Customer Reviews

Port Royal

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a metal head for a long time. I remember Iron Maiden's first lp. I confess, I like epic, anthemic, well played songs with tons of lead guitar pyrotechnics and a vocalist who can actually sing. This is the old school metal which inspired me so many years ago and it is that very metal, today called power metal, which Running Wild delivers on Port Royal. This disc is a remastered version of an album released originally in, I think, 1988.
No silly "I'm so eeevuul" growling. A guitarist not afraid to shred. As one may surmise, there are lots of songs about pirates but this seema to me to be a metaphore for the love of freedom and it never gets cheesy. No songs about self pity and being broken as in so many nu metal/grunge/hardcore trying to pass for metal garbage for sale at the local music store these days. These guys are the real deal. If you like true metal buy this now.

On Under Jolly Roger (1987), Running Wild first incorporated elements of the pirate way of life into their music and persona. On Port Royal (1988), the German metal band consisting of guitarists Rolf Kasperek and Majk Moti, along with new rhythm section, Jens Becker on bass, and Stefan Schwarzmann on drums, continue the trend to an even greater degree, producing another collection of powerful songs. The very cool album cover features the band as pirates. Whereas the sound of Under Jolly Roger was rather raw and edgy, the mix for Port Royal is much fuller, with more emphasis on the bass tones.

Port Royal was the infamous Jamaican port near Kingston harbor that was a haven for privateers and pirates, in the 17th century. This location serves as the inspiration for the title track, a pulsing rocker that puts you on the high seas looking for booty. The life of pirate John Bracken, who operated out of Port Royal, and was tried, convicted, and hung for piracy, is the inspiration for the ambitious `Calico Jack', an adventurous piece with a complicated song structure that is reminiscent of Iron Maiden.

Starting with a slow atmospheric bass intro, perhaps the hardest rocking tune, is the thundering `Conquistadors', dealing with one of Kasperek's favorite topics, injustices done by, or in the name of, organized religion. The lyrics. `Conquistadors, hungry for gold, doing as the religious madman told', captures the sentiment of this song.

Expressing anger and despair, `Raging Fire' features a cool riff and catchy chorus, while `Mutiny' contemplates the hard life of those who take to the sea. The instrumental `Final Gates', is a nice rather subdued piece, with nice bouncy bass line. `Uaschitschun' has a menacing opening and then transitions to a mid-tempo rocker with a classic solo break. The song, a commentary on man's excesses, is an example of the music moving toward becoming slightly more melodic and funky.

Although it still rocks harder than most metal releases of the time, Port Royal is one of the softer efforts by the band. Jens Becker, and Stefan Schwarzmann do bring something different to the mix, and Running Wild would gear up and truly put things together when they recorded Death or Glory (1989), an underappreciated milestone in heavy metal. This great recording dealing with war and destruction, would be a return towards the raw, live, sound, the band had previously on Under Jolly Roger.

OK, this isn't the full bore metal blast of Death or Glory but you can see things starting to really develop in that direction. Conquistadores and the title track itself show that the lads are starting to fire on more and more cylinders.
This is still a bit backward and it helps if your a devotee of Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek, lead inspiration and vocalist of this mob. But even if your not you'll get decent slice of metal by picking up this, really an album that shows the band leading up to their peak.

This is the best of them!Rock n'Rolf knew that the pirate image will make the band reach the top...Great music with power riffs and drums going like hell especially in tracks like "Into The Arena" And "Coinquistadores".I Dislike A bit Warchild which I think it's the worst song of the album but the whole cd it's a classy old school power metal!Worth your money...

Not much I have heard by Running Wild I haven't liked, and such is the case with their 1988 album Port Royal. It is the second album after the German power metal virtuosos switched from the Satanic themes of their first two albums to the pirate image they continue to this day. It is musically solid and lyrically intelligent with songs mostly pertaining to greed and religious persecution. At least two executions are referenced. One man is sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered (hanged to near the point of death, eviscerated with the entrails shown to the still conscious victim, and the body cut into quarters). The other man was simply burnt at the stake. A couple of songs stand out immediately. The title track is one of the band's best. "Uaschitschun" is another track I liked the moment I heard it. It is about the stripping of the land and resources from the Native Americans ("Uaschitschun [meaning 'white man'] tell me why"). It is a powerful song, but also accessible and can be sung along to. One of the reasons I am a fan of Running Wild is that they are a power metal band that can write catchy songs without moving towards a pop metal sound.

Besides "Port Royal" and "Uaschitschun," other favorites of mine on this album are "Raging Fire," "Conquistadores," and the closing track "Calico Jack." "Raging Fire" is just a catchy and memorable number. The relentless pace and chanting in "Conquistadores" really fits the theme. It evokes images of Spanish conquerors riding with reckless abandon through the Americas: "They fight, they kill, they rape, under the banner of the 'holy' church. They hunt, they lie, they cheat, they steal doing dirty deeds under churchbell's peal." "Calico Jack" is a killer 8 minute album closer. The other songs on this album are all solid as well. Even the instrumental, "Final Gates," is excellent (albeit a bit repetitive) and demonstrates incredible skill. I highly recommend Port Royal to any fan of 1980s power metal.

I dunno if Rockin' Rolf from Running Wild can really be considered a musical genius, but he sure came up with a kick ass idea when he chose to mix GOOD Euro Power Metal with imagery from the olden days of piracy. The album starts out with the title track, and it has an awesome gang chorus that sticks in your head. "Raging Fire" is the next cut and its one of my favs on this disc that tends to follow the Running Wild forumla-a big chorus with Rolfs awesome riffs and vocals. Essential for any fan of good old traditional metal.

After "Under Jolly Roger", Running Wild managed to prove that the third time definitely wasn't the charm. Their famous move from worshipping Satan to worshipping Pirates was significant in their history, but unfortunately Under Jolly Roger was far from good. Their fourth effort "Port Royal" sounds much more like the Running Wild we know and love today. Port Royal contains all of the great melodies and rhythyms that Running Wild is known for. However, their distinctive aggressive gallop was still in its early stages and some of the songs on this album are real turkeys. It is my opinion that Running Wild didn't perfect their sound until Port Royal's follow up "Death or Glory".