A complete review of Running Wild's career

Written by Tommy, October 2004

unning Wild - legends in the heavy metal scene, and a reliable source of quality metal throughout the years. Many people, regardless of musical/genre preferences, can always name drop songs or albums by Running Wild, and often they have been a band that people have grown up with. Not necessarily as a band they have followed and liked, but they have at some point been there. Sometime people prefer, and can name, albums from the early years, and lost track of their development along the way, or have discovered the band recently and are not up to par with their early works. I am of the opinion that all metalfans deserve to at least have to chance to discover the works of the noblest acts of metal.

The following is intended to serve as a guide to the career of one of the absolute premier acts in german true Heavy Metal - Running Wild.

Gates To Purgatory (1984) - 6/10

- A bit sloppy produced, but still with a clear and distinct sound. The opening track Victims Of States Power still stands strong in competition with the rest of the songs from the back catalogue, and besides that one, the album contains Diabolic Force and Genghis Khan as strong tracks. The rest is enjoyable at times, but overall not an album that represent what Running Wild is today, and not one that spins a lot in my cd player.

Branded And Exiled (1985) - 7/10

- Here the song material became significally stronger. The sound has a nice 80's feeling over it, and it got a bit more melodic, and at the same time harder. Songs such as Branded And Exiled, Gods Of Iron and Realm Of Shades, together with Marching To Die create a divine four-leaf clover. Throw in Fight The Opression also, and you have an album that to this day compete well with the rest.

Under Jolly Roger (1987) - 8/10

- The flagship of the band, and perhaps the most famous album. Here the theme of the music took a serious approach toward the pirat theme. Captain Rolf now had a steady grip on the metalfans of that time, and delivers an album completely in parity with what they expect. Splendid guitar sound, the song has never before, and not since even up to this date, been so rich, strong and great. He sings enormously good on the album. The titletrack, ever since also the "national anthem" among fan camp, Beggars Night, Diamonds In The Black Chest (with probably the most genius lyrics he has ever written) and Merciless Game are nothing but a metal fist in your face, and are still strong songs if you put them on today. The rest of the material keeps a high level, but do not stand out much more than anything else they had released so far.


Port Royal (1988) - 6,5/10

- The pirate theme continues, and that with stile and quantity, but the production however is below par. Almost crap, to be straight about it. That might be the reason to why this album most of the time ends up at the lower pat of the list when people are about to rank all albums, even though the songs actually are good. Port Royal, Raging Fire, Into The Arena, and especially one of the better songs they have ever written - Conquistadores - are real killers, even though they unfortunatly have to fight for their existence under a thick veil of "closet sound" production . Mutiny and Calico Jack are tracks that also are highly enjoyable, and you can't help wondering what they would sound like on another album with better sound.


Death Or Glory (1989) - 9/10

- Perhaps the most celebrated and well known album from Running Wild. Here the melodies reached so far unprecedented levels, and the riffs and leads are taking turns from the very beginning to the inevitable end. I personally think it is a tiny, tiny bit overrated. It is not one of my favourites, and that mostly due to the production. It is good and clear, but still a bit thin. Tortuga Bay, Marooned, Battle Of Waterloo are classics that will go to the history as full score hits, and the rest of the material lies on an extremely high lowest level, so the grade nevertheless ends up very high.


Death Or Glory Tour (1990) - 7,5/10

- The first live video. The song material is good, and the sound is very good. Limited movement and action on stage, but the stage clothes and the pyro gives a fully enjoyable feast for the eyes in true 80's style. The first half of the show, with songs as Riding The Storm (awesome), Raging Fire, Raw Ride, Bad To The Bone, Tortuga Bay and Conquistadores, is splendid.










Blazon Stone (1991) - 9/10

- One of my favourites. The melodies are intact, and is even brought up a notch when it comes to sing along potential, and the production - which is, and always will be, rejected by many - I simply love. Fat, smooth and "round", and very suitable. Splendid, rolling riffs and refrains worthy a god. Blazon Stone, the underrated Lonewolf and Fire And Ice, are together with Slavery and the brilliant Bloody Red Rose forming almost a peak so far in the career. White Masque and Little Big Horn just adds to the icing of the brilliant metal cake with their probably best and delicious riffs and choruses on this side of the career. On the MCD that was released in the aftermath of the album we can find the great song Billy The Kid, and a nice version of Genocide by Thin Lizzy.


