"Svbversvm" wins because it refuses to abandon what gave RAM its identity, although that identity usually had a talent for screwing the pooch. RAM does the ultimate thing a band can do when trying not to be lame: They confront the screw-ups directly and set them straight. The Judas Priest vibe of prior records is on point, kicking off with an excellent first half of metallic beatings that are stronger than any of RAM's prior efforts. "Return of the Iron Tyrant" captures what "Svbversvm" has in its pockets, heaving up ironclad bridges and sections that bite in medial chomps and up-tempo snips with excellent poise. "Eyes of the Night" and "Enslaver," two whippings of up-tempo heavy metal, are almost alien given how much energy is present.

And unlike the usual RAM output, each track makes its presence known like a smelly dump in a public restroom: The huge, thumping chorus of "Holy Death" kicks like a steel boot, and the surging prowl of "The Usurper" is beastly. It makes me wonder if this is the same band that wrote that boring "Dead" album or whatever it's called. "Temples of Void" has some Mercyful Fate-ish notations in its main riff, which is an automatic stamp of approval. The title track, again, takes all the elements that made RAM a pretender and puts them on the map for notable heavy metal bands with its jackhammering rhythm and melting leads. Oscar Carlquist sounds awesome nailing ridiculous falsettos and wailing like a siren of steel, no longer acting like a passive tool for a third-rate metal band.