RUNNING WILD - Port Royal

One day, somewhere around the mid-90s, I heard the song Conquistadores when Mihai Pahontu, Mihai Orzan, or a boy that called himself Alex, would delight me each morning from the frequencies of Fun Radio in Bucharest. What is amusing that whenever I heard it I could never remember who played it or I was confused by its strange name, or that they presented it only before playing it and not after. After Fun Radio weaned itself off metal (due to copyright law), I was left dry for quite a while, because my favorite song was one I knew nothing about. So for all that time my only purpose was to hear that song again and find out whose it was.

My great luck was Lenti Chiriac and his Studio Rock, where he presented this song around 1998. With the first bass notes I instantly knew what it was, which incidentally is the time when my Gloria radio reached the highest volume in its entire existence. I cannot describe the joy that was in my heart... So, from that moment, my next goal was to acquire this album as soon as possible. Unfortunately it took me another year to find the album at the antique store in front of the University. Even so, I must have listened to that tape dozens of times.

This was my story about this record, a very special one for me, for this exact reason. It seems it is a special album for Rolf, too, as, according to Wikipedia, it has sold about 1,800,000 copies worldwide until now. And band fans still see Port Royal as Running Wild’s best product. 

About the music on this album there is not much to say. We used to call it “German speed” back then. Now it’s even simpler: heavy metal! Rolf Kasparek comes out with a particularly pleasant guitar playing, both for solos and riffs, and is accompanied by three more enthusiastic guys that bring a serious musical contribution. As for the lyrics, they are mostly about pirates from the Inquisition times that would do all sorts of devilry in God’s name. I can’t help singling out the song Final Gates, an instrumental one, led by the bass guitar in a manner that is unique for this genre. This album’s hit, Conquistadores, also has a video that is said to have been broadcast on MTV at Headbanger’s Ball. Warchild is the only track based on a current day story, keeping an alert tempo throughout. Uaschitschun is a very well for everything Running Wild. The piece ending the album, Calico Jack, is an epic song with many riff changes and very good solos by both guitarists.

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