Gates to Purgatory
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Gates to Purgatory
| type = studio
| artist = Running Wild
| cover = 1984-Gates To Purgatory.jpg
| alt =
| released = October 1984
| recorded = June 1984
| studio = Caet Studio, Berlin{{cite web|title=RUNNING WILD – the official website|url=http://www.running-wild.de/html/album.html|website=running-wild.de|accessdate=27 November 2016|archive-date=27 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127214611/http://www.running-wild.de/html/album.html|url-status=dead}}
| genre = Speed metal, heavy metal
| length = 33:41
| label = Noise (Germany)
Combat (US)
| producer = Running Wild, Horst Müller
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Branded and Exiled
| next_year = 1985
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
| rev1Score = 4/10{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | authorlink1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties | publisher = Collector's Guide Publishing | date = 1 November 2005 | isbn = 978-1-894959-31-5 | page= 297}}
| rev2 = metal.de
| rev2Score = 8/10{{Cite web |date=16 August 2012 |title=Running Wild – Gates To Purgatory Review |url=https://www.metal.de/reviews/running-wild-gates-to-purgatory-50910/ |access-date=10 March 2025 |website=metal.de |language=de}}
| rev3 = Rock Hard
| rev3Score = 9/10{{Cite web |date=1 September 1984 |title=RUNNING WILD – Gates To Purgatory |url=https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/running-wild-gates-to-purgatory |access-date=10 March 2025 |website=Rock Hard |language=de}}
| noprose = yes
}}
Gates to Purgatory is the debut studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released in 1984. It predates their piracy themes and has mostly satanically-influenced lyrics but also features songs with anarchic and libertarian (in the sense of European libertarianism) themes. It was in part of Gerald "Preacher" Warnecke's studies in theology. He left the band soon after the album's release to become a vicar.
Even though the album was not promoted, it was a sales success, selling over 20,000 copies in the first three months, and inspired numerous other bands worldwide.
It was reissued in 2012 by Lemon Records and in 2017 by Noise Records.
Track listing
All tracks written by Rolf Kasparek except where noted
{{track_listing
| headline = Side A
| title1 = Victim of States Power
| writer1 = Warnecke
| length1 = 3:39
| title2 = Black Demon
| length2 = 4:29
| title3 = Preacher
| writer3 = Kasparek, Warnecke
| length3 = 4:26
| title4 = Soldiers of Hell
| length4 = 3:30
}}
{{track_listing
| total_length = 33:41
| headline = Side B
| title5 = Diabolic Force
| writer5 = Kasparek, Warnecke
| length5 = 5:04
| title6 = Adrian S.O.S.
| length6 = 2:54
| title7 = Genghis Khan
| length7 = 4:13
| title8 = Prisoner of Our Time
| writer8 = Warnecke
| length8 = 5:26
}}
{{track_listing
| total_length = 42:30
| headline = US and Canadian CD bonus tracks
| title1 = Walpurgis Night
| writer1 = Warnecke
| length1 = 4:41
| title2 = Satan
| length2 = 4:08
}}
{{track_listing
| total_length = 67:53
| headline = 2017 remastered bonus tracks
| title1 = Chains & Leather
| note1 = from the 1983 Rock From Hell – German Metal Attack compilation
| length1 = 5:10
| title2 = Adrian
| note2 = from the 1983 Rock From Hell – German Metal Attack compilation
| length2 = 2:44
| title3 = Walpurgis Night
| note3 = from The First Years of Piracy
| length3 = 5:19
| title4 = Satan
| note4 = from the 1984 Victim of States Power EP
| length4 = 4:08
| title5 = Iron Heads
| note5 = from the 1984 Death Metal split album
| length5 = 3:38
| title6 = Bones to Ashes
| note6 = from the 1984 Death Metal split album
| length6 = 5:17
| title7 = Soldiers of Hell
| note7 = re-recorded
| length7 = 3:22
| title8 = Prisoner of Our Time
| note8 = re-recorded
| length8 = 4:34
}}
- The bonus track "Walpurgis Night" cuts off very close to the end due to the condition of the master tape on most releases.
- The 1991 Japanese release contains the 1985 album Branded and Exiled.
Personnel
- Rolf Kasparek – guitar, vocals
- Gerald "Preacher" Warnecke – guitar
- Stephan Boriss – bass
- Wolfgang "Hasche" Hagemann – drums
;Production
- Running Wild – producer, artwork
- Horst Müller – producer, recording
- D. Magnussen – photography
Cover versions
- The sludge metal band Kingdom of Sorrow did a cover of the song "Soldiers of Hell" in their album Behind the Blackest Tears.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Running Wild}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Running Wild (band) albums
{{1980s-metal-album-stub}}