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This is the second album from heavy metal classics Running Wild . Most of the times the sophomore effort of a band is quite better than the debut, but “Branded And Exiled” doesn´t follow that line. First, we could blame on the weak production of the album. If the previous LP “Gates Of Purgatory” didn´t feature the best sound ever heard, this one doesn´t have a convincing mix either. Everytime we have the impression drums and guitars are the only things heard properly, since Rock´n Rolf vocals are hardly audible, as if he was singing in another room or something like that! And besides this “distant” trait of vocals, something that is plainly evident is the lack of feeling of Rolf´s voice in many moments of the album. Take for instance the bridge on the opening track, Rolf is almost speaking by phone instead of singing with fury and wrath! I was quite disappointed when I bought this LP and my expectations hit the ground, frankly.
Despite all these flaws, however, “Branded And Exiled” has some good songs. The token of this is the result of the improved and renewed versions played and featured on the re-recording of classic tracks the band carried out through the release of “The First Years Of Piracy” album, some years later. Compare each version of “Branded And Exiled” and “Fight The Oppression”, and then tell me which is the winner... Of course there are songs plainly forgettable as “Evil Spirit” and “Chains And Leather”, an alleged metal hymn with lyrics which are worth a read and, probably, a laugh. Quite surprisingly, this song was revisited some years later and released as a bonus track for “Death Or Glory”. This way we could hear verses like “Even Satan wears leather, our souls do it forever” with a clean sound... “Branded And Exiled” has some good moments, but is an album that can be left aside in the quest of the great heavy metal albums.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Branded And Exiled |
| 2. Gods Of Iron |
| 3. Realm Of Shades |
| 4. Mordor |
| 5. Fight The Oppression |
| 6. Evil Spirit |
| 7. Marching To Die |
| 8. Chains And Leather |
: 35.51
| Buy other Running Wild albums |
