RAM
Svbversvm
Release Date: 30 October 2015
Metal Blade Records
Review by Cameron Cooper
Having kicked it old school since 1999, Sweden’s speed metal vagabonds RAM retain their 80s gusto and vinegar-pissing attitude on their fourth full-length, the cryptically titled Svbversvm. For those familiar with RAM, this is a similar affair to previous records: vocals that sounds like Halford gargling barbed-wire, 100mph drumming and razor-sharp guitars.
However, Svbversvm is much more than re-treading old ground. With the band’s sound now sitting more in line with Di’Anno era Iron Maiden, the band has also taken cues from their occult-drenched peers, injecting their music with a brooding, almost-progressive evil. This is most evident on album stand-out Holy Death, which sees the band move away from speed metal and towards an eerier vibe.
The Omega Device (MI III) is the most satisfying tune, with the band cramming an entire sci-fi epic into a little under six minutes. This is a band evolving and responding to the current climate of metal, while still retaining their own identity and drive.