PRIMAL FEAR's MAT SINNER to miss South American shows due to injury; GAMMA RAY's DIRK SCHLÄCHTER to fill in
10-04-2026
PRIMAL FEAR bassist Mat Sinner will miss the band’s upcoming shows in South America after he suffered a nasty injury during the group’s concert in London, United Kingdom in early March. Filling in for him will be GAMMA RAY‘s Dirk Schlächter
PRIMAL FEAR released the following message via social media on Wednesday, April 8: “An important message to all our fans about the South American tour. Sadly we have to tell you that Mat won’t be able to join the band on the forthcoming shows in Argentina and Brazil. Mat lost a fight against a drumriser in London and slashed his right leg in a very evil way. After some more shows the doctors in Norway planned to have a surgery on his leg because the infection was already on a bad level and to prevent a sepsis. Mat is now at home and needs to recover for another 3-4 weeks to avoid any operation. Doctors say it would be a huge risk to sit in a plane for 15 hours — health comes first.
“This wasn’t an easy decision. We know many of you were looking forward to seeing us together on stage and Mat is truly sorry for any disappointment this may cause. We promise to give 200% on the shows and Mat will be replaced by GAMMA RAY‘s Dirk Schlächter.
“Thank you for your understanding, your patience, belief and faith.”
Sinner (a.k.a. Matthias Lasch), who also serves as PRIMAL FEAR‘s producer, reportedly suffered an extreme adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccination in 2021 and received treatment for eight months at various hospitals. As a result of Sinner‘s health challenges, PRIMAL FEAR canceled all of its planned shows in 2021 and 2022, eventually recruiting Alex Jansen as Mat‘s temporary replacement.
PRIMAL FEAR have released the album “Domination” on September 5 via Reigning Phoenix Music.
Watch “Tears Of Fire” ‘The Hunter’ and “Far Away” below.
Watch the previously released ‘The Hunter’ and “Far Away” below.
Going strong for nearly three decades, PRIMAL FEAR was founded and is still led by Mat Sinner (bass, vocals) and Ralf Scheepers (vocals), who have never let down their global fanbase. Relentless and constantly pushing their limits, PRIMAL FEAR ensure that no two albums ever sound the same. After “Code Red” (2023) hit some of the highest chart positions of their career, expectations for the next release were higher than ever. Now joined by Italian/Cuban sensation Thalìa Bellazecca (ANGUS MCSIX, ex-FROZEN CROWN) on guitar and André Hilgers (AXXIS, RAGE, SILENT FORCE, SINNER, BONFIRE) on drums, the quintet was more than up for the challenge. And as “Domination” makes clear, no obstacle is too great for PRIMAL FEAR‘s powerhouse songwriting trio — Sinner, Scheepers and Swedish guitarist Magnus Karlsson, who also rejoins the band’s live lineup after several years away.
From the hard-hitting opener “The Hunter” and first single “Far Away” to the uplifting mid-tempo anthem “Tears Of Fire” and the epic ballad “Eden” — featuring a guest appearance by AD INFINITUM‘s Melissa Bonny — “Domination” delivers on all fronts. Add in neck-breakers like “Scream” and “Crossfire”, and the reflective, string-and-piano-driven closer “A Tune I Won’t Forget”, and it’s clear: PRIMAL FEAR aren’t here to reclaim the crown — they’re here to prove they’ve never left the throne of heavy/power metal royalty.
“Domination” was recorded in autumn 2024, produced by Mat Sinner and co-produced by Ralf Scheepers as well as Magnus Karlsson. Rounded off by multiple PRIMAL FEAR mixing/mastering engineer Jacob Hansen at his own studios in Denmark, the album artwork was designed by Death.Milk.Designs.
“Domination” track listing:
01. The Hunter
02. Destroyer
03. Far Away
04. I Am The Primal Fear
05. Tears Of Fire
06. Heroes And Gods
07. Hallucinations
08. Eden (feat. Melissa Bonny of AD INFINITUM)
09. Scream
10. The Dead Don’t Die
11. Crossfire
12. March Boy March
13. A Tune I Won’t Forget
Bonus track (physical only, excluding jewel case CD)
14. Bridges Will Burn
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