Gates to Purgatory

Gates to Purgatory is the first studio album by 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.

Gates to Purgatory
Studio album by Running Wild
Released	October 1984
Recorded	June 1984
Studio	Caet Studio, Berlin, Germany[1]
Genre	Speed metal
Label	Noise
Producer	Running Wild
Running Wild chronology
Gates to Purgatory (1984) Branded and Exiled (1985)

The album has sold over 235,000 copies worldwide. The album was reissued in 2012 by Lemon records, as well as in 2017 by Noise records.

Track listing

All tracks written by Rolf Kasparek except where noted

Side A

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Victim of States Power"	Warnecke	3:39
2.	"Black Demon"		4:29
3.	"Preacher"	Kasparek, Warnecke	4:26
4.	"Soldiers of Hell"		3:30

Side B

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"Diabolic Force"	Kasparek, Warnecke	5:04
6.	"Adrian S.O.S."		2:54
7.	"Genghis Khan"		4:13
8.	"Prisoner of Our Time"	Warnecke	5:26
Total length:			33:41

U.S. and Canadian CD Bonus Tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Walpurgis Night"	Warnecke	4:41
2.	"Satan"		4:08
Total length:			42:30

2017 Remastered Bonus Tracks

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Chains & Leather" (From the 1983 Rock From Hell - German Metal Attack compilation)	5:10
2.	"Adrian" (From the 1983 Rock From Hell - German Metal Attack compilation)	2:44
3.	"Walpurgis Night" (From The First Years of Piracy)	5:19
4.	"Satan" (From the 1984 Victim of States Power EP)	4:08
5.	"Iron Heads" (From the 1984 Death Metal split album)	3:38
6.	"Bones to Ashes" (From the 1984 Death Metal split album)	5:17
7.	"Soldiers of Hell" (Re-recorded)	3:22
8.	"Prisoner of Our Time" (Re-recorded)	4:34
Total length:		1:07:53

Notes

• 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 guitar
• Wolfgang "Hasche" Hagemann – drums

Production

• Horst Müller – 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

1. "RUNNING WILD - the official website". www.running-wild.de. Retrieved 27 November 2016.