Not too sure about this. I don't need/want ultra-technical drumming in Primal Fear. The music doesn't call for that. Randy Black was just great IMO, with a good balance of "basic" drumming, while showing his skills when needed.
Feel free to disagree with me, but that's just about the way I would describe those in the list of my favorite drummers, which includes Priester. I would have never guessed him as the next for PF; it makes way too much sense. Great news for me. Just hope they don't rush the next project (the bar is up there pretty high).
Edit in: By the way, I couldn't agree more with your comments in this thread regarding Randy Black. Your quotation above has got to be the quintessential concise definition of a "pretty fuckin' good" drummer yet. Regarding the core of a creation, to "just play the freakin' song" is often forgotten, misinterpretted or just plain ignored, drums not exclusive here.