Blood on Blood

Even though I'm a bigger fan of Running Wild than 99% of all the metalheads I know, I haven't been following Running Wild's – a.k.a. Rolf Kasparek's, a.k.a. Rock'n'Rolf's – creative escapades a lot since he broke up in 2009 only to reunite with himself a couple of years later. (In an uncanny resemblance to another one-man governed metal powerhouse, Ministry.) Sure, "Shadowmaker" (2011) had some decent tunes on it. But I let "Rapid Foray" ('16) be after hearing the first track. For one, there seemed to be less bass guitar on the damn thing than on "... And Justice for All". But it also seemed like Kasparek's allegedly deceased old drummer Angelo Sasso – who TOTALLY wasn't just a drum plugin – had risen from the dead and gotten behind the digital kit once again. The same blemish, sadly, taints "Blood on Blood". Yes, I know Michael Wolpers is credited as the drummer, but I also know what I'm actually hearing.

However, by no means does this problem mar the album to the same horrid extent it has done before. And first and foremost, what Running Wild's latest effort really has going for it is a delightfully massive pile of iron-solid riffs and melodies. Even though the opening title track is in a major key – something that heavy metal outfits should generally reserve for rare occasions and their power metal colleagues – the damn thing just ends up working. I'm not saying Rock'n'Rolf hasn't been inspired or really been into what he's done for the last 10 years, but this time around, the most important parts irrevocably come together. Gone is the filler; back is Running Wild's unmistakable gasoline-and-gunpowder attitude and the ever-lovable pirate hymns that made the band one of my all-time faves back in my early '20s. The choruses are stadium-strength; you should be finding yourself singing along to songs like "Say Your Prayers" and the obvious KISS tribute "Wild, Wild Nights" after no more than the first couple of spins. Around midway, the uptempo "Diamonds and Pearls" takes the lead as the strongest track on the album. But it's only a matter of minutes until "Crossing the Blades" pulls up right alongside it. Mark my words: Even with Maiden's stupendous "Senjutsu" album having hit the streets, the most serious heavy metal hymns of 2021 are on THIS here album, people.

The biggest critical points are the aforementioned, often stiff and mechanically-sounding drums along with the sharply trebled, sterile guitar sound. While I don't know how Rock'n'Rolf conducts his recordings, it wouldn't surprise me if they took place in his dining room or similar. But still, the whole damn thing just fucking works. Even the campy attempt at a power ballad, "One Night, One Day", has its charming merit. It's also heartwarming that "The Shellback" revisits Running Wild's best album, "Black Hand Inn" ('94). And the mandatory closing historical epic "The Iron Times (1618-1648)" – dealing with the 30-year war – is everything we can possibly expect from the mandatory closing historical epic on any Running Wild album. The only thing that worries me now is whether Rock'n'Rolf will be able to keep on working with his rediscovered muse – unlike with virtually any of his former band members. And also, will I ever see another good Running Wild show, or is he just gonna keep on doing those weird, random setlists that he tends to do?

Anyway, "Blood on Blood" is the album that Rock'n'Rolf should have released after the unfairly criticized "Rogues En Vogue" ('05) – or maybe even after "The Rivalry" ('98). Either way, it's about bloody time.


(Originally posted on https://www.globalmetalblog.com/l/running-wild-blood-on-blood)

More than five years after the disastrous, overlong and uninspired Rapid Foray, German heavy metal project Running Wild comes back with its eighteenth studio album Blood on Blood. Band leader and founder, bassist, guitarist and vocalist Rock 'n' Rolf collaborates once again with guitarist Peter Jordan who has been with the band since its return from hiatus ten years ago. The other two musicians who can be heard on this output have only been with the band for two years and consist of Thunderhead's Ole Hempelmann on bass and FB1964's Michael Wolpers on drums.

This record offers traditional heavy metal tropes by the numbers and is best enjoyed as a superficial party album played in the background. The mid-paced melodic guitar riffs, simple rhythm section and catchy sing-along choruses always sound the same. If you listen to them separately, tracks like ''Wings on Fire'', ''Wild & Free'' and ''Wild, Wild Nights'' sound like decent tunes that should be appreciated by fans of traditional heavy metal bands such as Accept, Axel Rudi Pell and Rage to mention a few other German bands. If listened in one session on the same album, it however becomes obvious how formulaic, lifeless and repetitive this record sounds. Even the closing epic ''The Iron Times (1618-1648)'' is plodding around unspectacularly with its excessive length and tiring mid-tempo pace despite a different atmospheric and lyrical approach that simply isn't properly explored.

Another serious issue is the production that sounds absolutely lifeless. The guitar work is bland and almost sounds mechanic. The rhythm section is missing oomph. Especially the drum play sounds like a computer even though Michael Wolpers is a talented musician. The final result sounds as if the band and its label had opted for the cheapest production available which is a shame since this record is desperately lacking energy.

At the end of the day, there are so many heavy metal bands out there that deserve more attention than Running Wild that should have called it quits two decades ago. Blood on Blood features uninspired songwriting, dreadful production and lack of passion. Only the most faithful collectors and fans of old date who can't help living in the past might find this record even remotely exciting.