frontiers.