Death or Glory Review
| Band | |
|---|---|
| Album |  Death or Glory |
| Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
| Released | November 8, 1989 |
| Genres | Heavy Metal, Power Metal |
| Labels | Noise Records |
| Length | 54:12 |
| Ranked | #47 for 1989 , #2,019 all-time |
Album rating : 86.1 / 100
Votes : 19 (2 reviews)
Votes : 19 (2 reviews)
November 1, 2020
Running Wild are one of the earliest Power Metal bands around, starting as Speed/Heavy Metal but moving closer to true Power Metal by the end of the 80’s. With each release, they sailed further from mediocracy to uniquely speedy melodic pirate metal with delicious riffs and gruff but talented vocals. Death or Glory is the peak of their 80’s material and often cited as their magnum opus.
The opening track “Riding the Storm” is indeed possibly the finest Power Metal song that had been laid to record by 1989. The guitar leads weave melodic, infectious riffs around a constantly pummeling rhythm section that keeps the song at full energy the whole ride through. The vocal performance is just awesome. Never a dull moment in the epic rocking of over 6 minutes. The title track “Death or Glory” captures this in a similar vein. Though much shorter, the atmosphere is just as epic and powerful, and that chorus stands against the best. Two prime examples of what a perfect Power Metal song should be.
Unfortunately, while the rest of album is great, there’s nothing else that can really hold its own against the aforementioned tracks. It mostly just blends together as strong but unmemorable material. It’s also a bit of a problem when the album starts on its highest note and ends on its lowest (the slower “March On” leaves a bit to be desired and sounds like an arena rocker). Truly, Running Wild wrote some of the best Power Metal songs of all time, but Death or Glory as an album doesn’t quite match such standards.
The opening track “Riding the Storm” is indeed possibly the finest Power Metal song that had been laid to record by 1989. The guitar leads weave melodic, infectious riffs around a constantly pummeling rhythm section that keeps the song at full energy the whole ride through. The vocal performance is just awesome. Never a dull moment in the epic rocking of over 6 minutes. The title track “Death or Glory” captures this in a similar vein. Though much shorter, the atmosphere is just as epic and powerful, and that chorus stands against the best. Two prime examples of what a perfect Power Metal song should be.
Unfortunately, while the rest of album is great, there’s nothing else that can really hold its own against the aforementioned tracks. It mostly just blends together as strong but unmemorable material. It’s also a bit of a problem when the album starts on its highest note and ends on its lowest (the slower “March On” leaves a bit to be desired and sounds like an arena rocker). Truly, Running Wild wrote some of the best Power Metal songs of all time, but Death or Glory as an album doesn’t quite match such standards.
1 like
Track listing (Songs)
| title | rating | votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Riding The Storm | 6:30 | 95 | 3 |
| 2. | Renegade | 4:29 | 86.7 | 3 |
| 3. | Evilution | 4:43 | 80 | 2 |
| 4. | Running Blood | 4:30 | 82.5 | 2 |
| 5. | Highland Glory (The Eternal Fight) | 4:52 | 82.5 | 2 |
| 6. | Marooned | 5:13 | 85 | 2 |
| 7. | Bad To The Bone | 4:46 | 90 | 4 |
| 8. | Tortuga Bay | 3:17 | 82.5 | 2 |
| 9. | Death Or Glory | 4:00 | 90 | 3 |
