By Vinnie Apicella

They fought the endless fight and now, with banner waving high, the victorious march can begin! Running Wild for seemingly an eternity, Rock 'N Rolf and his band of heavy metal marauders have kept the flame lit long into the night, crying for freedom, and an end to organized oppression-the cancer that eats away at our individuality. We are hosts and we welcome the arrival of the metal pirates who for nearly two decades have answered the call. Now, at the conclusion of the final battle, "Victory," the last of a thematic trilogy that first began with '95s "Masquerade," the world is again ours for the taking. Marking their first U.S. release in over a decade, not counting the recent run of reissued titles, "Victory" continues down the pathway of power metal excellence, charting a course amidst the high seas of trendy corruption and fashionable falsehood that lies within the capitalistic framework of musical fascism… But what's this… no pirate songs? It can't be… but it's true. There are no outwardly visible songs based on the lives of those 17th century legends that roamed the seas so valiantly to escape governmental overload and press onward into glory. That notwithstanding, musically, there is much to liken to Running Wild's past work, where the multi-jointed flexibility at the core of Rolf's guitar playing signals the likes of William Kidd and others like him still live at the heart of RW's powerful presence. Where the "Rivalry" is dying, the long awaited end… or "Victory" has begun and with it this latest chapter begins with "The Fall of Dorkas." Going against his own grain a bit for this one, Rolf introduces new drummer Angelo Sasso in a firestorm of double-bass battering, like a stormy seas pounding the hull… (Now I just can't get away from it!) rather than stir the subtle approach with the minute long introductions and foreboding voices. And all of a sudden, Priest's "Painkiller" comes roaring at ya dead on… Well not quite, but for a few seconds, between Sasso's drumming exploits and Rolf's jackhammer riffing, there's reason to compare. The band drew my wrath somewhat at the close of their last album, '98s "Masquerade," simply because the old formula was doing just that… getting old. A freshness needed to be enacted, not by way of modern influence or technotronic interference, but rather a new attitude and openness to let a little light shine within the otherwise mundane subject matter and equally monotonous song structures. For every "Fire & Thunder," which was an innovation for them, there was a "Resurrection," or "Man on the Moon," and it just wasn't cutting it. Proudly, I can now proclaim that the band has opened up its doors to let a little emotion bleed in and the results are altogether improved. There's no secret with Running Wild, and as usual, fans will be receiving the finest in traditional metal-"When Time Runs Out," "Into the Fire," housed around moments that include two or three all out thrash songs-"Timeriders," "Return of the Gods," and an epic tale built around a mighty chorus, "Tsar," and "Victory." "Silent Killer" comes as close to reaching back into the pinnacle of their creative genius that was "Port Royal" as anything since. And before the album's half over, there'll be a thunderous rendition of The Beatles' classic "Revolution," an unprecedented attack which among everything else, signals a courageous new future for the battle hardened veterans prepared to defend our honor for many years to come!

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