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How cool it must have been to be a pirate! Roaming the seas, drinking in the dirtiest taverns of South America, traveling on your own galleon with a proud look towards the waves, dreaming of the richest treasures, boarding enemy galleons with the sound of swords and cannon fire! Much better than sitting in boring salons discussing the political and worldly events of the moment, with wigs 2 meters high and pompous behavior! A somewhat dangerous profession, but exciting.
Nearly three centuries later, it seems that no one remained to keep the interest in pirates alive. But then, at the end of the '80s, a group of four rowdy individuals, led by Rolf Kasparek, known to everyone as Rock 'N Rolf, formed Running Wild, a band that after two excellent albums of Speed/Heavy Metal played almost as if they were pupils of Accept, moved to unknown routes at the time, with a pirate style transition, both in music, lyrics, and appearance. I said "unknown at the time", precisely because until 1988 (the year "Under Jolly Roger" was released), no band had ever dared to talk about piracy; at the time, more anti-conformist or satanic themes were popular, themes that quickly gained traction especially in the early eighties. This band knew how to exploit this particular feature properly, which made them, along with a few other Heavy Metal bands, withstand the '90s without sinking into dissolution or mediocre albums, as happened to other bands that, after achieving fame in the '80s, faced a "catastrophe" in the following decade, mainly dictated by the grunge movement and many other genres that quickly took hold.
In 1988, Running Wild came out with one of their best works, in my opinion, in their discography, "Port Royal". No change in sound, nothing seems to change after the previous work "Under Jolly Roger", although an excellent bass and drum work should be noted, which makes this album one of the most successful of the German combo in the '90s. After the short and fun "Intro" we immediately face the title track, which from the start shows us the main riff of what will be the song, as catchy as it is simple in its approach, but we must be careful not to confuse simplicity with mediocrity, this track is a little gem of HM from start to finish! With "Raging Fire" it's like having an AOR piece, so exciting it makes you want to shout in the middle of a stadium, as well-studied in every little detail. "Into The Arena" is one of the tracks where the perfect drumming I mentioned earlier stands out the most, the guitars almost seem to be in the background, as powerful as the drumming is. Moreover, this track contains one of the album's most beautiful pre-choruses in my opinion. With "Uaschitschun" things start to slow down, and after a short guitar intro, the track takes off with lighter tones but the guitar riff doesn't seem to lose the aggression of previous tracks. Note the beautiful lyrics, which narrate the atrocities committed by the white man against the Indians. "Final Gates" is a beautiful instrumental, where the bass expresses itself fully, dictating together with the drums mid-tempo followed by full-fledged "Running Wild" gallops. Impossible not to appreciate it. "Conquistadores" starts after a pleasant bass intro, explodes in all its power, with a great riff to its advantage and a drum performance that calling it excellent is an understatement, and a truly catchy chorus, certainly one of the most accomplished songs on the album. "Blown To Kingdom Come" is a mid-tempo as only the Germans know how to do, so heavy in terms of guitars, but well-structured until it explodes into the beautiful chorus. It might not convince you at first listen, but it is a great track. "Warchild", although being one of the fastest songs on the album and having an almost excellent bass work, has never fully convinced me, as it has always reminded me of that "Raw Ride" present in "Under Jolly Roger". Let's say it passes quietly without leaving a mark. "Mutiny" is without a doubt one of the hits of the album, with a wonderful bass work, and well-studied pauses that lead us to the refrain, which will remain in the listener's head for a long time, as catchy as it is. "Calico Jack" closes this album, and it does so without a problem. After a brief guitar intro, the track explodes with riffs blazing at full speed and an unstoppable drum that lead us to a refrain that calling it fast is an understatement, but what more could we expect from the Germans? The track, therefore, one of the longest on the album, almost 6 minutes, turns out to be an appropriate choice to put the word end to "Port Royal".
Obviously, much of the credit for this album goes to Rock 'N Rolf, who with his raw but effective voice, gives "Port Royal" an ancient flavor, but not one of déjà vu, because the music of Running Wild is also this. A discovery that, step by step, proves to be more and more stunning. For all lovers of classic Heavy Metal, albums of this caliber are life, for others who want to approach this type of music, be assured that you will not be disappointed.
Yo-ho!
