Iron Gods - Running Wild and the Awakening of the Titans

 Power Metal progenitors Running Wild, for me, were one of those bands that always fell under the radar of my attention. Death/black/sludge/thrash/satanic sub-genre fanatic that I am, many of the fantasy oriented bands passed me by in my elitist halycon days. I dismissed most power metal and some old school metal as too cheesy for my subversive tastes. But since the inception of Metal Night, Demon Scourge has deepened my appreciation(sometimes at knifepoint), to power metal. I get it now. I'm still not as passionate about it as other musics, but that will always be the major difference between myself and the Demon, besides the fact that he is an evil bastard that needs to be sent back to hell and MY WRATH will  be his ultimate undoing, for I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!!!!! but more on that later. Running Wild are a well regarded and very influential band, so we checked out some of their albums.

The snow fell lightly on the frozen peak of Mount Tarvo as Hell Wraith set up the last of the equipment for their dangerous summoning. The party had traveled all morning to this small plateau, the birthplace of Bloodmace and Demon Scourge and the gravesite of Bloodhammer, their father.  Vorthon looked out at the valley below and the endless mountains stretching out towards the ocean to the south and the Time Desert to the north. It seemed like an eternity ago he took residence in the ruined shell of Castle Thrashstone where Hellmaster, Bloodmace and the rest of the titans of old had perished at the hands of the possessed Demon Scourge. For years he studied the secrets of the mysterious wasteland where the spiritual dimensions of the temporal world converge and strange otherworldly fissures split the kaleidoscopic sands. He knew the world of Centon was in danger; premonitions came to him in dreams and on his vision quests in the Time Desert. Now, he was here. The hour of this world’s deliverance was at hand. The equipment was set in a circular formation around a spot Hell Wraith had calculated to be the place where the portal would open. Lady Steel was behind the drums, tuning the bone-framed skins to the precise frequency required using a handheld electronic device. Hell Wraith and Baron Lotar were grimly assembling weaponry, magical and otherwise to use in the battle they were sure was coming. Their guitars stood at the ready. Near the center of the circle was Moloch, cross-legged, chanting his private invocations for strength, and gargling salt water. With a deep breath, Vorthon strode to the spot where the bass guitar Hell Wraith designed in his workshop in Castle Thrashstone sat at the ready. “Hai!” Vorthon called out to his companions. “Are you all ready?” Nods came from every quarter. “Let us begin the invocation with ‘Power from Hell’”

The first Running Wild album, Gates of Purgatory, is pretty sweet. It is basic heavy metal with thunderous riffs and gruff, gravely vocals. Not a lot of finesse or flashy solos(except for a few Maidenisms here and there), but plenty of power moves and catchy anthems. They have not yet developed the "pirate metal" lyrical focus that they became known for. This is pretty representative of the German underground metal scene of 1984, and it it a rough beast.

Even with the first bars of the chant, winds began to whip. Screams and laughter from other dimensions issue fourth from the glowing point in the center of the circle. Huge boulders dislodge from the mountains, tumbling down as if in slow motion. From everywhere a sick, wet sound grows louder and in the center of the circle, a horrible thing shambles through the gate. At first it appears to be a mass of rubbery, grey-green fingers tumbling over one another, but as it approaches Moloch a hairy, spider like head pops up, it’s mandibles dripping with slime. Thin tentacles burst out from its sides to ensnare the singer and draw him towards the creature’s foul smelling maw which was an abyss of tiny, razor-sharp teeth.  From behind him, however there comes a fearsome battle cry. Baron Lotar strikes with a berserker’s fury, his sacred sword tearing through spiritflesh, producing geysers of ectoplasm. The others continue to play and their strange melodies echo through the caverns of dimension x99344, where Bloodmace, Demon Scourge and the others are captives of death.  Moloch looks over to the others and screams out above the chaos, “Everyone get back! Get back!” The ground explodes blowing chunks of ice and rock into the flesh of the intrepid players. There is a long silence. Dust settles around the newly formed crater, revealing five figures laying in the steaming pit. The titans have returned.

The second album, Branded and Exiled,  is pretty much more of the same, with slightly more polish, a refinement of barbarian craft, of Teutonic steel! This isn't the sort of traditional metal that gets me really pumped, but the direct riffery and non subtle approach grows on you.

Jump head a few years, and their 4th  full album, Port Royal,  finds them in the form that they are best known for, as pirate metal & power metal progenitors. Actually, there really isn't a genre known as 'pirate metal', but never mind. They just like pirates, nothing to do with Adam Ant! This finds the band exhibiting major finesse, ala Iron Maiden, as well as liberal doses of speed metal influence. This is a staggeringly powerful album, unapologetic in its old school metalness during a period when thrash was all the rage. Winner of the night.

Behold posers! You thought your day of reckoning would never come. Now where will you run? Centon shall now be torn from the hands of the false! FOOLS! You believed you could size control of this world and turn it into a playground for wealthy intergalactic travelers but now the shining knights of metal shall storm your crystal palaces and take back this land of mystery and wonder from your gnarled hands. Let the hills and plains sing, let the mountains and seas dance! The titans have returned!

Until next week S.A.D.O.S.

Horns