Running Wild
Resilient
SPV/Steamhammer
2013
A lot of ink has been split as of late, whether the new Running Wild album was awesome, mediocre or shity. Some “bought ‘n sold” mercenary, mags and webzines wrote such ridiculous libels such as ‘The best album since “Black Hand Inn”’ (Yeah right, turn on the other side and continue sleeping mate) but it was obvious that they were doing it, to get a full page ad. The fact of the matter is that “Resilient” is nowhere as weak as its predecessor – Running Wild’s absolute “nadir” (?) – “Shadow Maker” their ill-conceived and ill executed “reunion album that sucked in almost every level, possibly leading to even many of their most ardent fans, becoming skeptical about Cpt. Rolf’s sanity, about the whole “sudden” change of heart and plans...
“Resilient” tries to restore the quality and manages to be comparable to the bands post millennial output, with decent comparisons all things considered including the passage of all this time.
The album begins pretty dynamically with “Soldiers of Fortune” a typical latter day RW number that also tries to recall a bit of the older times in its spirit and manages to convince.
The album’s namesake, is a very “ACEEPTesque” number to the point that you expect, UDO to start singing it, yet you get Rolf instead !It’s not the most original thing ever, but it’s not the suckiest thing ever, so even if it’s not exactly – original, it’s fine by me.
“Adventure Highway” ups the ante and the speeds, but here, the “drum machine” that wasn’t so blatantly apparent previously, becomes pretty patently obvious. The last few albums all featured programmed drums (dunno why) and while on this one – they’re the “best sounding yet” nothing compares with “the real McCOY”... It’s beyond me why Rolf, goes for this cheap tin like and tiny sound that’s rather monotonous, when a drummer, that would not really cost an awful lot, would elevate the album – to new heights. The song itself is not bad, but it’s a little like an 80s bad Judas Priest filler.
“The Drift” is another pirate tale, with a biting riff, but again, the drum machine, monotonously, annoyingly mixed on top, somehow destructs you from the song, (if at least it was a little lower on the mix....) which is a shame as it’s actually, not a very bad song, it’s actually pretty decent and a more fitting and aggressive production, would have really taken it to new heights.
“Desert Rose” is a bit different, a lot more melodic and quite unlikely what I might have expected, with however some nice priestly harmonies that then meet some maiden-esque ones and then cycle all over again. Different.
“Fireheart” tries to be your average fast paced, no brain – headbanger and pretty much manages to make short work of it and does a nice job on all levels but – you guessed it, the drum machine, shits all over it, sounding like a click track, instead of loud thundering DRUMS and CRUSHING CYMBALS…
“Run Riot” has a charming enough chorus and a decent riff, but the verses are boooooooring. Sorry Rolf, but this is tamer than your previous song, you needed something, faster and more intense here... not something so predictable...
“Down to the Wire” has some nice guitar playing and is slower and meaner but doesn’t really manage to attract much attention, being a little too different for its own good I guess?
“Crystal Gold” is a decent sounding mid tempo rocker that would fit in the threshold albums, but the real “GEM” of the album is the next song....
The ten minute epic “Bloody Island” that could indeed have been in a “classic” album... again a little more “spirit” infused would have made it a BEAST, but it’s still a hell of a song and everybody’s pick from the album, for obvious reasons!
The last two tracks are only avail on the LTD edition digipack…
“Payola & Shenanigans” hmm.... I wonder what this song title refers to? To how most magazines and concert agencies tend to work these days promoting BS? It’s also not a bad song – all things considered, when I had it thought for some total “filler”... maybe my past “show/zoo business experiences” make me extremely fond of the theme? Not too sure?!
Finally “Premonition” is a fast enough but not really escaping, the middle higher tempi, territory number that seems to fit well with the rest, without being some absolute highlight, but it’s nice chorus and really strong riff, bode well with the verses and make it a rather pleasurable experience, making me question it not replacing, “Run Riot” for instance…
All in all, “Resilient” drugs the name of Running Wild out of the mud that the previous album had half sunk it and should have in reality been the proper – RETURN album.
