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Class 6(66)
Running Wild: Death or glory
27/10/09 || Habakuk
Introduction
Running Wild is (or rather, was) one of these bands whose name everyone has heard before, but who never left behind their almost tier-2 status in the heavy metal roster. Maybe that is due to their unfortunate position between the British genre classics like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden and their more well-known Teutonic thrash metal contemporaries that pretty much dominate the perception of late 80’s/early 90’s German metal. These bands were followed by still immensely popular groups like the ever-present Blind Guardian that developed heavy metal further in a different direction, leaving a band like Running Wild in a historic blind spot. Looking back today, Rock ‘n Rolf’s revolving door team appears to have been hopelessly backward for all its/his career by following the exact same recipe, eventually spoiling a legacy of awesomeness that is spearheaded by 1989’s “Death or glory”.
Songwriting
9. Apart from one nasty stinker, namely the bass-focused instrumental “Highland Glory”, this album is full of catchy, bad-ass heavy metal anthems. Special mention goes out to the opener “Riding the storm”, the title track, “Marooned” and “Running blood”. That’s right, four out of eleven tracks are officially the shit. The rest also flies the heavy metal Jolly Roger high, with the almost 8-minute “Battle of Waterloo” adding a little epic touch, “Renegade”, “Tortuga Bay” and “Bad to the bone” taking the fast lane and “March on” and “Evilution” going a bit slower. Seriously, I can listen to any of these tracks on their own and all of them have something going for them. “Death or glory” is traditional heavy metal at its best, the sort of stuff that can apparently only be done with a tongue in cheek these days. Classic song structures, fast, melodic riffing, catchy-as-hell sing-along choruses and headbangangable rhythms galore. Also, the bonus tracks on the 1999 re-release (aka 1990’s “Wild animal” EP) are a great addition and need not shy away from the rest of the material.
Production
7. It’s obviously not a Vader or Vomitory album, but it sports a very clear and transparent production job with all instruments just at the right volume and a decent amount of punch thanks to a thick, maybe a bit reverb-heavy drum sound. The lead guitars get to shine especially, but the bass lines as well can be made out properly at any given time due to a strong low-end. From what I’ve heard off the earlier albums, it seems they were mostly hampered by sub-par production jobs, and with “Death or glory” the band finally got themselves a production good enough to let all aspects of their music shine, although they still left some room for improvement.
Guitars
9. Kasparek and Moti churn out a shitload of awesomely catchy, melodic riffs without ever wandering off into fairyland. Instead they showcase a balls-out metal barrage heavy on the lead guitars second to none in their field. Very structured and controlled all the way to the solos, but with a shredding grittiness many competitors lack. A very German approach at heavy metal à la Grave Digger, I’d be inclined to say, but done the right way. Running Wild is a very guitar-centered band, but there is not much more to say about the guitars for me here, honestly. They’re simply great.
Vocals
8. Often I can’t understand a word thanks to Kasparek’s weird english. Who cares, though, as long as it sounds awesome. It does, so he is forgiven some weird lyrics and pronunciations due to his great set of pipes. His voice is not be the most polished or trained, but that’s actually a bonus as we are talking heavy metal after all, ferfuckssake. It’s far, far away from the power metal gayness infesting planet Metorl, but not over-the-top raspy like, once again, its Grave Digger equivalent, for example. Overall, very very enjoyable. Tally ho!
Bass
7. As long as he doesn’t write songs (he’s the one responsible for “Highland glory”), Jens Becker does a really good job. He’s not Steve Harris, but he does add something to the sound, which is more than a lot of other heavy metal bassists do. The fact that his bass sound is pretty much perfect and not too prominent to take the focus off the guitars helps a lot.
Drums
8. Hard-hitting, straightforward drumming blessed with a relatively heavy sound. Iain Finlay gives his double kick pedals a fair share of the action, works his way flawlessly through fills wherever needed and makes sure the Running Wild horse never stops galloping. It becomes obvious how integral a good drummer for the sound of this band is when listening to songs off 2000’s album “Victory” where badly disguised drum computer “Angelo Sasso” was employed, resulting in an awfully sterile sound. Thankfully, “Death or glory” is nothing like that.
Lyrics
7. From absolutely classic “metal against ze world” to borderline abysmal “let’s make music about a history book”. Bad english throughout and matters of piracy abundant.
Face in the wind,
we’re riding the storm
we’ll stay our course,
whatever will come
wandering souls in the sea
of the damned
death or glory, oh
we’re riding the storm
This, dear friends and neighbors, is probably one of the best choruses ever. When the quality drops, though, it looks a bit more like this:
June the 18th 1815,
the battle at “Belle-Alliance”
marshy fields and pouring rain,
all the blood and the pain
cannons fire, curassiers attack
British grenadiers stand tight
Wellington’s command
“Bluecher or the night”
but no Prussian in sight
Fucken hell, these are some uninspired lyrics. At least it doesn’t get worse, so we’re still in safe territory.
Cover art
6. It doesn’t look bad and it’s got a nice layout, but I don’t get it. Feel free to enlighten me but I can’t follow why death is money and glory is a dude doing… something? Looks more like “Greed or Air Guitar Championship” to me.
Logo
4. Rvminq wild.
Booklet
4. Wrong lyrics, typos, song titles misspelled, thank you-list, all stage clothes made by Indianer-Joe and his busy crew. What the hell, Noise records? You could at least have a second person proofread it before it goes to print.
Overall and ending rant
9. There is exactly one Running Wild album I own, and after having
listened to it countless times, curiously I still haven’t felt the urge
to get any other, although some sneak peeks into their other material
revealed more quality. I think the reason is I can’t imagine their
ballsy, traditional approach to heavy metal done any better than on
“Death or glory”. I might be wrong, but this album is so good that
unacquainted with almost their whole back catalogue, I’ll take a plunge
and state that it’s probably one of the best Running Wild albums you’ll
ever hear. Get it or you’re missing out.
When I come to think of it, though, I should probably finally go out and
get “Black hand inn” or “Pile of skulls” already. I have a feeling that
I might be, too.
- Information
- Released: 1989
- Label: Noise records
- Website: www.running-wild.net
- Band
- Rock’n Rolf Kasparek: vocals, guitars
- Majk Moti: guitars
- Jens Becker: bass
- Iain Finlay: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Riding the storm
- 02. Renegade
- 03. Evilution
- 04. Running blood
- 05. Highland glory (The eternal fight)
- 06. Marooned
- 07. Bad to the bone
- 08. Tortuga bay
- 09. Death or glory
- 10. Battle of Waterloo
- 11. March on
- 12. Wild animal (bonus)
- 13. Tear down the walls (bonus)
- 14. Störtebeker (bonus)
- 15. Chains & leather (bonus)
