Metalheads looking for a balanced collection of metal steeped in old school values should try out Ralf Scheepers’ debut solo outing. If the name rings a bell, it’s none other than the guy who sings for Primal Fear exorcising his demons on this album. True to the frontman-going-solo ethos, Ralf Scheepers on his own is simply reinvented as Scheepers and the album goes likewise. On the cover: Herr Ralfie on the verge of loosing an epic fart, his muscular arms proudly displaying his Primal Fear allegiance.

Horrific attempts at humor aside, “Scheepers” comes highly recommended to fans of Euro-metal, speedy or otherwise. Anyone who gets a boner listening to Judas Priest, Pretty Maids, Accept, Savatage, Scorpions, and Iron Maiden will fall in love with “Scheepers.” The album reciprocates in grand style with a torturous opener titled “Locked In the Dungeon” that slays every single misgiving several different ways. In short, it’s a kick ass song armed with twisting guitars, godly vocal work, and a huge chorus. Think “Painkiller” meets “Screaming For Vengeance.”

It’s not only Ralf who shines the most here, as a slew of session musicians and his own band mates are contributing to the album’s flavor. “Remission of Sin” stands out in particular for having Ripper Owens share vocal duties. The result is pretty much the same as when Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson collaborated: the two singers end up sounding the same.  Other notable collaborators are Magnus Karlsson, longtime accomplice Matt Sinner, and even Snowy Shaw plus a few other illustrious guests who lurk in the same power metal milieu as Ralf.

Other than the guaranteed fist pumping anthems, there’s no shortage of softer tracks on “Scheepers.” The album’s sweeping ballads includes the symphonic doldrums of “The Fall,” the Judas Priest cover “Before the Dawn,” and the emotionally laden “Pain of the Accused.” Then there’s the weepy, peace loving farewell that’s album closer “Compassion,” a laidback singalong akin to Scheepers’ own version of Lennon’s “Imagine.”

It’s the heavy metal parts that leave the deepest impressions, however. Be it the soaring chorus in “Saints of Rock,” the churning “Cyberfreak,” the boring speed metal of “Play With Fire” or the humongous midtempo headbanger  ”Dynasty,” Scheepers has got everything covered. A rock solid first album from a towering frontman, Scheepers succeeds in filling the gap between Primal Fear albums.

• Genre: Heavy Metal
• Label: Frontiers Records
• Origin: Germany
• Link: primalfear.de
• Year: 2011