RAM ‘The Throne Within’
Album Review By Adam McCann
Metal Blade Records/Heavy Metal
For fans of trad metal, it is truly a golden time to be alive. This is one movement that can be looked back on with the same prosperity and love that movements such as NWOBHM and thrash get. RAM have been part of this movement for over a decade now with most of their albums being received exceptionally well and this year has the Swedes returning with their latest album ‘The Throne Within’.
Although RAM have always had decent albums, it has always been an odd production which makes their albums quite difficult to immediately appreciate. However, with ‘The Throne Within’, RAM have finally hit their stride from the off. This is an album with a perfect production for the trad metal which RAM purvey and because of this, it is very difficult to not fall in love with this straight away. Finally, RAM have hit the nail on the head delivering an album of furiously speeding riffs and lyrics that ooze an 80’s nostalgia giving all the appeal of Judas Priest and Exciter, particularly during tracks such as the blistering ‘No Refuge’, the Tsar-era Russian themes of ‘Fang And Fur’ or the raucous ‘Blades Of Betrayal’. Furthermore, with ‘The Throne Within’, RAM show just how far they have grown as song writers with the slow burning ‘You All Leave’ giving the almost perfect melancholic touch of early Priest making love to Scorpions in their prime.
It may have taken the band more than a decade to reach this point, but RAM have delivered one of THE metal albums of the year. It will go unnoticed in many end of year lists, but for those with a love of trad metal should be implored to go and listen to this album. You will not be disappointed.
Rating : 91/100
MHF Magazine/Adam McCann
