Pile of Skulls is a compilation of rarities and re-recordings from the band's early period, featuring material largely unavailable elsewhere. The collection offers a look back at the band's foundational years before their more polished 2000s output.
- The album compiles tracks from the band's first four albums: 'Gates to Purgatory', 'Branded and Shaven', 'Under Jolly Roger', and 'Port Royal'. Some songs were re-recorded by the lineup that would later record 'The Rivalry'. The release was notable for including the previously unreleased track "Riding the Storm (2003)".
- This album was released on Noise Records, a label with a long history of working with Running Wild. The compilation aimed to satisfy fan demand for early material that had been out of print for years.
- 'Pile of Skulls' was released in May 2002, serving as a bridge between the band's 2000 album 'The Rivalry' and their 2003 studio album 'Aggressive Art'.
Running Wild is a German heavy metal band formed in Hamburg in 1979, originally known for their pirate-themed lyrics and aggressive sound. By 2002, the band was working through lineup changes, with guitarist Thilo Hermann and bassist Jan-Christoph Cierullies having departed prior to this release.
Tracklist
