These days when “Power Metal” is brought up, the band most people think of is probably the cleanly produced, fantasy-inspired bands of the modern-day. While there are certainly good bands in that style, grandfathers of the genre and pillars of power metal Running Wild are back to show that you don’t need all the modern bells and whistles to make heads move. Sticking to their guns and bringing their old school sound, Running Wild have released a new EP, Crossing the Blades. Consists of four songs; three original and one cover, the EP is meant to serve as a teaser for a full-length album out in 2020, and it definitely proves the album will definitely be one to keep an eye on. Crossing the Blades is Running Wild showing that they aren’t ready to be marooned to the annals of history just yet but still have much more to do.
The first track on the EP is the titular Crossing the Blades. and it’s a powerful statement by Rolf. The song opens with a very catchy bass melody that screams classic Running Wild and is followed by Rolf’s vocals which suit the gritty, old school sound perfectly. As Rolf serenades you with the musketeer motto “All for one, and One for All”, the drums gallop along and while they don’t do anything fancy, they are enough to create a driving rhythm that propels you along and makes the five-minute track feel much shorter. The guitar and bass get a chance to shine as well, with soaring solos that provide a nice break from what some may feel is a few too many repetitions of the chorus. Importantly, this track will be exclusive to the EP. The version on the 2020 album will be rerecorded and slightly changed from this version, which is unique in that unlike other Running Wild tracks, it is based on the bass line rather than a guitar riff. The song is simple in structure and in composition, but the sum of its parts add up to create a driving and catchy track that set the tone for the rest of the EP.
Stargazed is the second track and to me, just a touch weaker than the first one. First heard at Waken 2018, it is much the same as the preceding track in terms of structure and composition.
online pharmacy order trazodone online best drugstore for you
The opening riff is catchy and the underlying power chords as triumphant as ever, but when it comes to the chorus, it just lacks that movement that made the previous one so engaging. It is by no means bad, but when the track has little else going on it can feel a little empty on the latter repetitions. The chorus is still good, it just lacks variability and ends up betraying hints of potential issues with a simpler composition. This issue is mitigated for the duration of the solos where the guitar and bass perform a soaring duet that keeps the song interesting. Overall, it is still a very solid track with enough to keep you feeling the rhythm, but it lacks that extra zest to really elevate it to the next level.
online pharmacy order nolvadex online best drugstore for you
The third track is Rock’n’Rolf’s take on the KISS classic Strutter. It’s a bit more languid than the previous two songs but the overall grittier sound of Running Wild, I find, gives the song much more power compared to the original. Rolf’s rougher voice drives the song along and overall it is a worthy addition to the EP and a great cover.
The final song is Ride on the Wild Side and it’s probably my favourite on the EP. A fun track that really brings the energy from older Running Wild tracks. A simple yet effective chorus pairs off with a simple but powerful riff to demonstrate that the classic Running Wild sound isn’t obsolete at all but is still as effective in 2019 as it was in 1987. The song has attitude and it expresses it strongly with crunchy guitars and killer solos by Ole Hempelmann and Peter Jordan. A rocking track that will be sure to be a favourite at live shows, it serves as a fantastic finale to the EP. It leaves you wanting more and that’s exactly the way you want to end a good EP.
Overall, Crossing the Blades is a great addition to the Running Wild catalogue, and it sets expectations high for their next album. It’s good to see that Running Wild haven’t lost their touch and in the four songs contained on the album, Rolf makes a strong statement that the band’s got much more left to give. Each song is quality Running Wild and it is guaranteed that the upcoming album will be a potential classic. Keep your eyes peeled, because the next time we see Running Wild, they’ll be arriving with all guns blazing.
Release Year: 2019
Label: Steamhammer / SPV
Category: EP
Country: Germany
Reviewed by Kevin Jin