The First Years Of Piracy (1991) - 6/10

- A compilation with older songs in the new found style of production. It was nice to hear when it was released, and is still good when you want to hear songs from Branded and Exiled with Blazon Stone production, which I like, but this is nothing that will raise your eyebrows.

Pile Of Skulls (1992)- 9/10

- The tempo is brought up a notch, and the melodies are intact. It opens with Whirlwind that blows life in the show, and along the way we get pure pearls like Pile Of Skulls, and the ending, containing Lead or Gold, White Buffalo, Jenning's Revenge and the magnificent epos Treasure Island, is most likely the strongest finish of an album maestro Rolf has ever composed. The closing song can very well be the most brilliant one he ever has created, lyrically as well as musically.




Black Hand Inn (1994) - 10/10

- The album of all albums in the whole back catalogue. From the very first second to the last, it is super production, leads, divine riffs and refrains as if they were sent straight from heaven, and all with a passion, fierceness and intensity that we never since have encountered from the band. The title track, The Privateer, The Phantom of the Black Hand Hill, the fat monster Genesis - it's ace! Everything topped with the best "plain songs" they have delivered so far: Dragonmen, Soulless, Freewind Rider. Dancing On A Minefield, that is included on the re-release as well as the MCD that was release prior to the album, is a pearl that should have been on the original release.


Masquerade (1995) - 8,5/10

- I love the sound. Most people have issues with it. Perhaps the most aggressive album in their career, but the sense for melodies are intact and it is steadily guide us through a good album, still in true Running Wild style. Soleil Royale, Lions Of The Sea, the slightly underrated but oh so nice Underworld, the title track, Black Soul, and especially Men In Black - they are all metal slabs in your face. Straight on, with simple riffs that repeat and creates an ongoing and pushing feeling that drives you forward. It is kind of a special album by Running Wild standards, though, due to the fact that it is very straight on, so to say, compared to the other albums.


The Rivalry (1998) - 9,5/10

- From one convincing album, they go to yey another - The Rivalry. A bit softer and rounder sound, but still with a force that keeps the music on a perfect metal level. After the best intro so far in their career, we are confronted with a masterpiece in form of the titletrack, and along the way we are being served several, already classic, songs: Firebreather, the brilliant Return of the Dragon, The Ballad Of William Kidd, Agents Of Black, and the by now almost traditional epos in form of War And Peace. Mixed with classy tracks such as Fire And Thunder and Adventure Galley, this is one of their best albums.


Victory (2000) - 7/10

- Drum machine, they say. I have never put any own values or opinions in that, and I never will. That part sounds good enough in my ears, but the rest of the sound leaves a bit more to be wished for. A little bit thin, naked and "dry". Despite that, it is a good album, that I am playing almost as frequent as the others. The already classic, and among the best, song they have done, Tsar, mixed with The Hussar and Victory are real pearls. The "standard songs" are a few more then what we are used to, and are a tiny bit to anonymous to raise any overwhelming feelings.



The Brotherhood (2002) - 6,5/10

- Basically it continues where Victory left us, and here people started to question their ability to still deliver quality metal. Even me, I have come to realise. The album has lost points in my eyes since it was released, when I thought it was really good. The melodies are there, just like on the previous album, but they are a bit held back and everything feels a bit hollow and not entirely inspired. The title track is awesome, together with the ultimate pirate hymn Pirate Song, which is kicking as much metal butt as it is possible, and Welcome To Hell and The Ghost, which closes the whole deal in true epos style. Faceless, included on the limited edition, is splendid, and kicks down many regular songs on the album from a top place.


Live (2002)- 8,5/10

- Their second live concert so far, also released as a double cd. See review of the dvd here.











The Legendary Tales (2002) - 8/10

- A compilation with all the 3 albums The Rivalry, Victory and The Brotherhood. Not much to say about it. Nothing extra, just all songs compiled on one album.










20 Years In History (2003) - 8,5/10

- A Best Of with all "hits" taken from the whole career. With emphasis on melodic and popular songs, since all awesome and refrain-built songs are represented. Buyworthy and recommended for the yet uninitiated.

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As closing words, I can say that I have an extremely strong feeling that the upcoming album, Rouges En Vouge (February 2005), will show a return to a fat, distinct sound, and contain songs with splendid riffs and awesome refrains. There are certain chills in my spine that tell me that is about to happen.......The time is right again.

To be continued.......stay tuned.

Tommy - October 2004