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Rating: The waves violently crashing against the galleon, breaking with an elegant harmony of power and majesty. The smell of the stormy sea, savored during a fierce battle on the open sea between two pirate ships. The sound of cannons that have just opened fire, leaving behind the devastation of the enemy ship. These feelings, and many more, are certainly difficult to express in the form of music, but in the early 90s, the crew of Rolf Kasparek, known as Rock 'N Rolf, perfectly succeeded in the endeavor.
Already authors of classic HM masterpieces like "Port Royal" and "Death Or Glory," Running Wild, unlike what happened to many other bands in their genre in the 90s, showed no signs of stopping. The "failure" that many expected to see had not yet emerged. They were creators of genuine pillars of Speed metal, one after another, with an increasingly mature sound, since 1988, Rock 'N Rolf's group seemed to have absolutely no desire to take their foot off the gas.
After the excellent "Pile Of Skulls" in 1992, two years later RW released "Black Hand Inn," which, if we wish, is the absolute pinnacle of this band, who, in my opinion, never received the recognition they truly deserved. "Black Hand Inn" is actually much more than just an album; it's a concept album revolving around the figure of a man unjustly accused of having sold his soul to the devil, who is then burned at the stake. The only thing that survives the pyre is his black hand, which becomes the symbol of the man's ghost returning for revenge.
It's certainly difficult to highlight a weak song within the album. Fast and powerful tracks like the title-track and "The Privateer" will undoubtedly make you stand up, compelling you to keep the rhythm fervently. There are also tracks where the frontman's voice, not one that will be remembered for its versatility but certainly capable of fully adapting and emoting, takes the spotlight, like in "Fight The Fire Of Hate" and "Powder & Iron." Special mention should be made of "Phantom Of The Black Hand Hill," an excellent track that rests on one of the finest riffs of the German combo’s career. There is also room for songs with unforgettable choruses like "Soulless," which also presents an excellent drum part. "Genesis (The Making And The Fall Of Man)," on the other hand, is one of the longest songs ever written by RW and features a very engaging spoken part, several very interesting tempo changes, and showcases the skill of Thilo Hermann, the group's guitarist at the time.
If there is still someone who thinks that in the 90s classic metal was at its lowest point of popularity, well, think again. The career of RW, especially in the first half of the 90s, saw its peak of splendor, a splendor that, in part, still exists today. And if you think this crew of pirates isn’t all that great, well, I respect your opinion. But I hope the ghost of the "Black Hand Inn" will pay you a visit tonight.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The Curse (03:13)
[Inquisator:]
John, you have been found guilty of being in league with the
devil and of having used heathen and forbidden rituals.
You will be committed to the purifying fire!
So repent of your unholy sins that your soul can be saved
from eternal hell!
[John:]
Your lies can't impress me, cause the truth will come to light!
Yes! I will set a mark for that I will return to reveal the
holy truth and who's the true evil!!
[Inquisator:]
So you will die by the fire!
Light up the stake!!
And the young man was burned at the stake.
One charred black hand was all that was left of him.
From that day on the hill of stakes was called Black Hand Hill
and was avoided.
And then it all began!!!
03 Mr. Deadhead (04:03)
Brainless and narrow minded, a blockhead all the way
Prejudice's your religion, your maxim's to betray
Evil and overbearing, stupid cupidity
A mean and rotten racist, your fall is what I foresee
Tunes of hate, dirty lies and prate
Envy is poisoning your soul
Evil blood, you try to hatch a plot
But you'll never reach your goal
Mr. Deadhead, venomous toad
Mr. Deadhead, your soul will rot
Mr. Deadhead, habitual liar
Mr. Deadhead, hate's your desire
A slave to evilness, you'll face the truth
No more venom-lies, you will pay your dues
Hatred ate your heart, tearing your soul apart
The devil veils your soul with eternal dark
Tunes of hate, dirty lies and prate
Envy is poisoning your soul
Evil blood, you try to hatch a plot
But you'll never reach your goal
Mr. Deadhead, venomous toad
Mr. Deadhead, your soul will rot
Mr. Deadhead, habitual liar
Mr. Deadhead, hate's your desire
Brainless and narrow minded, a blockhead all the way
Prejudice's your religion, your maxim's to betray
Evil and overbearing, stupid cupidity
A mean and rotten racist, your fall is what I foresee
Tunes of hate, dirty lies and prate
Envy is poisoning your soul
Evil blood, you try to hatch a plot
But you'll never reach your goal
Mr. Deadhead, venomous toad
Mr. Deadhead, your soul will rot
Mr. Deadhead, habitual liar
Mr. Deadhead, hate's your desire
04 Soulless (04:57)