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
04 Into the Arena (03:59)
They imagine a heaven
Talk about hell
They can't live without a remission
Plentiful punichment for
Numerous sins
Suffering their oun crurl invention
Their heaven is boring
Their hell's a state joke
Faith is their one vindication
Doubt is forbidden
Joy is tabooed
For a folly there's no hesitation
Sacrifice their life for a lie
A thousand sheep have come to die
Down the thumb there's no remorse
It's the time for martyres
Into the Arena - go down
Into the Arena - show-down now
Into the Arena - the beasts are prepared
Into the Arena
Hunting the witches
Considered to be
Riding on brooms in the dark night
No mercy for people
Who dare to oppose
Mediaevel church was a scourge in its pride
Millions of people
Killed for the cross
By relentless religion - disgusting
There is no excuse
For things they have done
In the name of their God - it's a bad thing
Sacrifice their life for a lie
A thousand sheep have come to die
Down the thumb there's no remorse
It's the time for martyres
Into the Arena - go down
Into the Arena - show-down now
Into the Arena - the beasts are prepared
Into the Arena
Lock your door the Priest is Coming
Beware of All the Parsons
Today it's all different
A daring contention
They talk about love and forgiving
But still they are hunting
Now we are the victims
Maybe they are evious for our living
Sacrifice their life for a lie
A thousand sheep have come to die
Down the thumb there's no remorse
It's the time for martyres
Into the Arena - go down
Into the Arena - show-down now
Into the Arena - the beasts are prepared
Into the Arena
05 Uaschitschun (04:53)
No more eagles gonna ride the wind
Turning circles in the sky
Badlands growing and the bison's gone
Uaschitschun tell me why
Why'd you kill my creed
Claiming earth and wind
You never kept your vow
But you can't lock me in
I'm riding free
Riding free with the wind
Free as an eagle
Proud as a king
My mother's the earth and my father's the wind
You can't possess them, they are free
It's time for you to see what you have done
Can't hold my soul cause I will flee
Why you kill yourself
Ravage what you need to live
You can't eat your gold
Nature's calling you
07 Conquistadores (04:49)
Exploring the seas to conquer new lands
Troops arrayed by the church
Sanctified and blessed they set out
Crusaders, gentiles' scourge
They fight, they kill, they rape
Under the banner of the 'holy' church
They hunt, they lie, they cheat, thry steal
Doing dirty deeds under churchbell's peal
Conquistadores -
- Hungry for gold, doing as the religious madman told
Conquistadores -
- Religion's knight, havoc and death caused by pride
Pearls of glass for ingets of gold
Violence, force and deceit
Taking the wealth or the Indian's life
Their way of feeding their greed
Heathen must turn to Christianity
It's like 'believe or die'
Arrogance and blindless, religion's force
Believers never ask the reason why
08 Blown to Kingdom Come (03:19)
Out in the world you can watch'em struggling
For a small piece of luck
They won't die with a smile on their trace
For possession they'd kill their mothers
For some bucks they deny themselves
And the whole world is right in that trace
They are Riding Forth
No time to lose
Got to alter every place
They are Riding Forth
No way to choose
And the next step's out to space
With a high hand they watch their buildings
Self-righteously praise their deeds
No time for recess on their way
In a way it is quite amusing
But it's afake of deepest dye
Let's hope they'll see it one day
They are Riding Forth
No time to lose
Got to alter every place
They are Riding Forth
No way to choose
And the next step's out to space
Pay Attention to History
Look at All the Things They've Done
No Remains, There's No Thing Left
It's All Blown to Kingdom Come
11 Calico Jack (08:16)
Up with the roger, the vessel is close
Cannons are loaded, the weapons prepared
Set up more sails, the distance grows
They try to escape but we shan't care
Calico Jack Listen and hear my command
Calico Jack I lead you to victory
Calico Jack We shall win in the end
Calico Jack You may believe what I foresee
Down with the roger, the vessel's too far
It's time for the flag, no remorse
Anne and Mary, more rum in my jar
I need more refreshment, before we set course
Changing the course now, we must fet in touch
Triple afford, he must not escape
Our breath in their neck, they feel our grudge
We have to hurry, to get them in scrape
Fight
Acrid smell of smoke in the air
While flag's rising, mainmast breaks
Ears go deaf by my brother's blare
Upper deck is taken over
All of sudden, a yelling cry
Ports turn open, what a mess
Soldiers get out, comrades die
Desperate fights, we're on the loose
[THE JUDGE]
John Rackham
You are charged with murder and piracy of the high seas
In the name of Her Majesty you will be taken from this court
And hung, drawn and quartered
What are your last words, accused?
[CALICO JACK]
My last words? Ha ha!!!
Who do you think you are?!
What right have you to judge over my destiny?!
Take your pompous words and stick'em where the sun don't shine
I swear we meet again
Bye
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By metaldiablo
"Port Royal has the merit of representing heavy in its rawest form... eleven masterpieces."
"LONG LIVE THE PIRATES OF METAL!!!!!!!!!!"
