Primal Fear is a band that almost wasn't. They were formed by German vocalist Ralf Scheepers after he narrowly missed being the replacement for Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford. He looks just like Halford and sounds like his actual replacement Tim 'Ripper' Owens, so I'm not sure what was wrong with him. Anyway, it's a good thing he didn't make it in, because then he never would have formed Primal Fear and made awesome albums like Seven Seals!
The album has a mix of high-octane powerhouse songs like the bombastic "Demons and Angels", "Rollercoaster" (which is almost impossible not to head-bang to), and "Evil Spell", which becomes one of the most furious songs on the album after a quieter intro. "Carniwar" is slower, but no less heavy. The album is interesting in that it has three epic, 7+-minute songs "Diabolus" has a relatively plodding tempo, but has a strong symphonic backing and still manages a fast guitar solo. "All For One" and "Question of Honour" are more typical power metal songs, but both have extended solos in the middle which are quite awesome. "In Memory" is the obligatory power ballad, and "Seven Seals" combines the slower pace of a ballad with the intensity of their faster songs.
Overall, this album really has no weak songs and has become one of my favorite power metal albums of all time after many listens. It certainly avoids the criticism leveled at bands like DragonForce that all their songs sound the same; Seven Seals has an excellent mix of songs. Power metal has always been a genre less focused on innovation than on pursuit of an ideal, and I think Seven Seals comes quite close indeed. Definitely worth a listen for any metal/hard rock fan.
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