Running Wild Branded And Exiled LP Metal Thrash 1st Press VG+ Venom Black Combat
$
23
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Description
Killer 2nd album from Germany's mighty metal force, Running Wild. Original 1st pressing from 1985. In really nice used condition. Overall VG+/VG+. Vinyl is really nice, some minor shelf wear to the cover (see photos). Check out my other auctions for more Running Wild & other cool stuff. Will combine shipping on multiple wins...
Review (from encyclopedia metallum):
I expected more from Under Jolly Roger when I first heard it, but Branded And Exiled I lauded as it flew beyond my expectations. I expected a neat little album with some defining moments like the debut, but what I received instead was a kick in the ass from each instrument and Rolf yelling at me. God damnit, this sophomore really tops the first one, and I must say that I prefer it to Under Jolly Roger. They still didn’t abandon the raw, blasphemous, blackish-metallish tone of the first album, but they’ve sure matured. You can hear it in the riffs and the lyrics alone, and production wise they’ve balanced everything out a little more, which is something I wished they did with the previous album. Now the tone is a little more like dirty, edgy heavy / speed metal with even more momentous sections, riffs, solos, and Rolf topping it all with his wicked snarls.
Rolf himself is at his very best thus far; not expecting much with only two albums under their belt (at the time), but it’s still a step-up from the debut anyway you look at it. He doesn’t sound as distant as before, but it’s a trademark move he’d keep until at least Death Or Glory. His vocal style itself is still generally the same grainy, angry singing that doesn’t go operatic on us, but you can tell he’s giving it his full-attention. Some moments again he’ll scream at the top of his lungs – Halford-style, as I’ve compared before. Bass is also a much bigger step up; balanced production in the ‘80s means that the bass is playing right alongside the riffs in escorting the tempo. Very bludgeoning and seeping in the one layer of music we’d love to have properly heard on the last album.
The drums are extremely consistent next to the charging riffs, and once again I’d like to remind you that they aren’t overtly loud and obnoxious like on the last album. They had a charm there, but that charm makes its way on here without any of the annoyances plaguing that album. You still get that fantastic ‘80s echo with mortar like cymbals crashing and galloping double bass. They’re more constrained this time, too, compared to the last album where they were at the forefront trying to steal the show.
Running Wild to me since I first heard them were always supposed to carry over the more historically epic side of heavy metal. Maiden for sure got their shit together, but I wanted something with less opera appeal and Blind Guardian are more on the power side. Running Wild are smack dab in the middle, with particular evil motives given to the guitars, a move which makes this one a hellish force tackling the albums around it. Not only do the riffs justify the songs behind them in a pissed-off, thrashy / catchy way, but they’re much more larger-than-life and show a band heading toward even higher heights. Only a couple songs don’t prove this point to a full extent (“Realm Of Shades” and “Fight The Oppression”), but with the solos tacked on I’d say every song is magical.
The latter half of the album is more epic and catchy than the first half, but the one that peaks above all else is “Mordor” (what a coincidence). Tolkien’s works are always good influences to base a song off of when it comes to metal, but with Running Wild behind the instruments it’s a whole different level of greatness. While each song has a distinctive riff slaying their respective foes with a clean, crispier tone, “Mordor” is the one that starts and ends differently (not counting “Chains And Leather”’s intro, in case you want to be nit-picky). The drum intro followed by a dashing riff under Rolf’s war chants is one thing, but when it goes into the running cadence of a chorus, it turns into something I’d love to have heard in the Peter Jackson film-adaptations (yes, with the riff included). If anything, they should have included the outro to the song, which is the defining moment of Branded And Exiled - a glorious +1 minute long heralding solo combination backed by a stampeding, catchy-as-hell riff met near the end by magnificent lead shrills.
No other song meets those requirements, although the respective solo sections of some like “Gods Of Iron” and “Marching To Die” back what they have to offer. The crunchy guitar tone properly balanced by hammering bass and flamingly fun drumming goes a long way, and Rolf on top of it makes Branded And Exiled quite the treat. Don’t forget this one when you fall love with the later classics soon to follow, though I guess it’s easy to do so since those ones kick this one’s ass (unfair, but true).
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