Rapid Foray Running Wild 2016 SPV/Steamhammer Records Running Wild are a Heavy Metal from Germany who play Heavy Metal with historical themes with a focus on pirates, helping to shape the genre that is now known as Pirate Metal. Led by Rock Kasparek, better known by his stage name, Rock N’ Rolf, Running Wild moulded the Pirate Metal genre by releasing the influential albums, Under Jolly Roger in 1987 and its follow up in 1988, Port Royal. Rapid Foray is Running Wild’s 16th studio album, it is the 3rd album since Running Wild reformed and the follow up to 2013’s Resilient. Once more, Rock N’ Rolf has handled all the song-writing and the production, which is nothing new for Running Wild. Rock N’ Rolf sticks to vocals and the guitar whilst in the studio, Runnings Wild’s live band members pitch in. Peter Jordan adds his guitar to mix, with Ole Hemplemann and Michael Wolpers providing the rhythm section with the bass and drums. Rock N’ Rolf has once more done a decent job with the production of Rapid Foray. The entire album sounds as if it wouldn’t be out of place in 1988 with an album drenched in reverb and the prominent use of a drum machine always allows parallels to be drawn with albums of this era such as Ram It Down by Judas Priest. Rapid Foray has the sound of an exceptionally warm album that is very accessible and at times, it is difficult to listen to Running Wild without developing a wry smile. If you have never had the pleasure of hearing Running Wild before, then the opening track on Rapid Foray, Black Skies, Red Flag, gives you a huge taste of what Running Wild are all about. Black Skies, Red Flag is a huge, bombastic song with a big 80’s drum sound, coupled with a catchy chorus that sounds like Judas Priest playing with Biff Byford from Saxon and would obviously appeal to fans of that style. Unlike a lot of their peers in the Pirate Metal movement, Running Wild have always managed to keep their integrity, balancing the pirate style themes without it sounding clichéd by relying on a silly pirate accent or yo ho ho’s and a bottler rum. Instead, Running Wild let the music do the talking, instead of relying on gimmicks and clichés, Running Wild have huge stadium style singalong chorus’ such as By the Blood in your Heart, Warmongers, the title track and Black Bart. Black Bart was chosen to be the single from Rapid Foray and features a chorus that is memorable and will have you humming half way through the first play. Both Black Bart and Into the West feature fantastic twin guitar solos that stray into an almost Celtic feel that gives the tracks a Thin Lizzy on speed feel. Rapid Foray is an excellent shock this year, Running Wild have excelled themselves with a fantastic album that is easily able to stand shoulder to shoulder with their best work and although the name of Running Wild may be lost in the mists of time to younger Pirate Metal fans, Running Wild have released an album this year that shows that they are masters of their craft. You can keep your gimmicks and your bottle of rum, Rock N’ Rolf doesn’t need them to make a brilliant album. 8/10 Adam Black Bart (Kasparek)
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