What’s Your Brand on Running Wild’s "Branded and Exiled"?

A week has gone by, so time for another RW poll. I thought I'd wait a week between polls to give folks who are interested but don't have the albums time to check them out. Their early albums, including this one, are on Spotify.

Released in 1985, Running Wild’s sophomore album continues the dark subject and Satanic themes of their debut. This album is another solid effort although not as many songs stand out for me off this album as off Gates To Purgatory. Maybe Gates is more memorable to me because it was the first RW album I heard.

One of the stand-out tracks for me is “Evil Spirit” because I really like the pounding beat. The next track I dig is “Chains and Leather.” It reminds me of Saxon’s “Denim and Leather” not just because the titles are similar but that they are both metal anthems to which I could see fans singing along at concerts. This one is about Satan; but still it promotes solidarity.

I know it’s predictable to pick the title track, but I can’t help it. “Branded and Exiled” is awesome! It is another anthem-like rocker that is so catchy. It grabbed me immediately and is still among my Top 10 RW songs. It has excellent lyrics, too. It taught me the word “mendacious.” The other songs like “Realm of Shades” (sounds like he’s singing “Grandma Sage”, LOL) are all good but just not that memorable.

Before I vote - I must say - about this incredible metal release -
it ranks right up there, for me, with Metal Church's s/t -
It has that incredibly mystical vibe to it - from start to finish -
No fillers at all.
I think it was actually recorded in Berlin, Germany of all places too -
Also - Running Wild put out a greatest hits package -
and re-recorded some of these songs -
NO WAY did they even remotely capture that 1985 spirit.

"Chains and Leather" - a sort of sequel to "Prisoners of Our Time" from the debut. But, in my mind, an even better song. One of the top anthems of German metal - next to "Balls To The Wall" for example. Simple, pounding and anthemic. Nothing to dislike.

A tie between Realm of Shades and Branded and Exiled. Voted for the former just to even it up. Don\t really like this version of Chains and Leather, the re-recorded one from Wild Animal (1989) is sonically superior to the original and executed better technically.

BearOnUnicycle wrote:

A tie between Realm of Shades and Branded and Exiled. Voted for the former just to even it up. Don\t really like this version of Chains and Leather, the re-recorded one from Wild Animal (1989) is sonically superior to the original and executed better technically.

And the above qualities are why I do not like the re-recorded version. It lacks the rawness, bite and passion of the "Branded And Exiled" version. Sure it sounds better but I do not expect my dirty heavy/speed metal to sound pretty. Some albums would be ruined by "good" production values.

That later version is a little sing-songy. I like it when it's more of a chant.

That C&L version sounds like ha ha an angry Carrabbean is on drums.
And then it goes into a song and dance type chorus - they screwed up big time.
I love Running Wild - but whoever told them to re-record earlier material - ehhh -

It might be that I heard the latter one first, and in general got used to late 80's RW sound and fell in love with Port - Pile timeframe before, so their "raw" era doesn't appeal to me that much. Cause right now B&E version, especially the chrous, sounds extremly poorly and kinda forced even to me.

BearOnUnicycle wrote:

It might be that I heard the latter one first, and in general got used to late 80's RW sound and fell in love with Port - Pile timeframe before, so their "raw" era doesn't appeal to me that much. Cause right now B&E version, especially the chrous, sounds extremly poorly and kinda forced even to me.

Yeah, I think the one heard first plays a big role. You get used to hearing a song a certain way. There's been a few times where I liked a re-recorded version best (usually orchestrated, so much different) but usually prefer the original or whichever I heard first.

I gotta go with Chains And Leather. That's an excellent song that gets stuck in my head long after I hear it.

Just listened to this two times back to back, "Realm Of Shades" for me.

Mordor 'cause, you know, Tolkien theme.

I do like this song.
" Atomic warheads, weapons of all kind
invented to detroy -
to find their victims to grind " ( He doesn't sing that - lol )
It's interesting someone's band somewhere, in this enviroment did this tune.
The lead guitar player nailed the intro lead break riff -
Singer probbly passed out when song was done.

Another week, another RW poll. I'm out of town right now, but will post the poll for Under Jolly Roger this evening.

Evil Spirit is f*cking doomy and sinister. I don't listen to this album much, but that's usually the track I queue up.

Chains and leather.

I gotta go with the title track. It's just too awesome.