Gates to Purgatory

Running Wild | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 12, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1984
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Noise
• ASIN: B00009KU5Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,125 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Victim of State Power

2. Black Demon

3. Preacher

4. Soldiers of Hell

5. Diabolic Force

6. Adrian Sos

7. Genghis Khan

8. Prisoner of Our Time

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Running Wild's debut is catchy, but weak, November 13, 2004

By 

Lunar Strain "Thrash, don't mind if I do" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gates to Purgatory (Audio CD)

Running Wild's debut...oh let's say...is either one of their weakest if not their weakest release. First of all, they lack their trademark pirate image here. So if your expecting some rip roaring pirate style speed metal, then you are going to be disappointed. They actually have more of a black metal image on this release with lyrics about none other than Satan himself. It's basically Satan this, pentagram that...you get the drift. These lyrics seemed very immature and downright silly at times. I can't blame the band for taking the more dangerous black metal approach at first because that metal subgenre was very popular at the time with the rising fame of Venom (a black metal band I do like) and other such bands, but I'm glad they would drop the hell/satan lyrics not long after this. The production is also very rough and the guitars arn't nearly as fast as they would later become. That said, I do have to say that the songs have some good beats and they are quit catchy. The track Prisoner of our Time is actually one of my all time favorite Running Wild songs and it is still a staple in the bands live performances to this day. Rock N' Rolf's vocals are also interesting as he has a much thicker German accent present here. For fans of Running Wild, this album is a must, but for passive fans or for someone just getting into the band, your better off purchasing some of the bands later albums such as Death or Glory, Black Hand Inn, or Masquarade.

The CD release contains two bonus tracks: Walpurgis Nights and Satan, which was a nice surprsise. The tracks arn't listed on the insert, but they are on the CD itself. My one complaint is that the song Walpurgis Nights cuts off on the end. I'm not sure if that error is damage to the original recording or if its its a glitch on the making of the CD, but it is quit annoying. Just don't be surprised by it if you buy this disc

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best of their Early Albums, April 10, 2008

By 

Octavius (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gates to Purgatory (Audio CD)

This german band is one of the more decent satanic metal bands to come out of Europe in the mid-80s but nothing compared to Mercyful Fate.

Pretty simple arrangements in terms of music but the lyrics are decent and so are the solos. This album is better than 'Branded and Exiled' in my opinion. Better musically and lyrically. The singer's guttural voice suits the themes just fine. 'Preacher' is a good relatively slow song that makes you think you're dancing around a witch's caldron on a Halloween night in the middle of the Black Forest. 'Black Demon' and 'Soldiers of Hell' are two other really good songs on this album.

The previous reviewers seemed to have worked backwards from the band's later albums in discovering these early releases and so have expected more pirate motifs: this being a cause of disappointment. As for me, I got into the band when they came out and so was rather disappointed with their later releases which, although better in recording quality with somewhat more complex instrumentation, were more commercial and just cheezy. The pirate motif makes me think of Disneyland's 'Pirates of the Carribean.' This band is in no way on par with Mercyful Fate in terms of musical talent and songwriting but worth an ear.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Metal Classic Yes. Running Wild Classic However It is Not, January 23, 2007

By 

Veg - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gates to Purgatory (Audio CD)

Okay I Will Go On The Record Right Now And Say That Lyrics About The Devil Bother Me. (Even Though Black Metal Is Awesome. I Feel That The Concept Is Overdone Etc... But Anyway That Brings Me To The Point Of This CD. It's Lack Of Pirate Metal Makes it A Failure For The Running Wild Catalouge, However It Is A Definite Power Metal Classic.

There Is No Denying The Musical Awesomeness Of This CD, The Opening Track Is Probably The Best On The CD. Speedy Like A Bullet And Rolf's Vocal's Never Sounded So Hungry. Most Of The Tracks Continue In This Speddy Vain Expect Preacher Which Is A Slower Heavyer Power Metal Ballard.

Also I Wanna Marvel At How Well Noise Records Shined Up This CD All Nice And New And Tried To Ignore The Satanic Lyrics Seeing As They Are Not In The Booklet And The Of The Bonus Tracks Are Not Givin. One Final Note I Will Say The Albums Only Real Weak Point Is The God Awful Production on Walpurgis Night.

For Running Wild Die Hards Only