Live

Running Wild never really followed any musical trend - except heavy metal of course. In fact, this German band has created "its own world" after the sound invasion of Iron Maiden & Helloween. Running Wild's solos reminds you sometimes the famous English heavy metal band, but there is no doubt that Rolf Kasparek (Rock 'n Rolf) inspired the True Metal scene. If we expect Ready For Boarding - 1988, live including 10 songs from the first three records - Running Wild's fan were missing a moment of "live glory" from their favorites pirates. Well, Live is here just for this purpose : the true fans ! Running Wild's music style impresses by its fast solos, its hunted guitar melodies which are combined with uncompromising power. Hymns, 'speedy' rhythms, killing chorus, hellish electrifying riffs and this unbelievable epic wind surrounding each Running Wild album. On the other hand, having seen the German band live, I must admit that sometimes we were wondering which song was played ... I mean lots of Running Wild songs are constructed the same way and it is difficult to "spot" the song immediately. Anyway :) Running Wild sees the light back in 1976, when Rock 'n Rolf founded Granite Heart. After the usual line-up changes, the band was renamed Running Wild. In 1981, the band released their demo - Heavy Metal Like A Hammerblow (first demo ?). But the real start arrives in 1984 with Gates to Purgatory - their debut album - sold very quickly more than 20,000 copies. After the second release Branded And Exiled, Running Wild opened for Motley Crüe on the Theater of Pain Tour. But the legend began in 1987 with the famous pirate theme on Under Jolly Roger (1987). Album after album, Running Wild will define its music, its heavy metal sound. After the glorious trilogy - The Rivalry, Victory, The Brotherhood - Running Wild has finally decided to release its live album : 2CDs, 100 minutes ! Of course, Rock 'n Rolf had material for 3 CDs, but that's a music business choice I suppose :( In fact, it is a GUN Records bad story. Let's start with the booklet : it is an insult for every Running Wild's fan living on this planet - 3 pages only for a twenty years career !!! Like it was the case for Grave Digger on Tunes of Wacken - 2 pages, no photos for the CD & DVD - Gun Records is spitting on the face of the fans. This time the booklet shows some live photos of the band on stage, but I suppose the label has broken its last money-box to include these photos. If it wasn't for Running Wild, you could hear me screaming to Guns Records : f*** YOU and there would be no review of this live album !!! Can you believe we received a tape record as a promo with only a couple of songs ? For the next GUN promo stuff please read what follows : I throw away my last tape machine back in 1992 ... yeah just a decade ago. Grow up little small insignificant label as you will never compete with EMI, Sanctuary, Nuclear Blast, Metal Blade, Massacre Records, Spinefarm, Scarlet, SPV, AFM or Century Media ... especially if you continue to treat your potential buyers - the true fans - like shit. Woaaaww, I feel suddenly ... much better :)) Let's come back to Live. It is well produced, I mean the sound is good and each song is "perfectly" executed. Rock 'n Rolf sings like in studio. From Welcome To Hell, Blazon Stone, Bad To The Bone, Riding The Storm, Lead Or Gold, When Time Runs Out, The Brotherhood, Soulless (perfect !!!), Kiss Of Death, Victory, Prisoners Of Our Time, Purgatory ... to the unforgettable Under Jolly Roger, I catch myself headbanging on each chorus. Just one little detail here : I am still wondering where was the crowd that night, but I suppose - sorry I know - that the last Iron Maiden - Rock In Rio - or the Iced Earth live album - Alive In Athens - makes the comparison useless. Let's just say the crowd is here ... between each track. Anyway, as said above, this Live is for the true fans, the die hard Running Wild fans ... guys like me :)