Ελληνικά
Running Wild’s legendary album “Death or Glory,” released on November 8, 1989, through Noise Records, stands as a pinnacle achievement in the realms of Heavy, Power and Speed Metal. This album marks the band’s fifth studio effort and the last to be released through Noise Records, a label renowned for pioneering European metal scenes since the early 1980s.
“Death or Glory” is celebrated for its seamless blend of speed metal and power metal, seamlessly driving a pirate-inspired musical journey full of epic storytelling and energetic riffs. The album’s opening track, “Riding the Storm,” showcases an effortless fusion of metal subgenres, setting the tone with catchy and dynamic rhythms ideal for headbanging. Tracks like “Renegade” and “Evilution” highlight the band’s ability to combine powerful guitar solos with intense chord progressions, making the record both accessible and richly complex for metal fans.
Sonically, the album is praised for its epic sense of passion and storytelling, brimming with the band’s signature pirate-themed lyrics intertwined with powerful riffs and strong musicianship. The production quality is notably crisp and clear, allowing every instrument to be distinctly heard, which enhances the overall impact of the music. The vocals add a unique character; with occasional unexpected leaps that bring the album’s pirate fantasy themes vividly to life. This approach helps “Death or Glory” transcend typical genre boundaries, making it both a passionate and epic project, rightly deemed a classic in the metal community.
Historically, Noise Records played a crucial role in the European metal scene, nurturing acts like Running Wild alongside other legendary bands such as Helloween, Kreator, and Celtic Frost. The label’s dedication to metal genres allowed Running Wild’s “Death or Glory” to reach a global audience, solidifying the band’s status in metal history.
It is also the band’s last album with both guitarist Majk Moti and drummer Ian Finlay. Being one of their most successful releases, it contains the concert favorites “Riding the Storm” and “Bad to the Bone”. The final track, “March On”, was not included on the vinyl release due to space constraints.
The CD version (both the original and re-mastered) of the album contains 1991’s Wild Animal EP, albeit with a different running order than that of the original. However, despite the presence of Wild Animal on the original pressing CD, neither the booklet nor back insert tray mention these songs. But the CD non-playing side (of the original pressing), however, does list the 4 songs from this EP. The booklet on the remastered version has the full info on including of the EP.
Running Wild filmed a live video to the song “Bad to the Bone”, recorded in Düsseldorf. The song had some airtime at MTVs Headbangers Ball. “Riding the Storm” also had a live video that was also shot in Düsseldorf with a crowd of nearly 9,000 attendees. A live VHS tape of the band playing a live concert at Düsseldorf during the Death or Glory Tour was released by Fotodisk and later by Bonsai Music. The videotape features 11 tracks including a live version of three songs from Death or Glory (“Riding the Storm”, “Bad to the Bone” and “Tortuga Bay”).
“Death or Glory” represents the zenith of Running Wild’s career, combining thematic ambition with musical prowess. It is an album that remains vibrant decades after its release, emblematic of the pirate metal style and revered for its technical and lyrical strength, making it a must-listen for fans of classic Heavy, Power and Speed.
