Ok, this is as simple as it gets, in 1993 three members of one of Germany's most legendary and popular heavy metal bands, RUNNING WILD, decide to leave and form a new band, but apparently, they didn't want to put in a lot of time thinking of a name, and went with X-WILD, see, I told ya it was simple. Bringing in vocalist Frank Knight (KNIGHTHOOD, WILD KNIGHT), apparently, he didn't put in a lot of time thinking of band names either, and Walla, the new quartet was born. They were meeting several times for song writing in Rensburg in the North of Germany before they entered the studio to record their first album called "So What!" After the success of their debut album, they entered the studio again in 1995 to record their second album called "Monster Effect". With the success of the first two albums, the band recorded and released their third and turns out, their final album "Savageland" in 1996, which has been re-issued on Rock of Angels Records on July 14, 2023, with Frank Ullrich replacing Stefan Schwarzmann for the swan song on drums. I'm not quite sure why these members left RUNNING WILD founder Rolf Kasparek high and dry, and even less sure of why they only lasted for three albums. I am curious to see if they painted themselves into a corner by trying to duplicate their previous two successful efforts or break free and create a new unique sound.

Starting out with three minutes of incoherent noise over mumblings and narration describing a barren and desolate land on "Savageland Intro", has me wondering if this is actually a concept album, we shall see as we dig deeper, which leads into "Braveheart", that comes into earshot with heavy, sludgy riffs and the familiar gruff and somewhat unnerving vocals of Frank Wright.
The title track "Savageland" has a chanting chorus underlying the power and meaty savvy riffs with a notorious feel of turpitude. "Dragonslair" is a true "power ballad" in every sense, with its arching melody, somber acoustics, vicious guitar accompaniment all seared together by the minacious, powerful vocals that actually send chills down my spine. "Field Of Blackbirds" is  strong metal riffing with some intense guitar work summoning an IRON MAIDEN feel and sound. "Chaos Ends" is a fitting end to the album with a rapid, hulking melody and beat fueled as the most balanced song on the album. And yes, it turns out this was intended to be a concept album with the hero Braveheart fighting the evil Duke, or something on that order, I found it a little hard to piece the storyline together.

I'm still a little puzzled on why this band only recorded three albums before disappearing into the rock and roll burial ground. This is the second X-WILD album I've reviewed and while I will not be running out to get their name tattooed on my arm, they are a solid, headbanging band that delivers both power and at times, a little dark and doom metal, converting "Savageland" to a very good, hard rocking album with only a few klunkers, that any hard-core banger will enjoy. It's evident they really tried to be their "own" band, and they did accomplish that.