Spring Break
A 'Wrath' unmatched
5 out of 5 stars
Stephen Ortiz
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Focus
"Wrath" is an anomaly.
Lamb Of God's third major-label album, and its newest since 2006's "Sacrament," continues the band's efforts found on its last disc - tightening execution, further exploring a more melodic tone and actually composing music as opposed to just recording it. But while "Wrath" progresses leaps and bounds, it also happens to be one rough, raw and downright brutal motherf-----, and doesn't easily let the listener forget that.
"Wrath" opens beautifully with an instrumental, something that was once a staple on all metal albums, that grows into a soaring Metallica-esque medley of sound - the calm before the storm. What follows is nothing close to beautiful and can be compared to having your skull crushed under the weight of a thousand guitars. But in the best way possible of course.
An early entry on the album that displays Lamb of God's musical progression can be found in "In Your Words," an anthemic five-and-a-half-minute romp through the eyes of lead singer Randy Blythe. The source material is all too familiar - Blythe denounces hypocrites and roars for the crucifixion of liars, here and on the rest of the album - but it's all made up for by the track's incredible closing, which finds guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler playing the melodic card.
Similar moments can be found on "Grace," which, incorporates power riffs aplenty, but sports a friendlier chorus (on the ears, not on your parents' judgment) and nice guitar solo later on.
For those of you afraid that Lamb of God is going the Slipknot route in terms of progressing toward a more consumer-friendly sound, fear not. The album's lead singles, "Contractor" and "Set To Fail," retain those down south riffs and redneck metal mentality straight from the band's older work. It seems intent however on maintaining a balance between the two. For every brutal, a--kicking "Choke Sermon," there is an equally groovy and fist-pumping "Broken Hands."
"Wrath" comes to a close in the form of seven-minute epic, "Reclamation," a dark and ominous prophecy of humanities end. What starts with the soothing sound of wind, water and acoustic, slowly grows until exploding a minute in with Blythe's barks and growls, backed by pounding riffs and crashing cymbals.
As Blythe observes this post-apocalyptic nightmare, he sings of regret and mankind receiving what it has long deserved. As the wall of noise subsides, he sings, "I sit and watch the city burn / Tonight / The City burns tonight."
Lamb of God continues to get better with every album. Since "Ashes of the Wake," it has delivered a consistent flow of the heaviest of the heavy American metal, and "Wrath" is certainly no exception. Consider this your invitation: "Wrath" has set a new standard for American metal - try and top it.
Lamb Of God's third major-label album, and its newest since 2006's "Sacrament," continues the band's efforts found on its last disc - tightening execution, further exploring a more melodic tone and actually composing music as opposed to just recording it. But while "Wrath" progresses leaps and bounds, it also happens to be one rough, raw and downright brutal motherf-----, and doesn't easily let the listener forget that.
"Wrath" opens beautifully with an instrumental, something that was once a staple on all metal albums, that grows into a soaring Metallica-esque medley of sound - the calm before the storm. What follows is nothing close to beautiful and can be compared to having your skull crushed under the weight of a thousand guitars. But in the best way possible of course.
An early entry on the album that displays Lamb of God's musical progression can be found in "In Your Words," an anthemic five-and-a-half-minute romp through the eyes of lead singer Randy Blythe. The source material is all too familiar - Blythe denounces hypocrites and roars for the crucifixion of liars, here and on the rest of the album - but it's all made up for by the track's incredible closing, which finds guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler playing the melodic card.
Similar moments can be found on "Grace," which, incorporates power riffs aplenty, but sports a friendlier chorus (on the ears, not on your parents' judgment) and nice guitar solo later on.
For those of you afraid that Lamb of God is going the Slipknot route in terms of progressing toward a more consumer-friendly sound, fear not. The album's lead singles, "Contractor" and "Set To Fail," retain those down south riffs and redneck metal mentality straight from the band's older work. It seems intent however on maintaining a balance between the two. For every brutal, a--kicking "Choke Sermon," there is an equally groovy and fist-pumping "Broken Hands."
"Wrath" comes to a close in the form of seven-minute epic, "Reclamation," a dark and ominous prophecy of humanities end. What starts with the soothing sound of wind, water and acoustic, slowly grows until exploding a minute in with Blythe's barks and growls, backed by pounding riffs and crashing cymbals.
As Blythe observes this post-apocalyptic nightmare, he sings of regret and mankind receiving what it has long deserved. As the wall of noise subsides, he sings, "I sit and watch the city burn / Tonight / The City burns tonight."
Lamb of God continues to get better with every album. Since "Ashes of the Wake," it has delivered a consistent flow of the heaviest of the heavy American metal, and "Wrath" is certainly no exception. Consider this your invitation: "Wrath" has set a new standard for American metal - try and top it.
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