Black Hand Inn

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Black Hand Inn
Running Wild - Black Hand Inn.jpg
Studio album by
Released24 March 1994
Recorded1993-1994
StudioHorus-Sound-Studio, Hannover, Vox Klangstudio, Bendestorf, Germany
GenreHeavy metal, power metal
Length65:46
LabelElectrola
ProducerRolf Kasparek, Karl-Ulrich Walterbach
Running Wild chronology
Pile of Skulls
(1992)
Black Hand Inn
(1994)
Masquerade
(1995)
Singles from Black Hand Inn
  1. "The Privateer"
    Released: 10 March 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic1.5/5 stars[1]
Rock Hard9/10[2]

Black Hand Inn is the eighth studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released on March 24, 1994 through Noise Records. It is a loose concept album about a resurrected man, against a backdrop of piracy, foreseeing Armageddon.

Content[]

The album's story starts with "The Curse", in which a man by the name of John Xenir (played by Rolf Kasparek) has been condemned to death for using forbidden powers and is burned at the stake to save his soul. After the fire burns out, all that is left is a blackened and charred hand. In the title track, John is alive and creates his own inn in a grove with the sign of a black hand on the front door. He shows to his patrons his powers by predicting their futures. A priest happens to see his powers and threatens him, calling him a devil. However, John is unfazed and tells the man that long ago he was burned away and that the priest is really the evil one.

The lyrics of the song "Genesis" are based on the book "The 12th Planet" by Zecharia Sitchin.

Reception[]

In 2005, Black Hand Inn was ranked number 394 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[3]

Track listing[]

All songs written by Rolf Kasparek

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."The Curse"3:15
2."Black Hand Inn"4:32
3."Mr. Deadhead"4:02
4."Soulless"4:57
5."The Privateer"4:21
6."Fight the Fire of Hate"6:38
Side B
No.TitleLength
7."The Phantom of Black Hand Hill"6:25
8."Freewind Rider"5:15
9."Powder & Iron"5:18
10."Dragonmen"5:42
11."Genesis (The Making and the Fall of Man)"15:18
Total length:65:43
1st Press CD bonus track
No.TitleLength
1."Poisoned Blood" (From The Privateer EP)3:42
Total length:69:25
Japanese bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
1."Poisoned Blood" (From The Privateer EP)3:42
2."Dancing on a Minefield" (From The Privateer EP)5:00
Total length:64:25

Personnel[]

Additional Musicians
Production
  • Rock 'n' Rolf - producer
  • Charlie Bauerfeind - engineering, mixing, mastering
  • Sascha Paeth - engineering (additional), programming
  • Marisa Jacobi - layout, typography
  • Karl-Ulrich Walterbach - executive producer
  • Andreas Marschall - cover art

Charts[]

Chart Peak position
German Album Charts[4] 14

References[]

  1. ^ Ravelin, Antti J. "Running Wild - Black Hand Inn review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  2. ^ Dix, Jan Michael. "Rock Hard review". issue 84. Rock Hard. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  3. ^ Best of Rock & Metal die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten. Königswinter: Heel. 2005. p. 52. ISBN 3-89880-517-4.
  4. ^ "German album charts". Retrieved 23 May 2013.[dead link]
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