•
Rating:
There are bands in history capable of capturing attention like few others, creating a magical feeling thanks to their music, leaving indelible marks in the history of their genre, but not all are remembered by posterity as they should be. This is the case with Running Wild.
For those unfamiliar with them, Running Wild are the undisputed pirates of Heavy Metal, true tough guys with a heart of gold and a sound more rotten than moldy gorgonzola in the Caribbean sun, a band that has managed to establish itself with tenacity and skill and captivated in its assaults thousands of faithful and passionate metalheads. It is 1992, and Captain "Rock'n Rolf" Kasparek and his crew of clanking musicians are ready to set sail on yet another sonic assault. The album I am about to review is nothing but the natural continuation of what they have previously built with their beloved works "Under Jolly Roger," "Port Royal," and "Death or Glory," and perhaps it's the definitive confirmation of their importance in the Heavy Metal scene.
"Pile of Skulls" is nothing less than a concentration of passion for exotic and unexplored places, literature of yesteryear, and the rhythms and sounds of a genre never overly loved by its supporters. Let's observe the cover, which in itself says it all, with that macabre pile of skulls proudly displayed within an underground room of who knows which temple hidden in the depths of the Caribbean... we turn the pages and immediately notice the drawing style with which our heroes are portrayed, reminiscent of the illustrations in Stevenson's "Treasure Island," a déjà vu feeling that will soon be confirmed in a pleasant surprise.
Let's begin our adventure then, the album opens with one of the best intros I have personally ever had the pleasure to listen to, "Chamber Of Lies" is an atmospheric concentrate that immediately immerses us in the album's context, putting us at ease and stimulating our imagination, thanks to an imposing choir followed by the sound of a medieval-flavored mandolin. "Whirlwind" is a whirlwind opener that hits the listener's ears, revealing all the harshness of the Running Wild sound. In my humble opinion, it is not one of the album's brightest tracks, but it proves to be a great excuse to headbang.
"Sinister Eyes" is already a track of very remarkable craftsmanship, conveying considerable emphasis, expressing a keen sense of good taste, and showing its fangs in a simple and anthemic chorus. "Black Wings Of Death" is perhaps the album's pinnacle, with its slow yet resolute pace etched in the listener's ears, revealing all its intensity. "Fistful Of Dynamite" is a veritable explosion of aggression and machismo that takes its place by storm and does not disappoint expectations. "Roaring Thunder" is the slowest track on the album, focusing entirely on its solid drumming and chorus. A sonic explosion announces the arrival of the title track "Pile Of Skulls", aggressive and unstoppable, and it proves to be a true gem. "Lead Or Gold" is the triumph of the most tall and boisterous piratical frenzy, with that proverbial observation at the end of the chorus, "....cursing all the conformists - who'll never be free!". A sharp drumbeat and here comes "White Buffalo", a delightful gallop that will drag you along with passion, preventing you from staying still. "Jenning's Revenge" is a flow of molten metal that will wash over you with all its hysteria.
The album closes with what is perhaps my favorite track and brings back the illustrations of the booklet, oh yes, I'm talking about the track inspired by Stevenson's famous work, "Treasure Island" is a long, intricate, incredibly engaging piece that concludes the listening experience in the best possible way.
In short, "Pile of Skulls" reveals itself as an excellent album, laden with the rotten sound that has always characterized the Running Wild label, a perfect opportunity to get to know this band, renowned for never disappointing its devoted fans.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Whirlwind (04:52)
Thundering foam that hits the keel
Like powder blazed by flints
The figure-head is riding high with
His face right to the wind
The hull that creaks in every joint is
Hammering the sea
Determined it will ride the main, it
Will last eternally
It rips the wild and stormy sea like
A heavy charge of pride
Book and eye are moved by storm
The ropes are holding tight
The rudder's beating left and right
The ship's in seasaw motion
The proudness of a majesty is
Banning all devotion
Like a whirlwind
Rushing over the sea
Like a whirlwind
Blowing fast, blowing free
Like a whirlwind
A raving storm in the night
Like a whirlwind
Going mad, going wild
Thundering foam that hits the keel
Like powder blazed by flints
The figure-head is riding high with
His face right to the wind
The hull that creaks in every joint is
Hammering the sea
Determined it will ride the main, it
Will last eternally
Like a whirlwind
Rushing over the sea
Like a whirlwind
Blowing fast, blowing free
Like a whirlwind
A raving storm in the night
Like a whirlwind
Going mad, going wild
Like a whirlwind
Like a whirlwind
Like a whirlwind
Like a whirlwind
03 Sinister Eyes (05:06)
A blue and blinding light
Is devouring the dark
Someone must be there, it's no fancy
And no lark
Footsteps trail my moves
I turn around and no one's there
Phantom hands that touch my back
A pungent smell is in the air
Black-eyed visitors talk to me at night
Revealing the truth
Sinister eyes
Deciphering the prophecy
Sinister eyes
Warning of catastrophe
Muddled hours are still lost, a weird
Module at my neck
Curious voice that talks to me
Piercing eyes that hit my back
A dream crawls through my sleep
A small and grayskinned seer
He talks about the universe, I fell
I've known him for a hundred years
Black-eyed visitors talk to me at night
Revealing the truth
Sinister eyes
Deciphering the prophecy
Sinister eyes
Warning of catastrophe
You wonder why there's no contact
The man of science twists the truth
Politicians telling lies, these
Criminals have to lose
2000 years of blood and death, no
Money will ever change the fate
Army, church and government, can't
You fell their scornful hate?
