Running Wilds follower for Gates to Purgatory album, theres now improvement in sound quality even though its not still the best, you can now even hear what Rolf is singing. Also most of satanic lyrics has been left off. To songs, opener Branded and Exiled is between mid-tempo and fast, heavy song and i always loved guitarsolo in the middle of song. one of my favorites on this album. Continuing with as heavy and a bit faster song Gods of Iron and then mid-tempo Realm of Shades, the last mentioned having a great dark touch. Mordor is mid-tempo song telling about land of Mordor (is the idea taken from that one fantasy book?), good guitarsolo in the end part, one of standout tracks on this album! Fight the Oppression is kinda anti-war song, fast and heavy, also contains great guitarsolo part after the middle of song as Mordor. Evil Spirit is typical heavy mid-tempo Running Wild song. Next one is also anti-war song, Marching to Die, good fast tempo song. The album ends with GREAT Chains and Leather, gotta love drumming part at the beginning and soon after guitars joins to rhythm also, very heavy mid-tempo song, or should i say its nearly between slow and mid-tempo.. anyways, awesome!! Overall album continues in roots of debut, Gates to Purgatory. Positive is better sound quality than last album and much less satanistic lyrics. As negative sound quality still could be better and 8-song album could be even longer than it is. Sounding here is even little darker than the debut had and overall tempo is slower. Branded & Exiled, Chains & Leather, Mordor and maybe Fight The Oppression are classics here. A good buy for RW fan...
7.2/10

By Taneli, 2003