There are still 3 years (or maybe 2?! I can't remember) until the release of "Painkiller" which is lurking. It’s 1988, and Judas Priest releases this "Ram It Down".
I won't waste comments on the glorious band that is an icon and pioneer of the heavy genre, but I'll tell you what this album contains, which I believe all genre fans already know. So, I don't know whether to speak to heavy metal novices or describe something that all of you (true metallers) will certainly agree on (at least I hope...).

Judas appears better than ever, with the right blend of freshness and traditionalism. Freshness because the Judas are really in shape and traditionalism because their music is connected to the classic metal vein, as testified by the songwriting of this album.
All the songs stand out, particularly the opener (introduced by a typical Halford scream) and tracks like "Heavy Metal", "I'm a Rocker", "Monsters Of Rock", and "Blood Red Skies", where Tipton and Downing show they are true guitar heroes. There is indeed a lot of talk about the technicality of the '80s and all the guitarists who emerged from that hotbed of talent, discussions that as young people (more or less teenagers) were endless because everyone wanted to prove their point and make their favorite guitarist prevail. And then praises were lavished on various Malmsteen, Satriani, Gilbert, and many others... But pausing for a moment, guys, in my opinion, these two had nothing to envy from anyone, with all due respect for the others: iron riffs and unreachable solos! That's what a Priest album contains (among other elements), and the songs I mentioned prove it, besides everything they've shown over the years in their career.
Having made this guitar-centric digression, I then point out a cover of the famous "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry (1960s) which we find here with a "metallic" body that makes it appropriate for the album in which it was inserted, and the beautiful concluding "Love You To Death" where Halford duets with the guitar at the end.

In short, an album that has all the ingredients of classic metal and Judas Priest, unleashing all their best weapons. If this is not a masterpiece, it's nearly there, but only because, as I said at the beginning, "Painkiller" will be released shortly.

A must-have for collectors.

Tracklist Lyrics and Videos

01   Ram It Down (04:48)

Raise the sights, the city lights are calling
We're hot tonight, the time is right, there's nitro in the air
In the street is where we'll meet, we're warning
On the beat, we won't retreat, beware

Thousand of cars and a million guitars
Screaming with power in the air
We've found the place where the decibels race
This army of rock will be there

To ram it down, ram it down
Straight through the heart of this town
Ram it down, ram it down
Razing the place to the ground
Ram it down

Bodies revvin� in leather heaven in wonder
Lights are dimmin� and heads are swimmin� as thunder hits the stage
Hell breaks loose, turn on the juice get stronger
We metal maniacs begin to rave

Thousand of cars and a million guitars
Screaming with power in the air
We've found the place where the decibels race
This army of rock will be there

To ram it down, ram it down
Straight through the heart of this town
Ram it down, ram it down
Razing the place to the ground
Ram it down

Shout it out, we're all together now
Shout it out, we join as one, one

(SOLO,SOLO...)

Thousand of cars and a million guitars
Screaming with power in the air
We've found the place where the decibels race
This army of rock will be there

To ram it down, ram it down
Straight through the heart of this town
Ram it down, ram it down
Razing the place to the ground

Ram it down, ram it down
Straight through the heart of this town
Ram it down, ram it down
Razing the place to,
Razing the place to,
Razing the place, to the ground

02   Heavy Metal (05:58)

03   Love Zone (03:58)

04   Come and Get It (04:07)

05   Hard as Iron (04:09)

06   Blood Red Skies (07:50)

As the sun goes down, I move around
Keeping to the shadows
Life, hangs by a thread
And I've heard it said, that I'll not see tomorrow

If that's my destiny, it'll have to be
So I'll face the future
Running out of time
I'm on the line
But I'll go down fighting

Felt the hand of justice
Telling wrong from right
Threw me out upon the street in the middle of the night

Cybernetic heartbeat
Digital precise
Pneumatic fingers nearly had me in their vice

Not begging you
I'm telling you

You won't break me
You won't make me
You won't take me,
Under blood red skies

You won't break me
You won't take me
I'll fight you under
blood red skies

Through a shattered city, watched by laser eyes
Overhead the night squad glides
The decaying paradise

Automatic sniper
With computer sights
Scans the bleak horizon for its victim of the night

Not begging you
I'm telling you

You won't break me
You won't make me
You won't take me,
Under blood red skies

You won't break me
You won't take me
I'll fight you under
blood red skies

As the end is drawing near
Standing proud, I won't give in to fear
As I die a legend will be born
I will stand, I will fight
You'll never take me alive
I'll stand my ground
I won't go down

You won't break me
You won't make me
You won't take me,
Under blood red skies

You won't break me
You won't take me
I'll fight you under
blood red skies

You'll never take me alive
I'm telling you
Hands of justice
I will stand, I will fight
As the sun goes down
I won't give in to fear

07   I'm a Rocker (03:58)

The greatest times, I've ever known
They're locked inside o' me
And carved out of stone

I've broken hearts
Made people sing
I've drove a million miles
I've done everything

I'm a rocker, Oh oh
Do as I feel as I say
I'm a rocker, Oh oh
And no one can take that away

Bring on the night
That's when I live
I come alive inside
Give all I can give

I live each day
Like it's my last
I live for rock and roll
I never look back

I'm a rocker, Oh oh
Do as I feel as I say
I'm a rocker, Oh oh
And no one can take that away

I'm a rocker
And I'm always revvin' up
I'm a rocker
I can never get enough
I'm a rocker
It's something in my blood
I'm a rocker
Wouldn't change it even if I could

I'm a rocker, Oh oh
Do as I feel as I say
I'm a rocker, Oh oh
And no one can take that away

08   Johnny B. Goode (04:39)

Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
Way back up with the woods among the Evergreens
There Stood a cabin made of earth and wood
There lived a country boy named Johnny B Goode
Who never ever learned to read or write so well, but he could play a guitar just like ringing bell

Go go!! Go Johnny Go Go Go!!! Go Johnny Go!!
Go go!! Go Johnny Go Go Go!! Go Johnny Go!!

He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Sitting in the trees by the railroadtrack
All engineers sitting in the shade
stumming with the rhytm that the drivers made
people passing by, they stopped and said, "Oh my, but how that country boy can play"

Go go!! Go Johnny Go Go Go!!! Go Johnny Go!!
Go go!! Go Johnny Go Go Go!! Go Johnny Go!!
Johhnny B Goode! Go Johnny!!!

His mother told him someday you will be a man
And you will be the leader of a big old band
Many people coming from a miles around
To hear you play your music till the sound goes down
Maybe someday you name will be in lights, saying Johnny B Goode Tnight

Go go!! Go Johnny Go Go Go!!! Go Johnny Go!!
Go go!! Go Johnny Go Go Go!! Go Johnny Go!!
Johnny B Goode!!
Go go!! Go Johnny Go Go Go!!! Go Johnny Go!!
Go go!! Go Johnny Go Go Go!! Go Johnny Go!!
Johnny B Goode
Go go!! Go Johnny Go Go Go!!! Go Johnny Go!!
Go go!! Go Johnny Go Go Go!! Go Johnny Go!!

09   Love You to Death (04:36)

10   Monsters of Rock (05:30)

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Other reviews

By frank1979

 "Ram It Down is the opener of this fantastic work, a scream capable of splitting the listener’s heart in two."

 "This is not just a music CD, but also an example and a lesson for all those who one day decide to embark on the musical genre in question."


By ELECTRIC EYE

 Ram It Down immediately releases energy from every pore, splendid!

 My favorite song... contains everything: aggressive metal, pure erotism, amazing solos and riffs, impeccable voice.