Ram It Down

iTunes Review

Coming after the synth and mechanical lifts of Turbo, Ram It Down was Judas Priest's re-entrance into the straight heavy metal market. While it lacks the epic quality of their finest works — Sad Wings of Destiny, Stained Class, Screaming for Vengeance, Defenders of the Faith — it has enough powerful tunes to push it over the heavy-metal hill. The title track features the trademark attack with Halford shrieking and delivering the knockout blow while the guitarists twirl away with solos that have defined metal for two decades. “Come and Get It,” “Hard As Iron” and “Blood Red Skies” are obvious highlights, delivering the speed, force and drama of their best work, with the music subtly acknowledging the thrash crowd who were bringing the music to crazier heights.  The cover of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” is an unusual choice, and the point is made just as clearly with “I’m a Rocker” and “Monsters of Rock,” that this is a band committed to their cause. This re-mastered edition includes live versions of “Night Comes Down” and the timeless “Bloodstone.”