Tag: speed metal

Running Wild – Gates To Purgatory

On By bigbadburchIn Album of the Week4 Comments

While today’s band are known as the purveyors of pirate metal, their debut was in a different vein with a lot less pirates and a lot more Satan.

Running Wild – Gates To Purgatory

Released October 1984 via Noise Records (Combat in US)

Running Wild started off in Germany in 1976 with the name Granite Heart. They changed their name to Running Wild in ’79, the name change was inspired by the Judas Priest song from Killing Machine. The band got some songs on compilations in the early ’80’s and then were set to offer their debut album on the fledgling German label Noise Records.

Running Wild were comprised of Rolf Kasparek on guitar and vocals, Gerald “Preacher” Warnecke on guitar, Stephan Boriss on bass and Wolfgang Hagermann on drums. The band would have numerous line-up changes over the years, including just after this album, with Kasparek being the one constant member. The album was recorded in Berlin and produced by the band as well as Horst Müller.

There were a few versions of the record – the original issue was 8 tracks, while the US and Canadian releases features 2 additional songs. It is the 10 song version I’ll review today. There was also a deluxe reissue in 2017 featuring a wealth of bonus tracks.

Victim Of States Power

Out of the gate we’re off with a crisp speed metal track that doesn’t take its foot off the gas. Musically it goes for the throat and lyrically it is a political themed track, fighting back against the oppressive power of the state with every metalhead’s old friend Lucifer. A very slamming way to kick off the album. Grade: A

Black Demon

Not quite as fast here but still a total metal ripper. Rolf’s vocals are somewhat cavernous here on this dark tale of a demon who is up to no good. The song is nothing out of this world but it’s simple and very effective. Grade: B

Preacher

An even slower grind here as we march through a dirge about Satanic forces conspiring against a preacher. A bit of irony here as Gerald “Preacher” Warnecke helped write this song, very soon after the album’s release he would be out of the band to become – wait for it – a preacher. The song is solid, if not unspectacular. Grade: B-

Soldiers Of Hell

The pace picks back up some on this prototypical 1980’s “Hail Satan!” song. A bit thrash and quite melodic, this one offers up a sneak peak at the power metal territory Running Wild would move into and stake their reputation on a few years later. Grade: B

Diabolic Force

Another speed metal attack here once again exploring some dark arts and hellish ends. Easy to headbang to and enjoy. Grade: B+

Adrian S.O.S.

This one ramps up the speed and threatens to fly off the tracks. The S.O.S. Refers to “Son of Satan” in this case, not a plea for help. Running Wild weren’t quite to the nautical themes just yet. This one is a short and brutal track, in line with something like early Slayer. Here, Adrian is an undead werewolf who comes to the world to liberate it from the oppressive binds of corporate overlords. Grade: A-

Genghis Khan

Running Wild set the evil shtick aside for a moment and offer up the first of what would become many historical explorations here as they look back on one of the world’s most famous conquerors. The song still fits the darker tone of the album but also showcases what Running Wild were soon set to become. Grade: A

Prisoner Of Our Time

We wrap up the original version of the album with a banging track that offers up the whole “metal is liberation from society” thing. This one is a bit of a darker take on it, mentioning Satanic imagery and even an early shout to “black metal.” The band also thrown their own name in for an extra push. Grade: B+

Walpurgis Night (The Sign Of Women’s Fight)

A bit of a Wicker Man vibe on this first US bonus track, as men are hiding from an all-out assault by witches in the night. The male narrator is taken by the witches and is then “taken” by the queen witch, because that’s what always happens in these dark witch stories. Overall a very nice track with some really cool guitar work on it. Grade: A-

Satan

The final track offers up another “Satan as liberator from the true evil of society” theme that this early incarnation of the band were very into. It’s a fine way to wrap up the album. Grade: B+

Gates To Purgatory was a successful debut for Running Wild. It became one of Noise Record’s most notable early releases and has gone on to sell close to 250,000 copies. Word spread through the metal world about Running Wild and the band would enjoy steadily growing momentum through the 1980’s. The band did one more album of dark themes before shifting gears in 1987 on Under Jolly Roger, kicking off a career-long exploration of pirate themes and becoming the flag-bearers of pirate metal.

But while Running Wild would become known for their power metal and pirate themes, Gates To Purgatory was still a very solid release into the heavy metal scene in ’84. It’s an occult themed speed metal record that still showcases a flair for melody and was also well-produced, especially in comparison to the other “occult metal” albums of the early ’80’s. The band made their mark later on in a somewhat different guise, but this album is essential early ’80’s listening.

Album Grade: B+

While Running Wild’s story will always revolve around pirates, their story can’t be told without recounting their dank and excellent 1984 debut. And the story of heavy metal in 1984 can’t be told without visiting this slab of speed metal excellence.

Exciter – Violence & Force

On By bigbadburchIn Album of the Week8 Comments

And we’re off – to the Great White North to revisit a glorious dose of speed metal.

