What The Hell Happened To... 06.15.09: Judas Priest - Ram It Down

Posted by Dan Marsicano on 06.15.2009

In the final edition of What The Hell Happened To..., 411's Dan Marsicano says goodbye to the column and takes a look at a hidden gem from Judas Priest, Ram It Down.

The Introduction

Well, this is it. The final edition of What The Hell Happened To…. I'm your host, the man who is excited, yet sad, to see this column go, Dan Marsicano.

I started What The Hell Happened To… in November of 2007 as a way to add more to 411 Music than just a few reviews and interviews. I wanted a column that took albums most people forgot about and put it in the spotlight at least one last time. I also wanted to showcase bands that the majority of you readers knew nothing about, as there is so much music out there to digest that it can be overwhelming at times to keep up with it all.

Sure, I wasn't the best columnist at 411 Music (see Dan Haggerty, Ben Czajkowski, Mikey MiGo, Jesse Coy and Mitch Michaels for just a few examples of columns light-years beyond me), but I put 100% into every edition I posted on this site. The column wasn't as flashy or full of pretty colors like other ones on this site, but that isn't me. I am a straightforward and to-the-point, no-bullshit kind of writer. Every week, I came in with a new album, a fresh perspective, and a clear-cut objective; detail the album, give my opinion, and put an album that deserved to be mentioned on display for all to witness.

There is not one moment I regret and there were so many great editions, including all of the selections from Fan Appreciation Month in September of last year. I didn't want to just preach to you about random albums; I wanted to feel as if the fantastic readers here at 411 Music had a say in this column.

Will this column be remembered? I have no idea, to be honest with you. I hope there is a place for What The Hell Happened To… in the annuals of 411 history, even if it's a brief footnote. 411 Mania is soaring into places I never thought it would reach, and for the past two-plus years, I have been alongside everybody else in this section, helping to make 411 Music a place where music fans can come together and discuss, bitch, and argue about which Iron Maiden song is the best and why Czajkowski is such a dickhead.

I could spend three pages just thanking everybody who has made this column what it is today. There are the obvious people, like Haggerty, Ashish, Michaels, Coy, Jeff Modzelewski, Brian Berry, and Czajkowski, but I also want to thank you readers who took time out of your busy lives to at read and comment, no matter how positive or negative the response was. So, an extra thank you to the users AndrewCrow, Krunchy, Soy, Ric Switzer, Manbearpig, Bostononemanarmy, Hellboysetsfire, Jcon, Luke, Dorn and Torad. If I forgot anybody, leave a comment below and make me feel like a douche.

Before I begin the last edition ever of What The Hell Happened To…, I want to take a trip back to my first edition ever. On November 12th, 2007, I started this column by analyzing Dream Theater's 1997 album Falling Into Infinity. Looking back at that faithful day, and comparing the column to today, it hasn't changed that much, save for a few snazzy videos and another section added on. For those that wonder how far this column has come since the beginning, here is my first edition ever.

I think its time to officially start this baby, don't you think? For my last edition ever, I'm taking a look at a band that influenced me greatly as a metal fan, Judas Priest. The 1980s were a time of experimentation and change for the band, and no album signifies that better than the 1988 forgotten classic Ram It Down. Nestled in-between 1986's Turbo and 1990's Painkiller, Ram It Down is the victim of circumstances that never got the full attention it deserved…until now.





The Band

Rob Halford- Vocals
K.K. Downing- Guitars
Glenn Tipton- Guitars
Ian Hill- Bass
Dave Holland- Drums


The Track Listing

1. Ram It Down- 4:48
2. Heavy Metal- 5:58
3. Love Zone- 3:58
4. Come And Get It- 4:07
5. Hard As Iron- 4:09
6. Blood Red Skies- 7:51
7. I'm A Rocker- 3:59
8. Johnny B. Goode- 4:39
9. Love You To Death- 4:36
10. Monsters Of Rock- 5:30


The Analysis

When Judas Priest came onto the metal scene in the mid-70s, they blew minds left and right with the wide vocal range of Rob Halford and the guitar interplay between Downing and Tipton. Their 1976 sophomore album Sad Wings Of Destiny still stands as one of the best heavy metal albums ever created, and Judas Priest was only getting started. Throughout the next half-decade or so, the quintet would rise in popularity amongst the hardcore metal circles, with songs such as "Beyond The Realms Of Death," "Hell Bent For Leather," and "The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)" becoming live favorites for the rest of the band's career.

In 1980, British Steel propelled Judas Priest to mainstream recognition; a position the band took full advantage of throughout the decade. Slowly, Judas Priest tinkered with their core sound, adding in guitar synthesizers and ultra-clean production to make it as 80's sounding as humanly possible. This all came to a head with 1986's Turbo, which was completely different from anything the band had done to date.

Supposedly, Turbo was suppose to be a double album, with one disc containing the more commercially-viable material and the second disc having heavier material, but the record label split the album up. With a glossy production and substantial use of synthesizers, Turbo sold well, but the band's long-time fans were disheartened by the sudden vie for commercial acceptance. "Turbo Lover" and the solo section to "Locked In" are the highlights, but the rest of the album was fairly mediocre. The live tour in support leaned heavily on the band's 80s material, garnishing the band with criticism from their loyal fan base.



"Heavy Metal" Live 1988


When it was time for Ram It Down to be released two years later, it seemed that a spark had ignited under the asses of our favorite British heavy metal band. The songs were faster, the synths were kept to a minimum, and Halford never sounded better. Too bad nobody really cared in the mainstream, save for the rapid die-hard Judas Priest fans. Painkiller would be the album that made the band a household name again, thanks to massive support for videos for the title track and "A Touch Of Evil."

