Running Wild
Masquerade (Expanded Edition) (2017 Remaster)

Not a huge fan of this entire album, but nevertheless it's a great looking release. And the title song itself is sufficient to have it in my collection.

Creating something worthwhile after the Black Hand Inn was a real headache for Rolf. Nevertheless, the new album was released in August 1995. and immediately evoked twofold associations: the fans took it “with a bang”, the rest considered it a bit monotonous and primitive. I have to say right away - the album has two significant drawbacks: the rhythm section that is too loud, overlapping the solo guitar in some places, and really pretty monotonous material. Select at first (and usually the most attentive) listening is possible only for Masquerade, Lions of the Sea, Rebel at Heart, Men in Black. The rest of the compositions are not so outstanding, although after the second or even tenth listening, you enter them, although it is clear that they are in the nature of the connecting links between the above hits. I’ll take the album to the pluses of the complicated technique of the game (what the drummer does, practically soloing on the drum set cannot be described, the solo guitar is also good, although at times due to its rhythm it is not so audible even on the branded sidyuk), as well as the fact that the sound has become tougher and more monolithic, in contrast to the slightly “spatial” sound from the Black Hand Inn. The bias towards antisocial themes on many compositions is of some interest, although in some places the lyrics are more than naive. In short, competent, technically sophisticated, although a bit monotonous and predictable work.