Rap-rock ragers Primer 55 are locked and loaded for a brand new era after a hiatus that kept them off the radar since 2015.
“Nu Metal is back and so is Primer 55!” bassist Jason Toomey announced in a Saturday social media post.
In the band’s most recent previous iteration, mainstay and founding guitarist Bobby Burns had taken up lead vocal duty, spearheading a crew including Darren Walling on bass, Heath Shaw on drums and Joey Busciglio on guitar, according to Metal Injection.
Burns returns as guitarist now with a different mix of Primer veterans including Donny “The DRP” Polinske on lead vocals who previously served as frontman from 2008 to 2010; Joshua Toomey, who previously served as bassist in 2003 and from 2007 to 2010 as well as Preston Nash, who previously served as drummer from 2001 to 2003.
The band’s most recent hiatus in 2015 saw Burns focusing on his other project, Murder the Flesh. Burns also reportedly experienced health issues during this time, according to Theprp. No Primer performances or releases have occurred between 2015 and now.
The band’s first hiatus occurred from 2003 to 2007 “due to creative and personal issues,” according to coverage at the time by Blabbermouth. Long-time founding vocalist Jason “J-Sin” Luttrell died in 2018 after a long battle with addiction and persistent health issues, according to coverage at the time by Loudwire.