Exciter – Violence & Force

Released February 1984 via Megaforce Records

Exciter formed in 1978 under the name Hell Razor, the same year Judas Priest released the song Exciter. The song would, not coincidentally, offer a template for a faster, more aggressive sound that would come to be known as speed metal. Exciter the band would rechristen themselves in 1980 and pursue the noisy, thrash-like aggressive metal.

Exciter’s debut album Heavy Metal Maniac came in 1983 after the band signed to Shrapnel Records. Not long after, Jonny Z of Megaforce would get Exciter’s contract and the band was set to offer their second album on that label.

Exciter rode as a three piece – Dan Beehler on drums and vocals, John Ricci on bass and Allan James Johnson on guitar. The album was produced by Carl Canedy, who was a member of The Rods and who also produced the Anthrax debut Fistful Of Metal. Jonny Z was along for a production credit as well.

The cover picture offers up a scene both sinister and goofy. A person decked out in leather and spikes is attempting to break through a door and presumably do bad things to a victim who is trying to keep the door shut. This same figure was on the debut album cover but this second album marked his final appearance. Some have tried linking

Violence & Force offers ten tracks at a 41:34 runtime. It has been reissued by different record labels over the years. Curiously, a 2004 reissue from Megaforce removed a song – Evil Sinner was struck from the record and this is what is found on streaming services. I have no information as to why the song was plucked from the album, though it did turn up as a bonus track on the reissue of the prior album. Also of some note – the reissues were made possible by fellow Canadian metal luminary Jeff Waters of Annihilator, who bought the rights to the Exciter catalog so Beehler and company could get new issues into circulation.

Oblivion

Up first is a noisy and very brief guitar intro. It’s not much of anything but it doesn’t really waste any time either so it isn’t a detraction of any real sort. Grade: B-

Violence & Force

The first song in earnest is the title track. This one is a ripping affair, slamming along at a breakneck pace through its run. The lyrics bring exactly what one would expect from a song with this title, while Beehler offers up a few ear-piercing screams in the chorus and there’s a wild, dissonant guitar solo as well. Great way to kick off the album. Grade: A

Scream In The Night

Another blast of speed and aggression here about the classic metal topic of stuff in the dark coming to get you. It’s intense and pounding all the way through, with the gang choruses used throughout the record coming in full effect. Grade: B

Pounding Metal

This one eases off the gas pedal just a bit but remains slamming and intense. It is a very basic metal track, as evidenced by the title being repeated about a million times. It does stick out but the song is still pretty good even with the psychotic repetition. Grade: C+

Evil Sinner

Here is the deleted track, again present on original versions but gone from reissues. This does maybe sound like it was recorded somewhere else, perhaps why it was pulled later on. There’s nothing maliciously blasphemous here, it’s just a song about some sort of evil tyrant ruining stuff as they do. Grade: B+

Destructor

This one goes all out on the speed and does show off how closely related speed and thrash metal are. A very solid offering. Grade: B+

Swords Of Darkness

Exciter lay off the pace by a literal hair here and throw in another dark fantasy tale of battle, death and destruction. None of these battles go well for people who aren’t dark and evil, by the way. Grade: B

Delivering To the Master

A fairly long one here at six minutes and it comes with a quiet, moody intro passage. This marches at a slower pace with pretty sick riffs as it relays someone presumably about to sell his soul. A nice change of pace here. Grade: B+

Saxons Of The Fire

This goes all out for sure. It’s a blistering track that venerates the ancient Saxons in battle. The limits of the albums’ production only enhance the atmosphere on this one, it is a barnburner that goes straight for the throat. Grade: A

War Is Hell

We close up shop with a song that goes back to a mid-pace setting and is also the longest track on the record. The punk and NWOBHM influences come straight through on the vocals while the main riff is a straight razor throughout. Grade: A-

Violence & Force was a landmark album for heavy metal, its cacophony of sound would inform thrash metal and later the extreme metal movement. Exciter would not become a “huge” band in the grand scheme of things but they would enjoy a bit of sales success for these early albums and also be cited as an influence from people all over the metal spectrum. The production was a bit lacking due to financial limitations but that would become an album highlight as opposed to a detriment.

Exciter would go on to tours with Anthrax, Mercyful Fate and Motörhead. They would subsequently begin shifting band members and pursuing a more melodic sound. Exciter broke up a few times over the years but have reformed under various line-ups, no one original member had a constant presence through the band’s full run.

This album offers up a fine slab of nasty, aggressive heavy metal. While it’s not technically challenging or “innovative” I suppose, it is a significant point in metal history. It is also, while sounding heavy like other offerings of the day, very much its own thing. Exciter didn’t sound like Metallica or Slayer nor did the reverse happen. Violence & Force is its own experience that won’t be found in anyone else’s recording catalog.

Album Grade: B+

Understanding the full scope of heavy metal requires getting under the hood. No doubt that Ride The Lightning was influential in 1984. But Exciter lie as a central cog in the development of heavy metal in the early 1980’s. It was ok to be fast and nasty, and also listenable alongside that.