By Jonny Bakes
Time to crack out the rum to get myself in the mood for the latest gold doubloon from the original pirate metal band, Running Wild. For those of a younger disposition, you might not realise that these guys were there long before the likes of Alestorm and Lagerstein dragged metal piracy into the limelight, a fact that Alestorm make an open nod to when they start scraping the barrel. Anyway, I was excited to find some new music from Running Wild appear at ÜRHQ and gave it a listen to see what the guys who brought us ‘Under Jolly Roger’ have to offer this time… A quick glance suggests that we’ve got ourselves a few original tracks (hooray!) and a cover song (hmm).
We’ll make a start by getting the cover out of the way first as, if there’s anything I’ve learned this year, you shouldn’t always dismiss the covers! Here we have ‘Strutter’ by Kiss which has been covered in a manner very close to the original. While this isn’t bad and does have a little bit of extra balls to it, I would have liked to see it be a bit more Running Wild, if you catch my drift!
With that out of the way though, let’s check out the new material! The EP opens with title track ‘Crossing The Blades’ which will delight any Running Wild fan. Perhaps more exciting about this track is that this incarnation will only be available on this EP, the upcoming album will instead feature a reworked incarnation of ‘Crossing the Blades’. So if you want to hear this version, you’ll have to get yourself the EP! It starts with a catchy guitar guitar hook and a galloping rhythm that is instantly recognisable as Running Wild and has lyrics about blades and steel, what more do you want?
‘Stargazed’ will be familiar to the lucky few who managed to catch Running Wild at Wacken in 2018, where this track received great reception. For the first time this heavy number is committed to record, and with its fantastic solo it’s easy to see why it was so popular with the Wacken crowd. Finishing up this little taster of an EP is ‘Ride On The Wild Side’ which has some serious bounce and flair, and perhaps something you’d expect to come from a glam metal band, but Running Wild somehow manage to pull this one off as their own.
This EP will definitely help tide you over if you’re desperate for a new Running Wild album and is a must have if you’re an avid fan. But for those of you who are happy to wait until the new album hits the shelves next summer, you may find that you can do without. This has left me excited for that new album though, so it’s certainly achieved that purpose!
- ‘Crossing The Blades’ is released on 6 December. You can get your copy HERE.
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