RAM - Lightbringer

July 19, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

Release Date: June 19, 2009
Label: AFM Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Crushing The Dwarf Of Ignorance
2.  Lightbringer
3.  In Victory
4.  Awakening the Chimaera
5.  Ghost Pilot (MI II)
6.  Suomussalmi (The Few Of Iron)
7.  Blood God
8.  Titan
9.  The Elixir
10.  Prelude to Death

Total playing time:  48:42

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*Comments:

I seriously don’t know how the traditional heavy metal sound made its way over to Sweden, but with the recent rash of these Scandinavian bands creating some seriously amazing music I’m glad it made the trip. RAM is another in an ever-growing line of Swedish bands that have captured that classic metal sound that isn’t the boring chant-laden rhetoric or diluted power metal drivel we’re seemingly so used to. With some potent riffs and impressive old school vocals, RAM’s Lightbringer is a high-octane journey back when Judas Priest was screaming for vengeance and Sanctuary was denying refuge.

The amazing similarities to a young Warrel Dane are such a welcome change from the myriad of bands that are either bent on Tom G. Warrior worship or still vomiting silly and indiscernible guttural vocals; the obvious nod to the oft-channeled NWOBHM era is one I’ve not yet grown tired of hearing. When done correctly, it can be a pleasant journey back in time with just the right touches of modern influence. “Awakening the Chimera” alone should take vocalist Oscar Carlquist straight out of the relative obscurity of the underground and land him smack in the middle of the all-too-dim heavy metal spotlight. I’m not sure if he’s a Sanctuary fan from old, but if he isn’t it’s the greatest definition of coincidence available. His vocals are nothing short of brilliant, and with such terrific music backing him up I can only see great things for RAM in the future.

Lightbringer is a sincere ascension in the Swedish heavy metal scene that seems to be growing with every passing year. Breaking out from under the grim specter of the black metal scene can’t be easy, but slowly it’s being done. Carefully-arranged songs and some pretty thick production are just the right remedies for an overlooked and otherwise anorexic genre too often permeated with either flat out bad bands or cash-grab groups looking to jump on the current metal trends. 

“Suomussalmi (The Few of Iron),” “Prelude to Death” and “Awakening the Chimera” are big standouts on this album, but truthfully there isn’t a weak track in here. You can draw many comparisons with this album in everyone from old Metal Church to good, early Dokken to the aforementioned Sanctuary (think these guys are really from Seattle?). There are some really strong tunes on here that are lethal, man, that’s all there is to it. That old power-thrash movement that never really stayed around too long back in the late 80s is evident here, and if this style is what you can jam and enjoy at any given point in the day then grab this album and rejoice.