Despite more than a month-long delay on the release of their new self-titled album Lamb of God, Lamb of God’s new album is stronger and heavier than ever. With 5 years since their last release and their first album to feature new drummer, Art Cruz, this album satisfies in more ways than I anticipated. From John Campbell’s moody bass riffs in Reality Bath to Adler and Morton’s addictive tones, this is an album sure to infect your playlist; this is an album that will have you head banging and air drumming in the car. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Lamb of God is not known for skimming—they rake through topics covering all ranges of political turmoil and government bullshit in this country. Known for being politically outspoken, vocalist Randy Blythe covers controversial topics in Lamb of God such as immigration (New Colossal Hate) to school shootings (Reality Bath), the opioid crisis (On The Hook) to the crumbling of the political system. There is no holding back when it comes to the disdain Randy has for the world’s current state, and over the past 25 years his voice has never wavered. Rather, as our world continues to change Randy seizes the opportunity to talk about the skeleton’s locked in untouchable closets.
Of course there were some reservations when it came to the replacement of retired drummer Chris Adler with Art Cruz, former Winds of Plague and Prong. There will always be a slight discomfort when an original member is no longer a part of the creative process, I feared the sound of the band would change due to the introduction of a new personality. But, Cruz fits the new Lamb of God flawlessly; Cruz filled in for Adler first in 2018 and continued to evolve with the band prior to this recording. There are some noticeable differences, such as the literal tone of his cymbals being higher causing some parts to sound more choked and “dead” when played along aggressive riffs. Cruz’s technique and rhythm combine perfectly with the already typical LoG catchy and addictive signature “chugg” sound. In this album we hear the audible chemistry of a band we all love catalyzed by their newest member. It also features heavyweights Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed and Chuck Billy of Testament in two very distinct tracks, each sprinkled with their style and, of course, the shedding of light on important issues.
From Randy’s deep and moody baritone voice singing in the intro of the album’s first track Memento Mori to Cruz’s catchy rhythmic patterns in On The Hook, there is one thing Lamb of God won’t have you feeling: disappointed. After 25 years of creating and touring, the band still remains relentless and on top of their game despite numerous setbacks and challenges. This isn’t a band that chameleons their way to the top. They step forward with their bold style in a way that has reaped tremendous success and recognition. Consistency is a quality and in today’s day-in-age, the lack of it causes some loss in faith when it comes to anticipating new album releases. Yet, in the wake of chaos, Lamb of God always manages to keep consistent, standing at the top of the industry as one of the most iconic heavy metal bands of all time. This album is sure to help keep that momentum going.
