Gates To Purgatory

Before they flew the Jolly Roger and set sail as metal’s definitive pirate band, Running Wild were conjuring something darker. Gates to Purgatory, their 1984 debut, is raw, relentless, and drenched in satanic and anarchic fury — the sound of a band just discovering their fire.

Recorded with original guitarist Gerald “Preacher” Warnecke, who left shortly after to become a vicar (yes, really), this record is a time capsule of pre-pirate Running Wild: classic NWOBHM riffs filtered through Teutonic speed metal aggression, with lyrics exploring theology, rebellion, and occult themes. Tracks like “Victim of States Power” and “Soldiers of Hell” channel youthful defiance with pounding riffs and shrieking vocals.

Despite little promotion, Gates to Purgatory was a surprise hit, selling over 20,000 copies in its first three months and helping lay the groundwork for Germany’s heavy metal surge of the mid-’80s. Later reissued by Lemon Records and Noise Records, it remains a cult classic — raw, righteous, and essential for any fan of early Euro-metal.