Running Wild - Gates To Purgatory

01. Running Wild - Gates To Purgatory, 1984 CD Album Repress      Noise - NCD 001      Reissue from 1988 02. Various - Death Metal, 1984 CD Compilation Unofficial Release      Not On Label - none , Compilation      Reissue from 2009 - Contains 8 songs by: Running Wild, Dark Avenger, Hellhammer, Helloween The summer of 1984 was marked by the daily multiple rotation of Apocalyptic Raids. So naturally, when the Death Metal compilation surfaced with TWO unreleased Hellhammer songs, it was a no-brainer: instant acquisition. That record had not much else to offer, but never mind. Since the side with the Hellhammer songs started with two Running Wild songs, ok, let's also play some Running Wild, wtf. It was like tedious foreplay, but it was worth it. Now, after a while, that Running Wild stuff turned out not that bad (sponge brain yo) and eventually, their album Gates To Purgatory ended up in the collection. This album was good, echoing of course mid-era Judas Priest with the roughness of Battleaxe and Tank. True heavy metal with totally European riffs and a German accent! 35 years later, the album is still good, heavy with nostalgia, and rocking like it always has. I was never able to appreciate the following albums and stopped paying attention. And before anyone requests it, I have zero Helloween album, never liked them. Maybe I should try again? Remove brackets and unzip: [victims of state power] !ZER Running Wild ZER!