Tag: lamb of god

This is the band’s latest album, released in 2022.  As Pantera are no more, Lamb Of God are the natural successors to the groove metal throne.

The album opens up with Nevermore. A heavy groove and fat riffage, just what I like and this song has it by the ton. Vanishing starts as though they are being hunted at a killer pace with chugga’s a plenty. To The Grave is a slower pace but the aggression is still intense and the drumming of Art Cruz (especially the kicks) is very impressive. A seriously heavy intro to Ditch with drums and guitars ripping it up. Side 1 closes out with the title track Omens. A simple, recurring, heavy riff that repeats over and over with a mid paced groove.

Gomorrah gets Side 2 underway with a much slower groove and vibe, but still crushingly heavy. Ill Designs follows and is a very busy riff and groove. Lots going on here, but those kick drums are insane. Grayscale is up next and is my favourite tune. Great choppy riffage and a killer groove makes this boy happy. Denial Mechanism screams on in at a breakneck speed, almost sounding like a hard core tune. The album closes out with September Song. A brief acoustic intro before the crunch arrives.

I agree with most people that have reviewed this when it came out, it’s not their best effort but it’s still a solid record.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Lamb of God are one of the best heavy groove metal bands around. These guys know that keeping the groove and swing in their tunes is what keeps metal interesting. A lot of modern bands just don’t know how to do that. It helps when you have an outstanding drummer like Chris Adler. Man, this guy is not human! I don’t mind the Cookie Monster vocals when the grooves and riffs are good, and musically, these guys are on the money.

This album actually came out in 2004, and this is the 15th anniversary edition with four extra tracks. Laid To Rest blows your brains to one side with an epic riff and groove to swing your head to, or if you getting old like me, use a cushion. Hourglass has an old school heavy metal feel to it, but it’s the groove and guitar that get you on this one. What an opening riff and groove to Now You’ve Got Something To Die For. Big Pantera vibes! The ending is both old school thrash and huge fat chugga grooverama. Monstrous tune! This gets the votes for favourite track. The Faded Line closes out Side 1. Just listen to the double kicks! Nuts or what!?

Omertà opens up Side 2 and the pace is slow but this sounds so damn heavy. Killer guitar tone! Blood Of The Scribe is breakneck speed thrash with superb riffage. Maximum chuggas at the intro to One Gun. The double kick frenzy gives a false impression of the speed of the song. It is soooo heavy! The onslaught continues with Break You and closes out the first disc.

What I’ve Become blasts into Side 3 with maximum old school thrash riffage. Ashes Of The Wake is up next and is a kick ass instrumental with guest soloists, Alex Skolnick, Chris Poland, Mark Morton, and of course Willy Adler. Lots of shred with epic heavy grooves. The main album closes out with Remorse Is For The Dead. After a really chill intro, the heaviness drops like a bomb with lots of groove changes and monster riffs.

The first of the bonus tracks is Another Nail For Your Coffin which was a B-side to a single. Deep staccato chuggas mirrored with with the drums, it’s intense. The last three tracks are demos of Laid To Rest, Ashes Of The Wake, and Remorse Is For The Dead. A lot better than those pointless etchings.

Great band great album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

If there is one band that took the Pantera blueprint and ran with it, then it’s Lamb Of God. I’m not sure how this happened, but this is the only LOG album I have on vinyl. It was part of this years’ RSD releases, and was released as it celebrates its 21st birthday this year.

This is undoubtedly one of modern metal’s masterpieces. Not only is it crushingly heavy, but it grooves hard and there are riffs a plenty. If you are slightly put off by the growly vocals, then so be it, but you are are missing one hell of a metal album. Side 1 alone is just relentless as each track blends into the next. The double guitar attack of Mark Morton and Willie Adler is just epic, with chugga riff after chugga riff relentlessly pounding away at your brain. Drummer Chris Adler is not of this earth, as the speed at which he plays is insane. Produced by the genius that is Devin Townsend, he has managed to capture the sheer brutality of the band without losing any clarity, even at high volume.

I love all of this record but if I’m pushed for favourites I would go for For Your Malice, and the intensity of Blood Junkie. As I mentioned earlier, this is a classic and deservedly gets 10/10 from The Grooveman.