Primal Fear - Devil's Ground (2004)

Primal Fear's fifth album is pretty much what one would expect from these Germans by now - old school metal played with ferocity, starting with one of many metal-tributes so many bands have done (this one being "Metal Is Forever"), and finishing with a spoken-word interlude ("Devil's Ground"), which seems to be a warning against going to Hell.
I admit to finding this all a bit routine and humdrum. Maybe if it was Primal Fear's first release, or if I'd heard it before hearing so much other metal, I might like it more, but there's just so little here that's new or particularly interesting. Scheepers screams, the band pounds, the songs do their bit, and then it's over.
And, after 55 minutes, I can't say I was particularly sorry.

**1/2