If Running Wild, get rid of that ridiculous drum machine, liven up a bit and start touring outside Germany too, I guess things might start looking better. “Resilient” is a good first step in recapturing the flag that was lost, but it doesn’t go all the way, to Bloody Island… it will take a couple of more journeys and some expert navigation, if the good Captain still has it.
The fanatic in me really wanted to add an extra grade. But the guy in me, who’s pissed off at the drum machine shenanigans, decided to take it off, until a drummer is hired! UGH! Go hire a drummer, nuff said.
“Resilient” tries to restore the quality and manages to be comparable to the bands post millennial output, with decent comparisons all things considered including the passage of all this time.
The album begins pretty dynamically with “Soldiers of Fortune” a typical latter day RW number that also tries to recall a bit of the older times in its spirit and manages to convince.
The album’s namesake, is a very “ACEEPTesque” number to the point that you expect, UDO to start singing it, yet you get Rolf instead !It’s not the most original thing ever, but it’s not the suckiest thing ever, so even if it’s not exactly – original, it’s fine by me.
“Adventure Highway” ups the ante and the speeds, but here, the “drum machine” that wasn’t so blatantly apparent previously, becomes pretty patently obvious. The last few albums all featured programmed drums (dunno why) and while on this one – they’re the “best sounding yet” nothing compares with “the real McCOY”... It’s beyond me why Rolf, goes for this cheap tin like and tiny sound that’s rather monotonous, when a drummer, that would not really cost an awful lot, would elevate the album – to new heights. The song itself is not bad, but it’s a little like an 80s bad Judas Priest filler.
“The Drift” is another pirate tale, with a biting riff, but again, the drum machine, monotonously, annoyingly mixed on top, somehow destructs you from the song, (if at least it was a little lower on the mix....) which is a shame as it’s actually, not a very bad song, it’s actually pretty decent and a more fitting and aggressive production, would have really taken it to new heights.
“Desert Rose” is a bit different, a lot more melodic and quite unlikely what I might have expected, with however some nice priestly harmonies that then meet some maiden-esque ones and then cycle all over again. Different.
“Fireheart” tries to be your average fast paced, no brain – headbanger and pretty much manages to make short work of it and does a nice job on all levels but – you guessed it, the drum machine, shits all over it, sounding like a click track, instead of loud thundering DRUMS and CRUSHING CYMBALS…
“Run Riot” has a charming enough chorus and a decent riff, but the verses are boooooooring. Sorry Rolf, but this is tamer than your previous song, you needed something, faster and more intense here... not something so predictable...
“Down to the Wire” has some nice guitar playing and is slower and meaner but doesn’t really manage to attract much attention, being a little too different for its own good I guess?
“Crystal Gold” is a decent sounding mid tempo rocker that would fit in the threshold albums, but the real “GEM” of the album is the next song....
The ten minute epic “Bloody Island” that could indeed have been in a “classic” album... again a little more “spirit” infused would have made it a BEAST, but it’s still a hell of a song and everybody’s pick from the album, for obvious reasons!
The last two tracks are only avail on the LTD edition digipack…
“Payola & Shenanigans” hmm.... I wonder what this song title refers to? To how most magazines and concert agencies tend to work these days promoting BS? It’s also not a bad song – all things considered, when I had it thought for some total “filler”... maybe my past “show/zoo business experiences” make me extremely fond of the theme? Not too sure?!
Finally “Premonition” is a fast enough but not really escaping, the middle higher tempi, territory number that seems to fit well with the rest, without being some absolute highlight, but it’s nice chorus and really strong riff, bode well with the verses and make it a rather pleasurable experience, making me question it not replacing, “Run Riot” for instance…
All in all, “Resilient” drugs the name of Running Wild out of the mud that the previous album had half sunk it and should have in reality been the proper – RETURN album.
If Running Wild, get rid of that ridiculous drum machine, liven up a bit and start touring outside Germany too, I guess things might start looking better. “Resilient” is a good first step in recapturing the flag that was lost, but it doesn’t go all the way, to Bloody Island… it will take a couple of more journeys and some expert navigation, if the good Captain still has it.
The fanatic in me really wanted to add an extra grade. But the guy in me, who’s pissed off at the drum machine shenanigans, decided to take it off, until a drummer is hired! UGH! Go hire a drummer, nuff said.