Black-eyed visitors talk to me at night
Revealing the truth
Sinister eyes
Deciphering the prophecy
Sinister eyes
Warning of catastrophe
05 Fistful of Dynamite (04:06)
Heedless they make their pile
Freeloading monkeys on our back
Bad to the bone and spineless
A dirty, lying, riotous pack
Ostrich policy, wrong way
Don't fall asleep or you'll have to pay
Draconian penalty, right way
Ready to explode
Like a fistful of dynamite, my fuse is burning fast
Like a fistful of dynamite, a bomb heading for your ass
Like a fistful of dynamite, my fuse is running short
Like a fistful of dynamite, don't push to far or we will be your court
They brain us of our lifeblood
But we are dredging up the truth
Staunch as a steely dreadnought
So they'll never stir up our truth
Ostrich policy, wrong way
Don't fall asleep or you'll have to pay
Draconian penalty, right way
Ready to explode
Like a fistful of dynamite, my fuse is burning fast
Like a fistful of dynamite, a bomb heading for your ass
Like a fistful of dynamite, my fuse is running short
Like a fistful of dynamite, don't push to far or we will be your court
Don't push too far, we're fed up with your tricks,
Yes, fear our law, you will get your deserved kicks
[Solo]
Ostrich policy, wrong way
Don't fall asleep or you'll have to pay
Draconian penalty, right way
Ready to explode
Like a fistful of dynamite, my fuse is burning fast
Like a fistful of dynamite, a bomb heading for your ass
Like a fistful of dynamite, my fuse is running short
Like a fistful of dynamite, don't push to far or we will be your court
06 Roaring Thunder (05:56)
You rule the world, but we don't care
You don't impress, whatever you dare
We hate your vileness, enough of your lies
Flame to our anger, you'll pay the price
Your fate is sealed without a doubt
Verdict guilty, no way out
Trick or treat is what they play
The hand of doom will have its way
Roaring thunder, the hearts of man, your five-star meal
Roaring thunder, you wrecked the car, so hands of the wheel
You pollute the world, with your snakelike tongue
We'll never give up, until you're gone
You squeeze us out, you rape the earth
Your recklessness, there's nothing worse
Your fate is sealed without a doubt
Verdict guilty, no way out
Trick or treat is what they play
The hand of doom will have its way
Roaring thunder, the hearts of man, your five-star meal
Roaring thunder, you wrecked the car, so hands of the wheel
Predaciousness, to fill up your lair
We know the truth, tho' you're not aware
A darkened power grabs your throat
No time for mercy, 'cause you've sunk the boat
Your fate is sealed without a doubt
Verdict guilty, no way out
Trick or treat is what they play
The hand of doom will have its way
Roaring thunder, the hearts of man, your five-star meal
Roaring thunder, you wrecked the car, so hands of the wheel
Roaring thunder, lightning strikes when the youth stands tight
Roaring thunder, fist up high show no respite
08 Lead or Gold (05:07)
Riding the tempests of glory
The vessel is gliding along
Pounding the waves, majestically
Proudly and strong
A flag flutters on the horizon
The plunder ready-to-hand
The gunners are ready to fire
Awaiting command
Pounding the sea, like a storm
Wild and free
Obeying our call, fast and raw
The air sparks thunder and lightning
Their bellies are shivered with fear
We showered their cold hearted souls
With sarcastic sneer
Our cohorts are for seizing
The skull and the crossbones fly high
We're talking over your vessel
Whatever you try
Pounding the sea, like a storm
Wild and free
Obeying our call, fast and raw
Lead or gold, we're daring our fate
On the wings of the sea
Lead or gold, cursing all the
Conformists who'll never be free
Guns spitting iron and fire
Acid smoke clouding the air
Ripping the planks
Feeding the flame of despair
Hoisting the flag of surrender
Delivering their silver and gold
A generous gift to the poor
For the brothers they sold
Pounding the sea, like a storm
Wild and free
Obeying our call, fast and raw
Lead or gold, we're daring our fate
On the wings of the sea
Lead or gold, cursing all the
Conformists who'll never be free
10 Jennings' Revenge (04:18)
