adg211288 There was a time when Running Wild were one of Germany's most unstoppable forces in the power metal scene. Sure, they haven't enjoyed a following anywhere close to that of Helloween or Blind Guardian, but for those who know the scene a bit deeper they are the producers of several well thought of albums including Black Hand Inn (1994), Death or Glory (1989) and Port Royal (1988). Unfortunately Running Wild are also like the Metallica of the power metal genre: their later work isn't thought of nearly as well as their classic period. They've moved away from the genre they're most associated with, power metal, and they've put out a few albums that aren't thought too well of at all such as Rogues en Vogue (2005), Shadowmaker (2012) and Resilient (2013). Now they are back once again with Rapid Foray (2016), their sixteenth full-length album and I'll be honest despite my personal opinion that Resilient was actually the best Running Wild album since Victory (2000), expectations were not too high for it.

Stop press because Rapid Foray is Running Wild in an actually pretty damn solid album shocker!

This isn't a full return to their classic heavy/power metal sound, but with Rapid Foray Running Wild have actually taken a big step back towards it. In fact if I didn't know better I'd say that this was actually some lost album recorded around the time of Victory than a follow-up to Resilient. Song-writing wise it's also got what must be the strongest and most consistent track list of any Running Wild album released in the last two decades. It's not on the level with earlier classics, others about from the aforementioned being Pile of Skulls (1992) and Under Jolly Roger (1987) and it isn't quite up to even Masquerade (1995) and The Rivalry (1998), but it's the closest they've ever come. After the last few albums I'll most definitely take that, and thanks very much. It gives me great hope that there may come a day when I can do longer say that The Rivalry is the last truly great Running Wild album.

And there are even times when Rapid Foray goes beyond being merely solid work. A few favourites of mine are Into the West, By the Blood in Your Heart, Black Bart and of course the album's epic, Last of the Mohicans. The sound production on the album is pretty good too, another factor that I feel has hindered some of Running Wild's more recent albums. Overall Rapid Foray may not be a return to greatness, but it is very much a return to form.