Running Wild
Branded And Exiled

The moniker Running Wild has over time become synonymous with quality. As punctual as a Swiss clock, the group led by Rolf Kasparek has consistently released albums worthy of note. Their raw and powerful sound reaches full maturity in this "Branded and Exiled," the second chapter of the band, which follows a year after their debut "Gates to Purgatory." It must be said, however, that these are not the Running Wild who dominated stages with their "pirate" emblems: their typical pirate look begins to emerge in their third work, the essential "Under Jolly Roger." In "Branded and Exiled," the four Teutons are still clad in the studded leather apparel reminiscent of Maiden, and moreover, their covers evoke "evil" clearly inspired by Venom, rather than the sea.

The album is a worthy continuation of the previous "Gates to Purgatory," even though there's a greater confidence in their skills. The sound remains that heavy and brisk clear heavy metal. Powerful riffs, a prominently featured drum, and Kasparek's raspy voice are the distinguishing elements of this CD. Needless to say, there's no innovation in Running Wild, but if one wishes to enjoy a solid heavy metal record, "Branded and Exiled" certainly does not disappoint expectations. From the initial title track, the Teutonic band shows us all their metallic heaviness with a heavy song second by second, worthily performed by Rolf Kasparek. The entire sound of the Wild and the album itself moves along these lines grounded in the classical tradition of heavy metal. "Gods of Iron", the Tolkien-esque "Mordor", and the splendid concluding "Chains and Leather" have all that old-school heavy must have: power, pathos, rhythm, aggressiveness.

The second work by Running Wild may not be a masterpiece destined to remain in history, but it has nevertheless helped to make the group known at least in Europe. This is because the four Germans have always kept their musical proposition intact, ignoring the restrictions dictated by the record market. Their heavy metal may not be the most original in the history of the genre, but it remains an absolute starting point for those wishing to approach this music. Kasparek and his associates have released in almost 30 years of career works that perhaps won't stay in the collective memory, but they have contributed to the development of the genre and have ensured that Running Wild is remembered for their pirate look, making them unmistakable in the global metal scene.

1. "Branded And Exiled" (3:55)
2. "Gods Of Iron" (4:02)
3. "Realm Of Shades" (4:31)
4. "Mordor" (4:52)
5. "Fight The Oppression" (4:55)
6. "Evil Spirit" (3:22)
7. "Marching To Die" (4:38)
8. "Chains And Leather" (5:43)