| 10. | The Battle Of Waterloo | 7:46 | 85 | 2 |
| 11. | March On | 4:12 | 83.3 | 3 |
| 12. | Hanged, Drawn And Quartered | 4:38 | 80 | 1 |
| 13. | Win Or Be Drowned | 4:17 | 75 | 1 |
Line-up (members)
- Rolf Kasparek : Vocals & Guitars
- Majk Moti : Guitars
- Jens Becker : Bass
- Ian Finlay : Drums
10,034 reviews
| cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | Tattooed Millionaire Review (1990) | 80 | 1 day ago | 0 | ||
 | | Inlé Review (2009) | 90 | 1 day ago | 0 | ||
 | | Wicca Review (1992) | 100 | 4 days ago | 1 | ||
 | | Metallica Review (1991) | 85 | 4 days ago | 0 | ||
 | | Banished by Sin Review (2024) | 75 | 4 days ago | 1 | ||
 | | Mycelium Review (2024) | 90 | 5 days ago | 0 | ||
 | | 95 | Apr 22, 2024 | 7 | |||
 | | On Stage Review (1977) [Live] | 95 | Apr 21, 2024 | 1 | ||
 | | Of What's to Come Review (2008) | 85 | Apr 20, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | 85 | Apr 20, 2024 | 0 | |||
 | | Shotgun Justice Review (1990) | 100 | Apr 17, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Elements of Anger Review (1997) | 85 | Apr 17, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Rising Review (1976) | 100 | Apr 16, 2024 | 1 | ||
 | | Affect on Your Brain Review (1994) | 85 | Apr 16, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Metal Health Review (1983) | 90 | Apr 15, 2024 | 1 | ||
 | | Flamenco a Go-Go Review (2000) | 90 | Apr 14, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | On the Prowl Review (1991) | 85 | Apr 12, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Death Is Little More Review (2024) | 95 | Apr 11, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Love at First Sting Review (1984) | 95 | Apr 8, 2024 | 1 | ||
 | | Greatest Hits Review (1981) [Compilation] | 90 | Apr 6, 2024 | 1 |
Rock'nRolf 95/100May 31, 2021 Likes : 4
실력있는 기타리스트 틸로 헤르만과 레이지, 라오스, 메콩 델타에서 활약한 베테랑 드러머 외르크 미하엘을 영입하여 야심차게 발표한 앨범이다. 그러한 만큼 롤프의 작곡 역량이 최고조에 달했는데 헤비, 파워, 스피드 메탈을 적절하게 요소요소에 배치하여 적절한 완급조절을 했고 악곡... Read More
Crimson아이똥 90/100Jan 16, 2024 Likes : 2
저먼 파워메탈의 거두중 하나인 러닝 와일드. 멜로딕하면서 귀에 감기는 리프들이 시원시원하게 쭉쭉 뻗어나가고 드럼은 달리는 말처럼 힘차게 발을 구르며 보컬은 저 바다의 해적처럼 호탕하게 호령한다. 묵직한 베이스도 아주 매력적. 한척의 배를 티고 시원한 바닷바람을 맞듯 속이 뻥... Read More
SilentScream213 80/100Jun 4, 2022 Likes : 2
Naysayers might have been claiming Metal was dead by 1994, but Running Wild were running strong and delivering cut after cut of rough, nautical Power Metal. Black Hand Inn was just another notch in their belts in consistently quality releases. This one is much faster than the previous Pile of Skulls, reclaiming more of their original Speed Metal influence and keeping with their... Read More
Rock'nRolf 70/100Oct 29, 2021 Likes : 2
한때 러닝 와일드의 열성팬으로서 이들의 곡을 열심히 파던 시절이 있었다. 비록 곡들 대부분이 단순하긴 하지만 단순한만큼 맛있는 기타리프가 러닝 와일드의 감상 포인트였던 시절이 있었다. 하지만 지금은 신보를 낼 필요가 과연 있었을까 싶을 정도로 지난 앨범들에 비해서도 너무 후... Read More
▶ Death or Glory Review (1989)
SilentScream213 80/100Nov 1, 2020 Likes : 1
Running Wild are one of the earliest Power Metal bands around, starting as Speed/Heavy Metal but moving closer to true Power Metal by the end of the 80’s. With each release, they sailed further from mediocracy to uniquely speedy melodic pirate metal with delicious riffs and gruff but talented vocals. Death or Glory is the peak of their 80’s material and often cited as their...
Rock'nRolf 90/100Aug 22, 2015 Likes : 1
록큰롤프의 작곡실력은 정말 뛰어나다. 질투가 날 정도로.... 어렵지않은 리프를 그것도 좋은 리프를 마치 풀빵 찍어내듯 만들어내는 탁월함에 놀라지 않을수 없다. 하지만 판에 박힌듯한 비슷한 악곡 방식이 다소 아쉬울뿐! 멜로디 구성방식 또한 비슷하다. 펜타토닉과 메이저,마이너 등의... Read More
