They may have run out of album titles. They are not even remotely short on outrage, passion and ideas. Metal stalwarts Lamb Of God are firing on all cylinders once again on their self-titled 10th release (if you count two albums under their original handle Burn the Priest) and their first set of new songs in five years. Full-on frontman (and sometime gadfly presidential candidate) Randy Blythe remains one of the most intelligent, thoughtful and outspoken vocalists in metal — and one of the few who has the ability to deliver his blowtorch bellowing with enough enunciation that you can make out most of his lyrics. His bandmates (including a new drummer this time around) continue to balance fierce intensity with sonic and stylistic innovation and uncompromising technical precision. Together (and with the occasional help of VIP guest vocalists James Jasta and Chuck Billy), they crank up and crank out another 10 bloodthirsty ragers that are guaranteed to keep the pit churning and the fans thinking. Hell, maybe it’ll even earn them their first Grammy after a handful of nominations. With all that going for them, who needs a damn title?
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The simple Lamb Of God title for their first album in five years is a declaration from Lamb of God. It is a testament to the band’s long career — which includes two gold albums, two platinum DVDs and five Grammy nominations — and a bold statement about where the quintet is now. “Putting only our name on it is a statement,” D. Randall Blythe says. “This is Lamb of God. Here and now.” A true collaboration between all members of the band, Lamb of God’s eighth studio album is an amalgam of each individual’s writing style, perfectly blended to create a singular style. Guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler inject the album with a mountain of thrash, groove, shred and stripped-down aggression in equal measure. The fluid bass playing of John Campbell looms large as a rhythmic shadow and drummer Art Cruz, who makes his studio debut with Lamb of God on this record, commands his position with passion, sweat and expansive dynamics. Blythe is as angry, insightful, informed, and hyper-literate as ever. Known for his outspoken lyrics, Blythe delivers once again, examining the state of the world through an early punk rock-style lens. In 2020, Lamb of God is re-energized and unrelenting, ready to lay claim to the metal throne.”
