Synopsis
The pinnacle of contemporary US metal returns with their eighth original album, their first in five years. Returning to the roots of heaviness, this is an American scream that cuts through a turbulent era.
In the 21st century heavy rock scene, Lamb of God is undeniably one of the most powerful bands. Formed in Virginia in 1994, they quickly rose to prominence, with their albums "Lass" (2009), "Resolution" (2012), and "Sturm und Drang VII" (2015) reaching the top three of the US charts in succession.
In recent years, the band has been busy, releasing the 2016 EP "The Duke" dedicated to a deceased fan, the 2018 cover album "Region:XX" under the name of their predecessor band Burn the Priest, and guitarist Mark Morton's solo album/EP. Now, they've finally completed their first full-length album in five years.
The album, titled "Lamb of God," reflects a return to the band's roots. Mark Morton explains, "This is Lamb of God. An album filled with fresh energy, brimming with pride and satisfaction in the band's creativity." While the departure of drummer Chris Adler, who had been with the band since its inception, shocked fans worldwide, Art Crews, who had already accompanied them on tour, was appointed as a permanent member. Art, formerly of Prong, brings with him his hip-bone-shattering drumming, bringing a sound that loudly proclaims the band's new chapter.
Randy Blythe, now the "face" of the metal world, delivers a voice that's both urgent and intimidating, driving the entire band to a critical point.
The lead-off cut, "Checkmate," released ahead of the album, delivers a scathing critique of modern society's deception, hatred, and materialism, proving that their sharp edge has not dulled in the slightest. The track debuted at a special live performance at Chicago's House of Vans on February 14, 2020, further raising expectations for the new album.
Will they achieve their long-awaited No. 1 spot on the US charts? And will they claim the Grammy Award they've been nominated for five times? This album, which has sent shockwaves through the metal world, is garnering worldwide attention. They've also announced a co-headlining North American tour with Megadeth, "The Metal Tour of the Year," with support from Trivium and In Flames. Their first visit to Japan since KNOTFEST JAPAN 2016 is eagerly awaited.
The clock has stopped, and the countdown to global domination has begun. Lamb of God's new century has arrived. [Includes Japanese commentary booklet/lyrics in Japanese]
Note: The track order in the lyric booklet differs from the order on the CD; this is due to specifications and is not a misprint.
[Members]
Randy Bly (Vocals)
Mark Morton (Guitar)
Will Adler (Guitar)
John Campbell (Bass)
Art Crews (Drums)
[CD Track Listings]
01. Memento Mori
02. Checkmate
03. Gears
04. Reality Bus
05. New Colossal Hate
06. Resurrection Man
07. Poison Dream (feat. Jamey Jasta [Hatebreed])
08. Roots (feat. Chuck Billy [Testament])
09. Bloodshot Eyes
10. On the Hook
Bonus Tracks
11. Ghost-Shaped People
Media Reviews and More
In the 21st century heavy rock scene, Lamb of God is a band that deserves to be called the most powerful. Formed in Virginia, USA in 1994, they quickly rose to prominence, with their albums "Russ" (2009), "Resolution" (2012), and "Sturm und Drang VII" (2015) consecutively reaching the top three on the US charts. In recent years, they have been active, releasing the EP "The Duke" (2016), dedicated to a deceased fan, the cover album "Region:XX" (2018) under the name of their predecessor band Burn the Priest, and guitarist Mark Morton releasing a solo album/EP. Finally, they have completed their first full-length album in five years. (C)RS