The Brotherhood

Artist: Running Wild
Label: BMG/Gun
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 743219119926
EAN: 0743219119926
ASIN: B00005Y3OB

Release Date: 2002-02-28

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Germany

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Listmania:

READY FOR BOARDING - The Running Wild Metal List
My Favorite Albuns

Tracks:

Welcome to Hell
Soulstrippers
Brotherhood
Crossfire
Siberian Winter
Detonator
Pirate Song
Unation
Dr. Horror
Ghosts

Similar Items:

The Rivalry
Masquerade
Rogues En Vogue
Black Hand Inn
Death or Glory

Customer Reviews:

Different....but not bad.......2006-09-12

In the world of metal bands are either criticized for never changing or strung up and ridiculed when they do try something different. Running Wild at first was the butt of jokes because they never changed their sound. They recorded nine albums (Gates to Purgatory through Masquerade) of pretty much the same type of power/speed metal. Now with The Brotherhood, the band is getting blasted for trying something different.

So what makes this album different? Well like the last album Victory, The Brotherhood (for a lack of a better word) is "groovy", just to more of a degree. This is not the sonic speed metal assault of the past.

Because of this the songs are actually more diverse. This diversity is also something new that we never heard on a Running Wild disc before. I hate to say it but when I listen to even stellar discs as Blazon Stone and Black Hand Inn, I get tired of the albums half-way through because all the songs end up sounding the same. Not with The Brotherhood. Aside from the occasional weak song, I can listen to The Brotherhood straight through.

The album opens with Welcome to Hell (sorry, not a Venom cover) which is reminiscent of Wild of old. This is just a fantastic speed metal monster with a killer riff. Rock N' Rolf in an interview said he got the idea for this song when someone asked him what he would say to greet an alien that was visiting earth. His response would of course be 'welcome to hell'. LMAO....you gotta love those Germans!

The next song Soulstrippers, as well as the song Crossfire, is when the grooviness kicks in. Some die hard fans end up hating these songs but I found them to my liking. They have more a standard rock groove to them and mixed with Rolf's ever likable "pirate" vocals....its just music to my ears.

The title track and the epic closer the Ghost show Rolf at his most "Iron Maiden" like creativeness to make long yet likeable metal monsters.

Some may notice that this album lacks "pirate" material. All is not lost as the song Pirate Song is here. Now this is a terrific speed number with great tongue-in-cheek pirate lyrics. One of Wild's best songs. The instrumental "Siberian Winter" is also terrific.

Like I mentioned before...I liked this new groove and diversity but I am a little upset over one thing. Yes, like with the album Victory, the drums are programmed (ala Drum Machine). I will admit however that for a drum machine, these drums don't sound too terribly bad. These drums sound MUCH better than the stale drums on the Victory album. If only Rolf would get a real drummer perhaps this album could have been more widely accepted. Even with the drums the production on this album is really good with the guitars being the highlight. You just can't help but love Wild's trademark guitar sound. No one else on earth sounds like 'em.

I can see why some fans were upset but there should not be so much hate for this album. The songs are really good. I feel many people are still holding the "drum machine" thing against Rolf and are blinded by that aspect to actually find that the album is good. If you're a Wild fan and are open minded for a little "groove" and forgiving for the drum machine, then please give The Brotherhood a spin.

NOTE: If you can, pick up the limited edition with bonus tracks as the songs Faceless and Powerride are speed metal monsters that are a must! They are fantastic songs that could have easily replaced weaker tracks like Dr. Horror that appear on the album.

Running Wild, but.............2005-05-07

It is hard to believe it, but their time has gone. This album comes straight from R'N'R head. There is no one else but him here. Album has couple great songs, but overall it is boring. If you are a real fan like me of his previous work , you will be disappointed here. This is more something like routine(it needed to happen) than oriented to hook up old and even new fans. Explore his previous work from Under Jolly Rogger thru Rivalry.

Still Running Wild..........2002-06-26

Running Wild's latest recording, "The Brotherhood" is another metal masterwork from this band from Germany. The classic Running Wild sound is back, and most welcome at a time when few bands are producing traditional Euro-style metal music. If you are already a fan, you will not be disappointed. The heart and soul of the band, guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist, Rolf Kasparek is musically as solid as ever. Familiar song themes for the band remain, pirates, religion, war and battle.

Although their music has evolved over the years, it has not softened or lost its impact. This can't be said of very many metal bands from the 80's, if indeed they are still around. These songs are as powerful and energetic as any they have ever done. Musically, the band does not really break any new ground. The music features many familiar groves and rhythms used on earlier recordings, but you never feel that the band is "recycling". As a long-time fan, I found the music to be exactly as expected, new but very "familiar", with the tempo of the songs a bit slower than their most recent recordings. The signature guitar sound is raw, and clean, and the drumming very crisp indeed.

Highlights include "Soulstrippers" which rocks to an AC/DC like groove. "Dr.Horror" features some chunky riffing to a pounding rhythm. "Crossfire" has churning guitars, and plenty of harmonic squeals. "Detonator" features staggered riffing and nice down and dirty solo. My favorite track is "Ghost", a song with the desert as a theme. It has such great imagery that you can almost feel the desert wind blowing and the sand below your feet. If possible get the version of with the bonus tracks. Both "Powerride" and "Faceless" are strong uptempo numbers that should not be missed.

Running Wild is a great band, producing some of the heaviest metal music, for nearly two decades. Times are tough for the genre, and hopefully this under appreciated band will continue for many years to come. Long live the true metal.

A great disc.......2002-05-29

This album was a surprise to me, cuz I wasn't expecting such a rocker after the disappointing "Victory". Well I was wrong! Highlights are Siberian Winter (in your face kickass metal), Dr. Horror, and The Ghost (up there with the best of the epics Running Wild ever wrote).

How does he do it !?.......2002-04-22

This is another thunderstrike from R.W frontman
Kasparek ; the man refuses to slow down or surrender
to trends - and damn it is he ever good !!
There is a huge discussion on the R.W-forums
about the identity the drummer on this
and the previous album ( Victory ). Regardless ;
the drumsound is once again so well-engineered that
it's almost spooky = Fast,precise and well-harmonized
with , most notably , the bass-guitar. Rolf's lead is , once again , awesome- bringing over a great blend of catchiness,
heavyweight and speed. The sound is somewhat rawer
and a little more oldfashioned compared to
f.i. the "Victory"-album , but still - this is doubtless
powermetal the way it should be played.
Instead of a usual R.W-intro the playlist starts with
" Welcome to hell " - a great midtempo piece
with impressive vocals. Other highlights include
the titletrack , Sibirian Winter ( which , read this slowly ,
IS GUARANTEED TO SWEEP YOUR FREAKIN FEETS AWAY !!!!.
This 6 minute instrumental kicks the daylight out of anything
in the genre. Awesome !!!! ),
Pirate Song ( which is a great follow-up to the fast
singalong-structures on the 94'-album " Black Han Inn " ),
and the mighty epos " The Ghost ".
If You liked BHI,Victory and those masterpieces ; You will
definitely enjoy Brotherhood ! A true and honest masterpiece -
and a effectful blow against the growing number of
dilettants within this genre of music.
Unfortunately I could not get the Digipak-version with
the additional 2 songs ; if You can - get it.
Enjoy this marvellous german metal foundry !

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