Ah, now this is a fun one; two top-shelf heavy metal bands uniting for a split release. Portrait has had a busy year with their full-length, Crossroads, released last April while RAM has been rather quiet since 2012’s Death. Six tracks are presented on Under Command, with three by each band, including one new original song, a cover of one of their comrade’s songs, and another cover. RAM starts the proceedings off with a straight in-your-face headbanger with “Savage Machine” and is faced with Judas Priest-like rocking and gets the adrenaline pumping. The Portrait cover, “Welcome To My Funeral” has that Mercyful Fate type riff that conjures the demons of the night singer Oscar Carquist handles the falsettos brilliantly. RAM finishes the slaying off with a cover of one of the heaviest KISS tracks, “Creatures Of The Night”. This was the right choice from the Swedes as it fits the RAM brand of metal and guitarists Harry Granroth and Martin Jonsson add some venom to the solo section.

Portrait continues their momentum from Crossroads with the stomper, “Martial Law”. Full of monster riffs and crushing leads, this is just the metal assault one would expect from these guys. The RAM cover, “Blessed To Be Cursed”, has the Priest-type riffing and makes for an interesting choice from Portrait, but they do well with it. The closer, a cover of Exciter’s “Aggressor” is filled with attitude and sheer ferocity and ends the EP on a whirlwind. With the portrayal of the cover songs almost as good as the original compositions; it is hard not to be happy with this assault. There is not a better way I can end this review then with the quote on the CD insert – “Dedicate your life to heavy metal or die!”