I agree with your score on this cd Dave. It's a great listen. I guess the satanic lyrics turn some people off but it never bothered me. It's hard to believe that this is the same band that will be churning out the Pirate image for years to come. I also should mention that Rolf's accent is very thick on this (and kind of funny). Regardless, it doesn't detract from the cd whatsoever. :metal:

Dave not familiar with Running Wild's music so I am looking forward to reading your thread even if I can't contribute with any comments or observations.

Running Wild had been around for close to a decade already, when they released their debut album for Noise Records in late 1984. 'Gates To Purgatory' is basically a re-recorded compilation of songs from the bands earliest demos. Back then Rock 'n' Rolf had not yet adopted the pirate imagery, but rather borrowed his image from Venom, lyrically as well as musically. So it's Satan this and Satan that, over and over. I find this to be rather silly, and quite frankly very boring. Luckily one can still detect what is to become the trademark Running Wild sound in most of the compositions here. This is some fast speed metal, with the occasional mid-paced number added for dynamics. The band delivers powerful drums, galloping riffs and Rolf's sinister voice. It all works well with this kind of music, and I'm actually quite taken by how heavy this band was. They actually rivaled, or even surpassed, the growing thrash metal scene in terms of speed. "Victim Of States Power" is an early speed metal number that sets the standard for the genre. "Soldiers Of Hell" and "Prisoners Of Our Time" are other great anthemic heavy metal standout tracks. "Diabolic Force" is sort of a forgotten gem in the bands catalogue, while "Genghis Khan" treats us with some blistering bass work, courtesy of Stephan Boriss. Sadly the production sort of ruins the overall feel of the album. Running Wild have re-recorded many of the songs on this album on later occasions, and the upgrade in sound makes these songs stand out even more then they did in their original forms. 'Gates To Purgatory' is still a landmark debut album, recorded by a young and hungry band that hadn't quite found their niche yet.

The 2 bonus track on the CD version of this album are lifted from the 'Victim Of States Power' EP (aka 'Walpurgis Night' EP). And for whatever reason it seems that the first track is not complete. It just ends abruptly, like someone lifted the needle off of the turntable or something. Weird.

Killer tracks: Victim Of States Power, Soldier Of Hell, Adrian SOS, Genghis Khan, Prisoner Of Our Time

Running wilds first album! I love this one just as much as any of the more acclaimed RW albums like black hand inn, under jolley roger, etc. A much different sound on gates to purgatory then anything that would come out later, the band I think was trying to fit in to the same circles as venom and the like with the early brand of speed/heavy metal sound that was popular for the time.....Thank God they discovered pirates later.

fav tracks prisoner of our time, victim states power, diabolic power

always wanted to see these guys onstage back then

I had this CD for a while in the 90s --- didn't do much for me. Pretty basic early Deutsche speed metal. Noise Records had a ton of bands like this on their roster at the time (Helloween, Grave Digger, Warrant, etc.) and since they all recorded at the same studio all the records had a similar sound/vibe. The "Pirate" thing that Running Wild invented for themselves later on obviously worked a lot better for them than the derivative, Venom-esque stuff heard on this LP.

That's all I got for this band, folks!

I have all this bands albums but as stupid as it sounds, I dont think I actually listened to one of them all the way through. I pretty much listen to the songs I know and thats about it haha. I do like them though, its just that I dont know each album like I should.

Hahaha Noooooooo... I like them. Im actually going through my whole collection now and listening to each individual album while im at work. I can get it atleast 2 or 3 a day so i figure i'll be done by the year 2020. haha

When is the next album going to be posted Dave The Boss?

Gates To Purgatory is one of my favorites from them, good stuff.

I've been away from home for a while, so that's why I haven't been putting up new reviews. Anyway, here is the new one:


“BRANDED AND EXILED” (1984)



“Ready for branding to strike his goal!”

Not long after Running Wild unleashed their first album on the world, it was time for a second one. “Gates To Purgatory” was already a merciless slab of blackened heavy speed metal, but the next LP had to be even better. So with a fresh batch of songs our German friends entered the studio to create their sophomore album. Faced with the heavy burden to make an even better album, Running Wild delivered another awesome platter of heavy speed metal. “Branded And Exiled” was heavier, faster and, just like their debut, featured killer song after killer song.

