Live Review: Primal Fear - KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
12th March 2026
Support: Ronnie Romero
Words & Photos: Tim Finch
Wolverhampton’s KK's Steel Mill has become the true home for heavy metal in the Midlands, and tonight it played host to a thunderous double bill as Primal Fear rolled into town for the second and final date of their brief UK run. The night promised classic heavy metal in its purest form.
Kicking things off was powerhouse vocalist Ronnie Romero, whose résumé already reads like a who’s who of rock royalty. From the first note it was clear this was going to be a night driven by huge voices and even bigger songs.
Romero wasted no time setting the tone, storming out with ‘Backbone’, instantly commanding the stage with the confidence of a seasoned frontman. His voice, as always, rich, powerful and effortlessly high-flying, filled the venue with ease. ‘Never Felt This Way’ and ‘Eternally’ followed, giving the crowd their first real chance to warm up their vocal cords alongside him.
It didn’t take long for Romero to lean into the classics that helped shape his career. A towering rendition of ‘Stargazer’ by Rainbow brought the room to life, his vocals soaring impressively through the epic track. If there were any doubters about his ability to handle the material associated with legends like Ronnie James Dio, they were quickly silenced.
Romero kept the momentum rolling with a muscular take on ‘Black Dog’, injecting his own flair into the classic while the band locked into its iconic groove. Original material like ‘Castaway on the Moon’ and ‘Bring the Rock’slotted comfortably alongside the covers, the crowd responding enthusiastically to Romero’s blend of classic rock spirit and modern power.
Closing his set in explosive fashion, Romero delivered a powerful one-two punch of ‘The Battle Rages On’ by Deep Purple and the ferocious ‘Kill the King’. Sandwiched between them were the punchy ‘Chased by Shadows’ and ‘Vengeance’, ensuring the energy never dipped.
As the lights dimmed once more and the intro ‘We Walk Without Fear’ rumbled through the speakers, anticipation surged across the packed floor. When Primal Fear finally hit the stage with ‘Destroyer’ the room erupted. The band’s trademark blend of speed, precision and melody immediately took hold, with vocalist Ralf Scheepers unleashing a barrage of sky-scraping notes that proved his voice remains one of metal’s most formidable powers.
‘I Am the Primal Fear” and ‘Final Embrace’ followed in quick succession, the band locking into a relentless groove. The twin-guitar attack carved through the venue while the rhythm section drove everything forward with machine-like precision. ‘Nuclear Fire’ triggered one of the night’s first massive sing-alongs, its classic power metal hooks hitting just as hard as ever.
The set continued to dig into the band’s deep catalogue with ‘Seven Seals’ and ‘The Hunter’ both delivered with muscular authority. Scheepers stalked the stage like a man possessed, commanding the crowd with ease. ‘Tears of Fire’ and ‘King of Madness’ kept the momentum surging, the band clearly feeding off the energy pouring back from the Wolverhampton faithful.
Things ramped up with the colossal ‘Fighting the Darkness’, its dramatic dynamics giving Scheepers plenty of room to stretch his voice to its limits. Classics like ‘Chainbreaker’ and the anthemic ‘Metal is Forever’ sent fists pumping across the venue, the latter turning the room into a unified choir of metal devotees.
Closing out the night, ‘Hands of Time’ and ‘Running in the Dust’ ensured the energy never faltered right up to the final note. As the band took their bows, it was clear Wolverhampton had witnessed a masterclass in classic power metal. The band now head off to Europe after this all too brief UK stint, we can only hope they’ll return sooner rather than later.
Photo Credits: Tim Finch Photography
