Greece's Rockpages recently spoke with RUNNING WILD frontman/founder Rock N' Rolf about the band's latest record, Shadowmaker. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

Rockpages.gr: I will be honest with you, I wasn’t that pleased with the overall quality of the album as I was expected more traditional Running Wild elements in the songs. What’s the feedback that you received so far?

Rock N’ Rolf: "The reactions are pretty much overwhelming and the album sounds great! I was really astonished by some comments of some people saying that this was the best Running Wild record ever. Again, I will say to you that when I started writing I didn’t have on my mind the fans or the press. I was free to do whatever I wanted to do and I wrote down whatever came to my mind, whatever felt natural to me."

Rockpages.gr: I am glad to hear that you feel reenergized. Shall we expect more Running Wild records in the future?

Rock N’ Rolf: "Absolutely! I am already collecting ideas for the next one...yes, there will be a second Running Wild record. For the time being, I don’t have so much time as I am doing a lot of interviews and I am promoting Shadowmaker. But, there will be more Running Wild in the near future."

Rockpages.gr: Why don’t we see any more such bands as Running Wild, HELLOWEEN, BLIND GUARDIAN, etc. and what’s really going on with the German metal scene?

Rock N’ Rolf: "The problem is…when we first started out in the early 80s, it was really hard to get a record deal. There were not so many bands around… but, nowadays with the internet and the technology the listener has so many different possibilities and although that there are many ways to promote your job, every single band is doing the same thing! So, you are constantly bombarded with new albums and groups. So, the fans are really puzzled and don’t really know which band should follow. Also, all the new bands that I’ve listened to are pretty much copies of Helloween, Running Wild and Blind Guardian. This is a big problem because when we started out we were influenced by many bands of the '70s, like KISS or AC/D, then came the NWOBHM. The difference was that we didn’t try to copy our favorite bands. We tried to create our own sound."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Shadowmaker has been released as a limited first edition in a black jewel case with silver printing and slipcase plus a 40 minute bonus DVD with a making of and a track by track commentary by Rock N' Rolf. The double gatefold LP comes with printed innersleeves and clear vinyl. There is also a boxset limited to 1,000 copies worldwide. It contains two LPs, the black jewel case with the DVD, a poster, a sticker, a postcard and a 30 page book in LP size about the history of the band.

Artwork for Shadowmaker was created by Rock N´Rolf and Jens Reinhold (EVERGREY, FREEDOM CALL, VIRGIN STEELE).

Tracklisting black jewel case plus DVD:

CD

'Piece Of The Action'

'Riding On The Tide'

'I Am Who I Am'

'Black Shadow'

'Locomotive'

'Me & The Boys'

'Shadowmaker'

'Sailing Fire'

'Into The Black'

'Dracula'

DVD

Making of Shadowmaker

Track by track commentary by Rock N´Rolf

Length approx. 40 min

Tracklisting LP:

LP 1:

Side 1

'Piece Of The Action'

'Riding On The Tide'

'I am Who I am'

Side 2

'Black Shadow'

'Locomotive'

'Me & The Boys'

LP 2:

Side 1

'Shadowmaker'

'Sailing Fire'

'Into The Black'

Side 2

'Dracula'

Boxset:

- two LPs, clear vinyl
- Black jewel case incl. DVD
- Poster
- Postcard
- Sticker
- 30 page book in LP size about the history of the band plus photos
- 35 x 35 cm
- hard cardboard material with top