Monster Effect

Running Wild vocalist/guitarist/songwriter/producer/dictator Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek has had many a band member walk the plank over the years, and what we have here is three of them (guitarist, drummer and bassist, with random unknown on vocals) teaming up against him by forming their own version of Running Wild. It's almost like the current situation with L.A. Guns (also with Ratt and Tigertailz a while back), where you have two bands under the "L.A. Guns" moniker (not quite the same one in X-Wild's case of course, but where they coined it from should be fairly obvious) operating simultaneously, with completely different line-ups. Now, X-Wild may not actually be a cover/tribute band per se, but considering they sound so much like Running Wild it's truly ridiculous, to not be at least COMPARING the two bands is absolutely out of the question here. Coming from a huge RW freak that considers 'Black Hand Inn' to be one of the top 20 finest metal albums ever made, most of the time when listening to this album I am hard pressed to point out any real difference between the two aside from the vocals (there can be only one Rolf).

With Rolf being the heart and soul of Running Wild, you'd think that attempting to duplicate their sound without him wound end up sounding like a disaster, but these guys actually do a pretty good job of it. This album is not quite as good as Running Wild in their heyday, but overall probably better than RW's last few. For a precise definition of the sound displayed on here, think the album 'Pile of Skulls' (including the production, it is the very exact same) - makes sense, since two members from that 1992 RW line-up are featured here - with a little bit of that shrieky, pissed-off feel of classic Accept thrown in as well. The vocalist sounds like a more nasal and less high-pitched Udo Dirkschneider trying to sound like Rolf Kasparek, and does an overall decent job. However, if it's Running Wild quality we're aiming for, the vocals on here can likely be considered a low point - but then, in this reviewer's opinion, it's a pretty fucking high standard they're up against.

Each one of Running Wild's four main "styles" (i.e. the four songs they keep re-writing over and over) is represented here: fast and furious speed metal blast with a hint of thrash ala "Whirlwind", straight-ahead rocking heavy metal crunch ala "Soulless", melodic and Maiden-esque power metal scorch ala "Marooned", and mid-to-slow pace heavy-ass stomp ala "Roaring Thunder". No surprises here, except possibly "Dr. Sardonicus" which reminds me a fair bit of later, epic-era Grave Digger (except that era begins with 1995's Heart of Darkness and this here is a 1994 release...hmmm). Actually though, something else surprising would be that the best song on here is the one with the stupidest title - "D.Y.T.W.A.C.", which is short for "Do You Think We Are Crazy". It's in the vein of RW's slower and anthemic stuff like "March On" and, again, "Roaring Thunder", but really far better than those two or ANY other slower song RW has ever penned down for that matter. The main riff here is just fucking nuts, this here is almost like the second coming of Pantera's classic "I'm Broken" from the same year. Pure groove, baby!

So, whom to recommend this album to? Hmmmm, let's see here, how about...fans of Running Wild? *DINGDINGDING* But in all seriousness, those you who like your metal heavy, ballsy, straight-up and riff-oriented, this is right up your alley. The only reason this band is so obscure is due to their three albums being released between 1994 and 1996, in between heavy metal's golden era of the 80's and the resurrection era of the late 90's and onward. Shame really. Again, this album is not quite up there among the finest of "Regular-Wild", but if you dig that band and find yourself craving more, more, MORE of the same, X-Wild (any one of their albums probably - I've only heard this one, but I hear all three sound fairly the same) should be your premier choice. Commendable.