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It had been very logical if after releasing “Under Jolly Roger” and the live album, with a so little time left for the making of a subsequent studio album, Running Wild had released a weak LP. But the band was in such period of inspiration, so big was the amount of ideas that Rolf and co. received in their minds, that “Port Royal” could only hit the metal scene with high quality as its flag. The album image is more pirate than ever; the album cover and the back sleeve picture look like scenes taken from Monkey´s Island! For those of you unaware of this name, this was a videogame dealing with pirates, treasures, islands and so on. Obviously Ron Gilbert and Rolf Kasparek are bloodbrothers, hahaha! Let´s leave the (bad) jokes aside, and focus on the album. “Port Royal” is very pirate, certainly. The intro features some drunk bucaneers telling a lost boy where he is –in Port Royal, pirates city-. And after that the attack begins with no rest for the next ten songs. I must admit that the album is its first songs isn´t particularly awesome, though still being good, but it improves a lot and reaches the peak from “Uaschistchun”, the song about Indians, to the end. Yes, after that track, the rest of the album is simply excellent. Aggressive, with melodies tastefully taken, varied; the dark instrumental “Final Gates” where a pounding bass line courtesy of Jens Becker dances ellegantly; powerful “Conquistadores” with a eerie bass intro that introduces us the cavalcade in the purest Running Wild tradition; “Blown to kingdom come” is a slow march with a hymn-like chorus; fast-to-madness “Warchild” with the band´s battle cry against the the wars, accompanied by a double bass drum that can break several balls!; the overwhelming rhythm of “Mutiny”, or the thunderous might of final epic piece “Calico Jack”. One of my personal favourite albums, and this time with a fairly balanced sound that heightens the opus. Great!
| Tracklist |
| 1. Intro |
| 2. Port Royal |
| 3. Raging Fire |
| 4. Into The Arena |
| 5. Uaschistchun |
| 6. Final Gates |
| 7. Conquistadores |
| 8. Blown To Kingdom Come |
| 9. Warchild |
| 10. Mutiny |
| 11. Calico Jack |
: 44.19
| Buy other Running Wild albums |