Spineless and false you are creeping through time
Your flag's turning with the wind, your advantage is prime
Feathering your neat is your one and only law
Treachery and fraud is the sense that you are living for
Living on a lie, a mind-killing spell
You'll never ever learn cause you're living in your self-made hell
You're soulless, when the fire of evil burns in your heart
You're soulless, cause hate and greed's gonna tear you apart
The sledgehammer method is the way in which you act
You double-cross and cheat, you never show respect
Spiderlike you crawl, you spin your web of lies
Eternally you'll lose, cause truth will rule the dice
Living on a lie, a mind-killing spell
You'll never ever learn cause you're living in your self-made hell
You're soulless, when the fire of evil burns in your heart
You're soulless, cause hate and greed's gonna tear you apart
Conceited and dense, imposture is your call
Selfdestructed clown, imbecility is your fall
Reality and truth cut you down to size
Duck your rotten head, be prepared to pay the price
Living on a lie, a mind-killing spell
You'll never ever learn cause you're living in your self-made hell
You're soulless, when the fire of evil burns in your heart
You're soulless, cause hate and greed's gonna tear you apart
You're soulless, when the fire of evil burns in your heart
You're soulless, cause hate and greed's gonna tear you apart
You're soulless
You're soulless, heart of stone
You're soulless
You're soulless, bad to the bone
05 The Privateer (04:21)
The privateer is watching, the moon provides the only light
Roaring winds are blowing, a flag appears out of the night
Guns are spitting fire, the cannonball tears up the rail
The vessel's changing course, the thunderstorm blows up the sail
A furious fight is raging, red-hot cannon's shooting hard
Ironballs are flying, tearing all the planks apart
His allseeing spy-glass is aiming at the sea
No mariner has the slightest chance to flee
His crystal ball's revealing where he has to steer
He fights the covered evil without a fear
Oh, the privateer
The sea-dog's realmed in legends, it said he had the second sight
His assignment must be holy, he fought the fight with power and pride
The key to ancient wisdom, the power to have seen the truth
He'll return to holy ground, where his tortured soul had died in youth
His allseeing spy-glass is aiming at the sea
No mariner has the slightest chance to flee
His crystal ball's revealing where he has to steer
He fights the covered evil without a fear
Oh, the privateer
His allseeing spy-glass is aiming at the sea
No mariner has the slightest chance to flee
His crystal ball's revealing where he has to steer
He fights the covered evil without a fear
Oh, the privateer
10 Dragonmen (05:42)
Flying shields across the sky, the dragon's firebreathing
Metallic wagon rides the wind, blinding lights releasing
A stirring phenomenon is lighting up the darkened sky
Magnetic stream on the soil, a whirring sound when dragons fly
They ride the wind on metallic wings
Envoys of the invisible council
At the speed of light, lighting up the night
Watching where the evil will break through
Piktograms have spread the word, unadulterated truth
Rediscovered holy laws, man's honesty to prove
They ride the wind on metallic wings
Envoys of the invisible council
At the speed of light, lighting up the night
Watching where the evil will break through
The holy dragonmen, trailblazers of a new age
Riding the universe to force the evil to its cage
The holy dragonmen, watching the fallen soul
Roaming eternity to save the truth, the highest goal
The holy dragonpaths, flowing streams of energy
The breath of life is in its veins, where the spirit's running free
Dragonmen will bring the truth, ancient wisdom of their mind
The untruth's the easier way, is truth made for mankind?
They ride the wind on metallic wings
Envoys of the invisible council
At the speed of light, lighting up the night
Watching where the evil will break through
The holy dragonmen, trailblazers of a new age
Riding the universe to force the evil to its cage
The holy dragonmen, watching the fallen soul
Roaming eternity to save the truth, the highest goal
Flying shields across the sky, the dragon's firebreathing
Metallic wagon rides the wind, blinding lights releasing
A stirring phenomenon is lighting up the darkened sky
Magnetic stream on the soil, a whirring sound when dragons fly
They ride the wind on metallic wings
Envoys of the invisible council
At the speed of light, lighting up the night
Watching where the evil will break through
The holy dragonmen, trailblazers of a new age
Riding the universe to force the evil to its cage
The holy dragonmen, watching the fallen soul
Roaming eternity to save the truth, the highest goal
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By ilfreddo
A pirate with rum in one hand and an electric guitar in the other for a heavy metal of unique compactness, classic to the core: pure 100% distillate.
We'll probably feel the need to re-experience a devastating metallic intro that takes us into the heart of an unyielding ride.
