The First Years of Piracy

1991 compilation album by Running Wild

The First Years of Piracy

Compilation album by

Running Wild

Released| 11 November 1991
Recorded| July–August 1991
Studio| Studio W. Machtsum
Genre| Heavy metal, power metal
Length| 42:34
Label| Noise[1]
Producer| Rock'n Rolf
Running Wild chronology
| Blazon Stone
(1991)  | The First Years of Piracy
(1991)  | Pile of Skulls
(1992)

|
|

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
Metal.de| 8/10[2]
Rock Hard| 9/10[3]

The First Years of Piracy is an album by German heavy metal band Running Wild. It is their last album with both bassist Jens Becker and drummer AC. It contains re-recorded versions of songs from the first three albums.

A promo video was made for this version of "Branded and Exiled".

In 2018, the album was included on a box set titled Pieces of Eight: The Singles, Live and Rare 1984 - 1994.[4] In 2022, the album was re-issued along with Ready for Boarding.[5]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Metal.de reviewed the re-release and compared the re-recordings to the originals and said they are "significantly more homogenous, polished, crisper, and faster [...]". They called the song selection good, although they noted that two important tracks were missing: "Genghis Khan" and "Adrian SOS".[2] Powermetal.de [de] also reviewed the re-release and said the album has "a more venomous, crisp, and contemporary sound. They said the ten tracks are the strongest tracks of the band's early years.[6] In a Pieces of Eight review, Inferno [fi] said the album sounds too clean and rushed, and ruins the feel of the originals.[7]

## Track listing

[edit]

Side A – RunningNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Under Jolly Roger"| 4:04
2.| "Branded and Exiled"| 3:50
3.| "Soldiers of Hell"| 3:22
4.| "Raise Your Fist"| 4:51
5.| "Walpurgis Night"| 5:20

Side B – WildNo.| Title| Length

|
|

6.| "Fight the Oppression"| 4:53
7.| "Marching to Die"| 4:37
8.| "Raw Ride"| 4:14
9.| "Diamonds of the Black Chest"| 2:49
10.| "Prisoner of Our Time"| 4:34
Total length:| 42:34

## Personnel

[edit]

* Rolf Kasparek – vocals, guitar, producer
* Axel Morgan – guitars
* Jens Becker – bass guitar
* AC – drums
* Jan Nemec – mixing

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Compilations & Tributes". Running Wild. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
2. ^ a b Endres, Markus (2 June 2022). "Running Wild - The First Years Of Piracy Review". Metal.de (in German). Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
3. ^ "Review - RUNNING WILD The First Years Of Piracy". Rock Hard (in German). 1991. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025. "Ausgabe: Rock Hard Vol. 56"
4. ^ "RUNNING WILD: 'Pieces Of Eight' Limited-Edition Box Set Due In September". Blabbermouth.net. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
5. ^ Hellweg, Frank (7 April 2022). "RUNNING WILD: Neuauflage von „Ready For Boarding" und The First Years Of Piracy"". Vampster [de] (in German). Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.+[de]&rft.atitle=RUNNING+WILD:+Neuauflage+von+„Ready+For+Boarding“+und+The+First+Years+Of+Piracy“&rft.date=2022-04-07&rft.aulast=Hellweg&rft.aufirst=Frank&rft_id=https://vampster.com/news/running-wild-neuauflage-von-ready-for-boarding-und-the-first-years-of-piracy/&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:The+First+Years+of+Piracy" class="Z3988">
6. ^ Rapp, Marcel (24 May 2022). "Review - RUNNING WILD - The First Years Of Piracy (Re-Release)". Powermetal.de [de] (in German). Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.+[de]&rft.atitle=Review+-+RUNNING+WILD+-+The+First+Years+Of+Piracy+(Re-Release)&rft.date=2022-05-24&rft.aulast=Rapp&rft.aufirst=Marcel&rft_id=https://powermetal.de/review/review-Running_Wild/The_First_Years_Of_Piracy__Re-Release_,39098.html&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:The+First+Years+of+Piracy" class="Z3988">
7. ^ Kuusinen, Miika (23 February 2019). "Vain laiskemmanpuoleisille tosirunkkareille – arviossa Running Wildin kokoelmaboksi". Inferno [fi] (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025. "Julkaistu Infernossa 10/2018"+[fi]&rft.atitle=Vain+laiskemmanpuoleisille+tosirunkkareille+–+arviossa+Running+Wildin+kokoelmaboksi&rft.date=2019-02-23&rft.aulast=Kuusinen&rft.aufirst=Miika&rft_id=https://www.inferno.fi/arviot/vain-laiskemmanpuoleisille-tosirunkkareille-arviossa-running-wildin-kokoelmaboksi/&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:The+First+Years+of+Piracy" class="Z3988">

* v
* t
* e

Running Wild

Studio albums|

* Gates to Purgatory
* Branded and Exiled
* Under Jolly Roger
* Port Royal
* Death or Glory
* Blazon Stone
* Pile of Skulls
* Black Hand Inn
* Masquerade
* The Rivalry
* Victory
* The Brotherhood
* Rogues en Vogue
* Shadowmaker
* Resilient
* Rapid Foray
* Blood on Blood

Live albums|

* Ready for Boarding
* Live
* The Final Jolly Roger

Compilation|

* The First Years of Piracy

Related articles|

* Band members

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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