2008 Woodie Awards
Confirmation
New Skills, Old Talent Shines in Lamb of God's Sacrament
Zora McBride
Issue date: 9/29/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
By Zora McBride
Student Reporter
McBrideJI@hendrix.edu
After their magnum opus, Ashes of the Wake, it was commonly believed that Lamb of God had done all that was possible to secure themselves as one of the leading metal bands of the new millennium. With their virtuoso musicianship and lyrics that could best be described as ruthless political polemics, what could possibly be left to improve? The answer has come in the form of Sacrament, Lamb's fourth studio album, released on Aug. 22. With eleven new tracks, they have unveiled an artistic maturity and musical diversity heretofore unknown.
Before Ashes, the band was signed to no label, producing both New American Gospel (2001) and As the Palaces Burn (2003) independently. Unfortunately, this created a lower than average production value. When their talent was discovered, they were signed to Epoch records, and released Ashes of the Wake to critical acclaim. With Ashes the band upheld their music quality and improved their production.
Despite this, many fans were worried when they heard of Sacrament's release. Would the band remain true to their sound, or, as so often happens, would they lose themselves to the influence of corporate America?
Having listened to this album ad infinitum since its release, I can confidently say that not only have Lamb Of God kept their originality, but also improved upon it significantly.
First, and of greatest import, the vocalist, Randy Blythe, has greatly diversified his range, both literally and stylistically. Instead of constantly drawing on the traditional death-metal sound, he has incorporated his own blend of thrash-metal, black-metal, and what can only be described as southern rock, most notably in the song "Redneck."
As for the lyrics, Lamb of God continues to express their frustration with the present political administration and its utilization of religion in pushing its militaristic agenda.
Musically, they are as skillful as ever, with guitarists Chris Adler and Mark Morton playing off of one another with prominent perfection. Their performance is seamless, leaving the listener unable to distinguish one from the other with their constant interweaving of solo and rhythm.
Drummer Chris Adler continues to impress with his knowledge of cadence and how best to utilize it. While there is nothing to match the hard throbbing and heart pounding sounds of "Ruin" from As the Palaces Burn, with its speedy delivery, Adler still does an outstanding job of conveying his talent. An excellent example of both guitar and drum ability is requiem, with its fantastic solo and tempo alteration.
The bassist, John Campbell, has a much more audible influence on the music than on any of the band's previous albums. This makes for a much richer sound, providing substance and lucidity wherever it is needed. "Walk with Me In Hell" is a superb case in point.
Sacrament is one of Lamb of God's most admirable albums to date, continuing the first-rate production quality of Ashes while maintaining the musical characteristics that have marked them as one of the greatest metal bands in recent history.
Student Reporter
McBrideJI@hendrix.edu
After their magnum opus, Ashes of the Wake, it was commonly believed that Lamb of God had done all that was possible to secure themselves as one of the leading metal bands of the new millennium. With their virtuoso musicianship and lyrics that could best be described as ruthless political polemics, what could possibly be left to improve? The answer has come in the form of Sacrament, Lamb's fourth studio album, released on Aug. 22. With eleven new tracks, they have unveiled an artistic maturity and musical diversity heretofore unknown.
Before Ashes, the band was signed to no label, producing both New American Gospel (2001) and As the Palaces Burn (2003) independently. Unfortunately, this created a lower than average production value. When their talent was discovered, they were signed to Epoch records, and released Ashes of the Wake to critical acclaim. With Ashes the band upheld their music quality and improved their production.
Despite this, many fans were worried when they heard of Sacrament's release. Would the band remain true to their sound, or, as so often happens, would they lose themselves to the influence of corporate America?
Having listened to this album ad infinitum since its release, I can confidently say that not only have Lamb Of God kept their originality, but also improved upon it significantly.
First, and of greatest import, the vocalist, Randy Blythe, has greatly diversified his range, both literally and stylistically. Instead of constantly drawing on the traditional death-metal sound, he has incorporated his own blend of thrash-metal, black-metal, and what can only be described as southern rock, most notably in the song "Redneck."
As for the lyrics, Lamb of God continues to express their frustration with the present political administration and its utilization of religion in pushing its militaristic agenda.
Musically, they are as skillful as ever, with guitarists Chris Adler and Mark Morton playing off of one another with prominent perfection. Their performance is seamless, leaving the listener unable to distinguish one from the other with their constant interweaving of solo and rhythm.
Drummer Chris Adler continues to impress with his knowledge of cadence and how best to utilize it. While there is nothing to match the hard throbbing and heart pounding sounds of "Ruin" from As the Palaces Burn, with its speedy delivery, Adler still does an outstanding job of conveying his talent. An excellent example of both guitar and drum ability is requiem, with its fantastic solo and tempo alteration.
The bassist, John Campbell, has a much more audible influence on the music than on any of the band's previous albums. This makes for a much richer sound, providing substance and lucidity wherever it is needed. "Walk with Me In Hell" is a superb case in point.
Sacrament is one of Lamb of God's most admirable albums to date, continuing the first-rate production quality of Ashes while maintaining the musical characteristics that have marked them as one of the greatest metal bands in recent history.
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