The Throne Within

If you are looking for a true throwback to 80's metal, RAM can deliver the goods. Their last three albums have been solid slabs of metal, so when I discovered that they had a new album due to be released in 2019, it quickly became one of my more anticipated metal records.

The Throne Within was an instant buy. I didn't need to hear any songs from the album, but if you wanted to sneak a peak, the video for Blades Of Betrayal was a good preview.

RAM continues to stick with that 80's metal style that they do best. They are missing some of the hooks that the 80's greats had, but man, they sure have the attitude and conviction to make them stand above most of the newer metal bands today. These guys just want to get you headbanging, and they manage to do that without fail.

The Throne Within was limited to only 100 in the US, and the ochre/brown marble vinyl looks great. All other pressings were out of Europe, so I was happy to get in and get a copy that avoided overseas shipping fees.

The record also comes with a huge poster, which was nice to pull out to check out, and then immediately tuck back into the sleeve never to see the light of day again.

Ramrod The Destroyer

Make no mistakes, Ram are pure unadulterated 80's Metal worship. The leather, studs, and screaming voice conjure up images of Judas Priest...and putting on a Ram album is like a time warp back to the golden days when Metal ruled.

When I heard that the new Ram album was to be called "Rod"...as in ramrod (ugh...how corny and lame is that?)...I was disappointed, and set my expectations low. Checking the video for the song On Wings Of No Return, set me straight, and I was soon headbanging like a maniac. Man, Ram know how to get the Metal blood boiling.

Before I listened to the record, I'd read some initial reviews that weren't overly positive. Comparisons were made to the band's killer album from 2015, Svbversvm, and most reviews felt that Rod fell short. The album does come ripping out of the gates though, and the first side of this record does not let up with it's unrelenting Metal attack. Side two consists of one epic song, Ramrod The Destroyer, broken out into six parts, and we kind of pump the brakes a few times as some interludes try to set the mood. It's cool I guess, but compared to side one, it does leave me a little underwhelmed by the end of the record. Still, this is a great Metal album, and it will be fun trying to see where it falls into my Top 10 for 2017 list.

Hand numbered and limited to 100 on transparent orange colored vinyl.

Return Of The Iron Tyrant

RAM have been one of those bands that I've enjoyed over the past few years, but one that I've never really spent much time with. I remember getting excited about them when I first saw their video for Flame Of The Tyrants, from their Death LP, back in 2011/2012. When I first heard that song, I was sure that the album was going to rocket to the top of Best of 2012 list, but in the end, I guess I wasn't feeling it as much as I initially thought...or I was too focused on Fire & Ice and Boston Strangler records to really spend much time with it, and RAM never got much attention.

When I heard they were releasing a new album this year, and dudes over at the Bravewords board started complementing it by stating that it was Judas Priest worship, I knew that I had to check it out the first single, Eyes Of The Night. Yeah, I can hear the Priest influence, but at times it also reminds me of the first Sanctuary album.

Of course, Metal Blade distribution for vinyl releases sucks balls in the States, and I had to find an overseas distributor. Surprisingly, there was a European distro that offered free shipping to the US, so I considered myself lucky, and I grabbed a copy.

It feels good to finally have a piece of RAM vinyl in my collection, and this is a solid Metal album. Traditional Metal is killing it in 2015.

I love seeing the old school Metal Blade logo on this release. I was never a fan of that newer skull logo, so it was good to see the old one make a comeback.