Death or Glory (album)

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Death or Glory
Studio album by
Released8 November 1989
RecordedJuly–August 1989
StudioStudio M, Hanover
GenreHeavy metal, power metal, pirate metal[1]
Length50:06
LabelNoise/EMI
ProducerRolf Kasparek, Karl-Ulrich Walterbach
Running Wild chronology
Port Royal
(1988)
Death or Glory
(1989)
Blazon Stone
(1991)
Singles from Death or Glory
  1. "Bad to the Bone"
    Released: 8 November 1989

Death or Glory is the fifth studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released 8 November 1989 through Noise Records. It is the band's last album with both guitarist Majk Moti and drummer Ian Finlay. Being one of their most successful releases, it contains the concert favourites "Riding the Storm" and "Bad to the Bone". The final track, "March On", was not included on the vinyl release due to space constraints.

The CD version (both the original and remastered) of the album contains 1991's Wild Animal EP, albeit with a different running order than that of the original. However, despite the presence of Wild Animal on the original pressing CD, neither the booklet nor back insert tray mention these songs. But the CD non-playing side (of the original pressing), however, does list the 4 songs from this EP. The booklet on the remastered version has the full info on including of the EP.

Running Wild filmed a live video to the song "Bad to the Bone", recorded in Düsseldorf. The song had some airtime at MTVs Headbangers Ball. "Riding the Storm" also had a live video that was also shot in Düsseldorf with a crowd of nearly 9,000 attendees.

The track "Bad to the Bone" was recorded by a cappella band van Canto and was released on their fourth studio album Break the Silence.

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Rock Hard8/10[3]

Death or Glory was ranked number 285 in Rock Hard magazine's 2005 book The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time[4] and number 17 on Metal Hammer's list of the 25 best power metal album of all time.[1]

Death or Glory Tour[edit]

A live VHS tape of the band playing a live concert at Düsseldorf during the Death or Glory Tour was released by Fotodisk and later by Bonsai Music.

The videotape features 11 tracks including a live version of three songs from Death or Glory ("Riding the Storm", "Bad to the Bone" and "Tortuga Bay").

Track listing[edit]

Side A
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Riding the Storm"Rolf KasparekKasparek6:30
2."Renegade"Iain FinlayKasparek4:29
3."Evilution"FinlayKasparek, Jens Becker4:43
4."Running Blood"KasparekKasparek4:30
5."Highland Glory (The Eternal Fight)" (instrumental) Becker, Finlay4:52
Side B
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
6."Marooned"Kasparek, FinlayKasparek5:13
7."Bad to the Bone"Kasparek, FinlayKasparek4:46
8."Tortuga Bay"Kasparek, FinlayKasparek3:17
9."Death or Glory"Majk Moti, FinlayMoti4:00
10."Battle of Waterloo"KasparekKasparek7:46
Total length:50:06
CD bonus track
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."March On" (from the Bad to the Bone EP)MotiMoti4:12
Total length:54:18
1990 re-issue bonus tracks
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."March On" (from the Bad to the Bone EP)MotiMoti4:12
2."Wild Animal" (from the Wild Animal EP)KasparekKasparek4:11
3."Chains & Leather" (from the Wild Animal EP)MotiMoti5:46
4."Tear Down the Walls" (from the Wild Animal EP)MotiKasparek4:17
5."Störtebeker" (from the Wild Animal EP)KasparekKasparek4:05
Total length:72:38
The 2017 remastered version contains a second disc, featuring the following songs
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."March On" (from the Bad to the Bone EP)MotiMoti4:12
2."Wild Animal" (from the Wild Animal EP)KasparekKasparek4:11
3."Chains & Leather" (from the Wild Animal EP)MotiMoti5:46
4."Tear Down the Walls" (from the Wild Animal EP)MotiKasparek4:17
5."Störtebeker" (from the Wild Animal EP)KasparekKasparek4:05
6."Riding the Storm" (2003 re-recorded version)KasparekKasparek6:30
7."Bad to the Bone" (2003 re-recorded version)Kasparek, FinlayKasparek4:46

Personnel[edit]

  • Rolf Kasparek – vocals, guitars
  • Majk Moti – guitars
  • Jens Becker – bass
  • Iain Finlay – drums
Additional Musician
Production
  • Jan Němec – engineering, mixing
  • Martin Becker – photography
  • Sebastian Krüger – artwork
  • Rock 'n' Rolf – producer
  • Karl-U. Walterbach – executive producer

Charts[edit]

Chart (1989) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5] 45

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Chantler, Chris (14 November 2019). "The 25 greatest power metal albums". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  2. ^ Huey, Steve. "Running Wild – Death or Glory review". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  3. ^ Kupfer, Thomas. "Rock Hard review". issue 35. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  4. ^ Best of Rock & Metal – Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten (in German). Rock Hard. 2005. p. 98. ISBN 3-89880-517-4.
  5. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Running Wild – Death or Glory" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 September 2020.