If this website has a campaign, then let it be this: let us do away with the phrase “NWOBHM”.
For Christ’s sake, it’s 46 years since Iron Maiden’s debut and we are still trotting that acronym out. At some point, surely, we can just call it heavy metal and get on with enjoying it.
Which brings us neatly to Ram. It’s seven years since the Swedes released “The Throne Within”, and while it seems a cliché to say they’ve gone back to basics on “Against”, that’s kind of what they’ve done, in fairness. There’s a directness about these songs that makes the whole thing immediately appealing.
After “Obsession” takes care of the introductory duties, “Ghost Emperor” sets about being just about the most metal thing imaginable. If you wanted to explain the appeal of this music to somebody, you could do considerably worse than start here. Oscar Carlquist and the boys sound like they believe in every second of it.
“One Vs. All” slows things down a little, although everything is relative. There are legions, there is defiance, and there is the distinct impression that somebody is battling for something. Probably metal. Whatever the cause, you’d back these lads to give it a decent go.
Remember when speed metal was a thing? So do these boys. “Abattoir” makes that abundantly clear, before “Out Of Control” delivers three minutes of groove with a strong flavour of Di’Anno-era Maiden. It’s a particularly pleasing reminder of how much swagger there was in that sound.
At nearly double that length, “Leaving” feels like a journey. There’s more of a Sabbath vibe here, and the words about staying at home and living a life in solitude give it a different weight. It broadens the record’s scope without losing that basic connection to the music that runs through everything.
But the point, really, is that these songs are so good. The title track is gloriously 80s-tinged, and “I won’t be held down” feels like a statement of intent for the whole album. Harry Granroth and Martin Jonsson understand the appeal of this stuff, and there’s a confidence to the way Ram put it across.
Morgan Pettersson sounds like he is enjoying himself behind the drums on “Night Blade”, where the atmosphere gets darker. There’s something of Mötley Crüe back when they were a metal band about it, that slightly grubby sense that trouble might be waiting around the corner.
“Rising Again” has another thoroughly pleasing 80s feel, with a touch of W.A.S.P. about its approach. By the time “1984” arrives, the era seems particularly appropriate, although its outlook is distinctly dystopian. “How did we fail?” it asks, and the unease gives the song an edge.
“The Final Hour” brings a touch of menace to the finish. Like Accept, Ram have a knack for making this music irresistibly good. You can hear the love of metal in it, and you can hear why it continues to matter.
Metal played by people who love it. What’s not to like?
I’m firmly convinced that when the apocalypse happens, two things will survive. Cockroaches and heavy metal.
Rating: 8/10.