1714 that was the year The Spanish fleet ran out of luck The weather was stormy The sea was lashing, furious Lightning and thunderstruck Three hundred men Fighting hand in hand Abandonment or raid Tons of 'pieces of eight' The 'Flotilla' was driven Down to the reefs The wooden hulls of the vessels Were cracked 300 000 'pieces of eight' The fleet of that year Was totally wrecked Three hundred men Fighting hand in hand Abandonment or raid Tons of 'pieces of eight' The viceroy commanded To furnish a squad 60 soldiers to dreg up the plate Fool all their salvage To a small camp ashore Lack of suspicion No thought of a raid Jennings came up With a hazardous plan The Spanish garrison Was taken by guise Three sailing vessels Three hundred men 300 000 their glittering prize Three hundred men Fighting hand in hand Abandonment or raid Tons of 'pieces of eight' Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh The Spanish plate hauled off by raid Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Jennings' trick a painful kick During their escape They happened to spy A gorgeous Spanish merchant ship 'In for a penny, in for a pound' They got them in their steely grip And several thousand 'Pieces of eight' To fill their ships up to the deck Jennings' fleet sailed out to sea No one ever found his track Three hundred men Fighting hand in hand Abandonment or raid Tons of 'pieces of eight' Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh The Spanish plate hauled off by raid Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Jennings' trick a painful kick Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Impudent tries will win the prize Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh No soldier pack will find his track
11 Treasure Island (11:14)
Squire Trelawny and Dr. Livesay having asked me, Jim Hawkins,
to tell everybody the whole tale about the 'Island',
Flint's treasure and Mr. Silver.
Keeping nothing back but its position and that only,
because the major part of the treasure has not been lifted yet.
I personally think we would never have begun this adventure
and set course with the 'Hispaniola', if we had known
what would happen and that some of us would never return,
having lost their lives. Sometimes the whole story haunts dreams
and brings me the worst nightmares I ever had.
That's when I hear the cries of the fallen,
the waves pounding the rocks on the coast and Captain Flint's
raw voice screaming: 'Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! Hahahah!'.
And I tell you, no oxen and wain ropes will ever take me
back to 'Treasure Island'!!!
Mr. Bones is fighting 'Black Dog'
He want to split him to the chine
'Blind Pew' the bringer of the spot
Horse-hooves trampling his spine
We have the map to start our trip
The 'Squire' has the ship and the sailors
'Long John' is the man with the grip
No one knows he will raid us
The yell of the slain
The waves on the rocks
Captain Flint's raising hell
He's calling my name
To drive me insane
Treasure Island
Where the brave fell
A one-legged devil
From the pit of hell
A greedy demon on his treasury
Cursed the island, oh, eternally
'Long John' is spreading his law
Hatching a death bringing plot
I show up in a council of war
What I heard in the barrel from this toad
The yell of the slain
The waves on the rocks
Captain Flint's raising hell
He's calling my name
To drive me insane
But I'll never return to
Treasure Island
Where the brave fell
A one-legged devil
From the pit of hell
A greedy demon on his treasury
Cursed the island, oh, eternally
We see the land, shining sand
But it can be our grave
I jump the boat, overload
Trying to be too brave
Burning sun, find 'Ben Gunn'
Assassins claim the ship
I cut the rope, I try to cope
To free it from 'Hand's' grip
Bulling row, cannon law
The jolly-boats last trip
Killing tried, stockade fight
'Silver's' villains quit
Abandonment, to 'Silver's' hand
A cunning pack is made
Trick or treat, make scoundrels
Bleed, their dullness will be paid
I stumble to the stockade
The sweat drips form my brow
No one keeps a lockout, oh no!
The rabble owns it now
'Silver' tries to shield me
The 'Black spot' comes again
He throws the map onto the ground
He plays a tricky game
Pickaxe, rope and shovel
The dead-man marks the way
No chest, no gold, no silver
2 guineas is their pay
Musket cracks like thunder
The blood is running red
'Ben Gunn' kept the treasure
From beginning to end
When we put back to the sea
'Silver's' chains are doubly tight
'Long John' and his counterfeit key
Sidle away through the night
The yell of the slain
The waves on the rocks
Captain Flint's raising hell
He's calling my name
To drive me insane
But I'll never return to
Treasure Island
Where the brave fell
A one-legged devil
From the pit of hell
A greedy demon on his treasury
Cursed the island, oh, eternally
Treasure Island
Where the brave fell
A one-legged devil
From the pit of hell
A greedy demon on his treasury
Cursed the island, oh, eternally
Loading comments slowly
