RAM Share ‘Night Blade’ Ahead of New Album Against
RAM unleash the riff-heavy new single “Night Blade,” taken from their forthcoming album Against, due October 9 through Metal Blade Records.
Swedish heavy metal band RAM have released a new single and video, “Night Blade,” taken from their forthcoming album Against.
The record is due on October 9 through Metal Blade Records, marking RAM’s first full-length since The Throne Within. “Night Blade” is the eighth track on the 11-song album and follows the previously released “Ghost Emperor.”
Speaking about the new single, vocalist Oscar Carlquist said:
“The return of the riff! Before writing this song, I had been contemplating about the fact that ’70s and early ’80s metal was a lot more about the riff than what you hear and have heard for a long time. I wanted to bring that back and wrote a typical super simple oldschool riff to carry the song. A perfect song to headbang to.”
RAM have described Against as a more direct record than some of their earlier work, with shorter, more focused songwriting and a recording approach influenced by classic heavy metal and hard rock. The band cites early Dio, MSG and Sweet among the musical reference points for the album. Carlquist also created the cover artwork, which centres on RAM’s ram-horned skull emblem.
Against will be released digitally and on CD, alongside several vinyl editions. The announced vinyl variants are 180g black, Clear Lilac Marbled, Purple Melt limited to 300 copies, Crystal Clear Blackdust limited to 300, and Silver Black Splatter limited to 250.
The track listing is:
- Obsession
- Ghost Emperor
- One Vs. All
- Abattoir
- Out of Control
- Leaving
- Against
- Night Blade
- Rising Again
- 1984
- The Final Hour
The band have also announced a change to their line-up. Bassist Tobias “Tobbe” Petterson is stepping down after 17 years with RAM, with Desekrator, associated with Voodus and Stormdeath, joining as his replacement. Petterson is scheduled to play his final RAM show at the band’s Against record-release concert in Gothenburg on October 9.
Preorders for Against are available here
Further information is available through RAM’s official website and social channels.
