2006-12-01
One of the first reviews I did on this site was of
RAM's demo, "Sudden Impact", it seems since then the band has gone from strength to strength, still heavily into 80's melodic metal fans, the band still resembles classic
Judas Priest with some
Pretty Maids and
Iron Maiden thrown in as well.
The sound is extremely better than the one on their demo, obviously, but it also feels better put together, adult, it shows quite easily the progress the band made since it's inception, the vocals sit in much better with the music, the leads are better, while the energy that drove that demo is still very much there.
"Shadowman" is classic 80's metal, driving riffs, high pitched vocals with a good range, and a great lead section with just the right rhythm guitars. "Sudden Impact", which sounds decent on the demo, sounds great here; this is just the way 80's influenced Euro metal should stand, old school lovers will rejoice.
HammerFall may be the best known doing this genre right now, but RAM are certainly up to scratch, their music is solid, well put together and melodic, slower tracks such as "Venom In My Veins" just feel right, this sounds like early Maiden with some
Saxon thrown in, there's some great bass work throughout the song, it just works.
The title song is fast and furious Euro metal, great galloping guitar riff with some of the strongest vocals on the album, what this does is just what the band is supposed to, it catches the right 80's feel this music is supposed to have, and the pre-chorus is a work of genius.
To surmise, the band just keeps getting better, the promise evident in their demo was well founded, because this is one debut that melodic metal fans will certainly like.
Alon Miasnikov