Judas Priest's 11th studio album, Ram It Down, can be seen as a prelude to Painkiller, as the sci-fi lyrics and fast songs are nestled within the mid-paced rockers. The album is a clash of styles, as if the band wanted to stray away from Turbo, but had all these ideas from the Turbo studio sessions that they didn't want to go to waste. At certain points, Judas Priest sounds refreshed and revitalized, ready to make up for lost time. However, their unwillingness to completely let go of the keyboards is evident in several tracks, including one of the most underrated songs in the band's vast catalog, "Blood Red Skies."

Before I get into that, I want to start off by talking about the title track, which is easily one of the heaviest songs the band had ever written up to that point in their career. With a wild shriek from Halford, the album opens up with a monster bang, as the band tears through a speed metal massacre. The solo work from Tipton and Downing is top-notch, not only the best on the album, but in the band's lengthy career. "Hard As Iron" is another fast number, the only other one on Ram It Down, with harmonic lead work, scorching riffs, and double bass drums from Holland, which is the biggest shocker of all.

The rest of the album is anthem rock, with catchy choruses and plenty of gang vocals. The energy is there, especially with "I'm A Rocker" and "Love Zone," but the lyrics are terrible. That has never been a strong point of Judas Priest, but there are a lot of cringe-worthy moments. The songs were definitely made with a live audience in mind, with easy-to-remember verses and even simpler choruses. None of these tracks are that bad, and the two mentioned earlier in the paragraph are actually really good, but the material definitely feels like a darker version of Turbo.



"I'm A Rocker" Live 2005


The epic tracks range in quality, from excellent to decent. "Heavy Metal" starts out with a Tipton solo that sounds like Eddie Van Halen's "Eruption" meets Nuno Bettencourt's insane shredding on "Play With Me." It's a sick opening that seems disconnected with the rest of the track. From there, the song transforms into a bass-heavy stomper with boring drum work and a decent solo. Closer "Monsters Of Rock" is a slow tune, never really kicking out of first gear, but it is definitely a monster of an anthem, the definition of a fist-pumper. It's simple, basic, and just lumbers along; however, there is a slight charm to it.

"Blood Red Skies" is the longest song the band had recorded since the masterful "Victim Of Changes" and while it doesn't quite reach the tall plateau the band reached with that track, "Blood Red Skies" is highly underrated. Starting off with a calm acoustic guitar and Halford crooning softly, the sullen atmosphere is strong with this introduction. Then the track veers off sharply, as electronic drums clash with tough-sounding riffs. It's an interesting dynamic that is made more so by the inclusion of keyboards halfway through that wouldn't have been out-of-place in any 80s sports movie montage. This is one of the few songs where the keyboards and other experimentation benefit the band and show how their old and new sounds could co-exist in harmony.

Then there is the Chuck Berry cover "Johnny B. Goode." Opinions have been mixed on this song, and in all honestly, I still don't know what to think of it. A heavy metal version of a blues classic, Judas Priest does do the song justice, but it just seems out of place on Ram It Down. The guitar work, like usual, is stellar and Halford makes the song his own, though I feel like this song would have been better suited as a bonus track or a B-side. The thing about the track is that it doesn't really benefit or hinder the album. If it wasn't on Ram It Down, I wouldn't care less; that's really where my opinion of it lies.



"Johnny B. Goode" Music Video


The musicianship on Ram It Down was solid, as par the norm for Judas Priest, with the obvious exception of Dave Holland. I've never been a big fan of Holland's work with Judas Priest; he was always a competent player to me, but lacked that technical finesse that Scott Travis brought to the band. I will give Holland credit where it is due; his playing on Ram It Down was his best out of all the albums he played on. The faster songs tested his skills and he passed with flying colors, while the slower songs are held up by his steady playing. Still, Holland's playing just always came off as bland and uninspired to me, lacking the energy and power of Travis or even Les Binks.

Ram It Down is often overlooked due to its position in the band's catalog. Most fans would rather discuss Turbo or Painkiller before this album and that's a real shame. Ram It Down has many songs that should be played live, including "Hard As Iron," the title track, and "Blood Red Skies." At least Judas Priest hasn't completely forgotten about the album; as recently as 2005, "I'm A Rocker" was still played at selected live shows. I couldn't think of any album more perfect to end my column with than Ram It Down. If you haven't heard it yet, check it out asap.


The Final Conclusion

God, after 2,000-plus words, this is it. The official end of What The Hell Happened To…. I just want to say thanks again to all of you who have supported this column with your ideas, comments, and feedback. Without each and every one of you, I would be nothing but some random guy acting like a music critic (actually, come to think of it, that is still what I am).

Don't worry; I'm not completely leaving 411 Music for good. I'll be in the shadows, adding reviews and interviews here and there, but this will be the last weekly thing I do for the site. 411 Mania has treated me well over these past two-plus years, and without this site and all its loyal readers, I wouldn't be in the position that I am today.

Remember, you can find me at the Heavy Metal section of About.com, Metal Underground (under the alias heavytothebone2) and SMN News. I'm also easy to find on Facebook and on Twitter, so don't hesitate to get in touch for any questions, concerns, job opportunities (especially important), and more.

So, for the final time, this was What The Hell Happened To…, I've been Dan Marsicano, you've been great, good night!