The first thing I noticed was how much the production had improved. Gone was the razor sharp guitar sound, replaced in favor of a more normal heavy metal tone and the drums had a more pounding quality to them. Preacher, the lead guitarist on the debut album, left before “Branded And Exiled” was recorded and was replaced by Majk Moti, a far greater guitarist. Far from the average shredder, Moti’s solos were as heavy metal as can be, but still had a melodic element to them.

On “Branded And Exiled” Running Wild continued with their use of occult themes in their lyrics, but lyrics also dealt with high fantasy (“Mordor” for example) and the greatness of heavy metal (in the amazing “Chains And Leather”, a true metal anthem if there ever was one!). The music is still 100% early Running Wild, but slightly more mature than the at times primitive “Gates To Purgatory”. That said, this album is nothing like the stuff they would do later on, so no 10 minute epics and such.

The album starts off with a bang with the title track, an uptempo blaster that will blow your socks off. Rolf’s vocals are still the same gnarly, nasal growls on this LP, you won’t find any Halford-like screams here I’m afraid. The vocals are more of a mix between Di’anno and Cronos. The album continues its heavy metal onslaught with other brilliant tracks like the classic “Realm Of Shades”, “Evil Spirit” and the almost Accept sounding speed metal monster “Fight The Oppression”. The true highlight of the album though is the anthem “Chains And Leather”. Imagine if you took Judas Priest’s “Take On The World”, made it heavier, darker and recorded it on an 8 track in a cave. The result of that would be this little track. With almost poetic lyrics like “Even Satan wears leather”, how can you go wrong with this song?

Running Wild’s second album is pretty much “Gates To Purgatory” part II. If you liked the first one, you’ll love this too. If for some weird reason you didn’t like the debut, you won’t like this either. This is still a far cry from the power metal they would start playing on “Port Royal”, but a metal classic nonetheless. Essential for everyone that loves raw heavy speed metal.

Dave’s score: 10/10

1. Branded And Exiled
2. Gods Of Iron
3. Realm Of Shades
4. Mordor
5. Fight The Oppression
6. Evil Spirit
7. Marching To Die
8. Chains And Leather

"We are right, praying metal tonight, the message from Hell and its spell!”

I think I have to give this the "fresh-ear" treatment in the near future. Here is my write-up for MM:

This is Running Wild's second album, and it's not that impressive. The production is horrible, and most of the songs are easily forgotten. It must have been quite the let down after the promising debut. There are still signs of better things to come on it. The title track is signature Rock 'n' Rolf material, and "Mordor" is another classic. I don't think any of these tracks are still in their live repertoire, though I might be wrong. The album does grow with repetitive listens. My version is a reissue, released sometime after their 'Masquerade' album. Majk Moti replaced original guitar-player, "Preacher", on this record.

Killer tracks: Branded And Exiled, Mordor, Chains And Leather

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been really busy with moving and preparing for my first year of university. I'll try to have the next review up by the weekend.

Can't believe so few are interested in this band!!

Anyhow, my website is severly lacking when it comes to propoer write-ups for RW albums. Here is the one for UJR:

'Under Jolly Roger' was my first exposure to Running Wild, and it is still the album I value the most! I love every second of it, and I never grow tired of it. This is the album where the band fully adopted their trademark pirate-image. So most of the songs are about pirates. I believe this is a great album to start with, if you want to get into Running Wild. I don't know why, but the CD version has a different track-list than the vinyl I'm used to. And to round things off, here's what the cover states: "WARNING! Loud Sound Effects! No responsibility on audio equipment damage!" Now, THAT'S METAL! :-)

Killer tracks: All of 'em!

Under Jolly Roger was the first Running Wild album I owned. Unfortunately I haven't heard it since the 80's and don't remember anything about it. Ye old memory isn't what it once was.

Back in the 80's Running Wild seemed to be one of those bands that everybody had "heard of" but very few had actually "heard". At least here in the States.

Under Jolly Roger is probably my third favorite album by them, another classic record, I felt the pirate thing was a little ridiculous at first, but the musics still good, just a little more melodic at points. THis was actually around the time I discovered them initally through Noise's old DOOMSDAY NEWS compilations

Branded and Exiled is more solid metal from Running Wild.As stated,if you liked their first,you'll like the second. B & E has one of my favorite Running Wild tunes- Chains and Leather (but I really don't think there's a weak song on it).

Under Jolly Roger was one of the last cds I purchased of theirs.I think it's a pretty solid cd with a couple of standout tracks (Diamonds of the Black Cheast and Merciless Game). The pirate image took over and they never looked back. Anyone know why the change ?