RUNNING WILD — Under Jolly Roger (review)

RUNNING WILD — Under Jolly Roger album cover Album · 1987 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Under Jolly Roger" is the 3rd full-length studio album by German speed/power metal act Running Wild. The album was released through Noise International in May 1987. It´s the successor to "Branded and Exiled" from 1985 and features the same four-piece lineup who recorded the predecessor. Running Wild enjoyed a lot of success with the album, and it´s among their best selling releases, shifting around 250.000 copies.

Stylistically "Under Jolly Roger" is a transition album sandwiched between the band´s first two occult themed speed/heavy metal albums, and their later pirate themed power/heavy metal releases. "Under Jolly Roger" features a little from both worlds, but there is a noticeable change in musical direction (and especially in band image) compared to the first two albums. The music often features a more epic atmosphere and an uplifting spirit, and the occult darkness of the first releases is more or less gone here.

"Under Jolly Roger" is still a pretty gritty release though, so those who think all Euro power/heavy metal releases are polished and neo-classical influenced vanilla metal couldn´t be more wrong. Some of the grit is a result of the raw sound production but the basis on the music is still also a relatively raw speed/heavy metal influenced style. Rock 'n' Rolf probably isn´t what most listeners would think of as a classic power metal vocalist either, as his voice is rough and his delivery is only semi-melodic.

The album features strong musicianship and relatively intriguing songwriting, but to my ears "Under Jolly Roger" does suffer a bit as a result of the undecided musical direction. Some transition albums work pretty well and help bridge otherwise major transitions in an artist´s sound, and while "Under Jolly Roger" ultimately successfully does that too, it doesn´t work as well as a consistent release and listening experience. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is deserved.
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