RUNNING WILD — Branded and Exiled (review)

RUNNING WILD — Branded and Exiled album cover Album · 1985 · Speed Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
666sharon666
Branded and Exiled is the second Running Wild album from 1985. This album marks their last one before their pirate themes take over and also the last album of their speed metal period.

This album is essentially more of the same as their first album Gates to Purgatory. Traditional heavy metal/speed metal, a relatively short running time (approx 36 minutes) and quite a raw sound. The only big difference for me when put up next to their debut is that the songs aren't overly as memorable as ones like Prisoner of Our Time and Soldiers of Hell from Gates to Purgatory. I like the title track and Fight the Oppression quite a bit, the real trouble with them is that Running Wild would later re-record both of those songs among others from both this album and the first and it's especially the case with the Branded and Exiled songs that the later versions are much better. The final song Chains and Leather is quite the anthemic track that sounds designed for singing along in the live environment and is a pretty fun track, though like with the majority of this album has been at one point or another the band re-recorded it, though I don't find either version vastly superior in this case. Branded and Exiled is a good album overall, but for me a step backwards for the band. 3.5 stars.
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adg211288 wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I've always struggled a bit with this one. It's grown on me enough to give it 4 stars, but I still find it a bit of a blip in a run of otherwise really strong albums. I feel the same about Blazon Stone.

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