Running Wild
Victory

THE REVIEW

Indissoluble. Tireless riff grinder, vocal lines, refrains, and albums with his Running Wild, or rather his offspring. Bands of fans all over Europe have followed and acclaimed the various musical creations of Rolf Kasparek, undisputed leader and founder of the aforementioned Running Wild.

A career born, lived, and then died in semi-notoriety, but above all, in the artistic awareness of not wanting to disappoint the aficionados. From the initial "Gates to Purgatory" of 1984, Kasparek has always continued to propose his musical creed, made of classic heavy metal, pirate anthems, and beer. Elements that are found in all of Running Wild's works, which though always anchored to the same way of playing, have managed to compensate for this lack of originality with a frankly remarkable attitude. In particular, that of Rolf Kasparek, who while changing members countless times, has always managed to produce records at least worthy of being listened to. So after "Masquerade" (1995) and "The Rivalry" (1998), by many considered as the beginning of the end, despite various difficulties, the dear old pirate Rolf returned to the studio to give birth to "Victory", the eleventh birth of this man of sea and metal.

Fans have learned to understand and accept them over the years, so much so that with every new release of the band, they were ready and aware of listening to albums without the slightest stylistic variation, identical or nearly identical to all previous ones (all now concluded, given that Kasparek decided to end the group's activity). It is for this reason that despite the band undoubtedly having lost some momentum, it has always maintained over the decades a solid core of supporters who followed them throughout Europe. Even for Victory, a CD very similar to other works bearing the Running Wild mark, the reception from fans was still positive.

Let it be clear: "Victory" adds nothing to the long career of the Teutons. Yet if one loved the metal outbursts of "Death or Glory", the dark and raw atmosphere of "Pile of Skulls", the power of "Black Hand Inn", one cannot help but love this work too. In several tracks, and particularly in "When Time Runs Out", "Tsar", "The Hussar", "Return of the Gods", and "Silent Killer", one breathes that warrior and deeply anthemic air that made them explode with "Under Jolly Roger" and "Port Royal". All compositions governed by the axe and voice of Rolf Kasparek, built on a riff/chorus/solo alternation as well crafted as it is monotonous.

Nothing more than an album of this type could be expected from Running Wild at the start of the millennium. Nothing more than a mountain of riffs, of pirate melodies and choruses to sing in front of a huge pint of beer. This is what the joyful German band has always guaranteed to their fans. This is what is also guaranteed by Victory.

1. "Fall Of Dorkas" (5:16)
2. "When Time Runs Out" (5:17)
3. "Timeriders" (4:24)
4. "Into The Fire" (4:57)
5. "Revolution" (2:59)
6. "The Final Waltz" (1:19)
7. "Tsar" (7:08)
8. "The Hussar" (4:05)
9. "The Guardian" (5:09)
10. "Return Of The Gods" (5:31)
11. "Silent Killer" (4:45)
12. "Victory" (4:49)