Maximum Metal Rating Legend

LAMB OF GOD ASHES OF THE WAKE SONY 2004 - Reviewed by Chaoslord

Track Listing1) Laid To Rest 2) Hourglass 3) Now You've Got Something To Die For 4) The Faded Line 5) Omerta 6) Blood Of The Scribe 7) One Gun 8) Break You 9) What I've Become 10) Ashes Of The Wake 11) Remorse Is For The Dead

I have just gotten into and I am ashamed to say I hadn't heard too much of them before "As the Palaces Burn" came out. Plus it's sad as well being as they are from Richmond, VA which is about two and a half hours away from where I live. This being said, I am really impressed with these guys.

This album has some political undertones in it but it doesn't take away from the album. It isn't anything on the scale of Rage Against The Machine kinda political, but they get their point across without bludgeoning you to death with it. Anyways this is a phenomenal CD and one that has seen a lot of play time in my list of new buys. With this being the first album I purchased by them I will definitely go back and listen to their last two. This album contains everything a metal fan loves about his/her music--memorable and crunching guitar, bombastic drums, heavy bass lines, and a vocalist that can make you quiver like a scared child. Randy Blythe is the vocalist for this band and throughout the album he is going from low end guttural to hardcore style shrieking and he pulls it off flawlessly. And for those of you out there who love breakdowns, then this is the album for you. Almost every song on the CD features a kick ass headbanging breakdown. I almost knocked myself out numerous times on my steering wheel while playing this CD. Which reminds me, don't listen to this loud while you are driving because you will probably get a ticket for speeding and want to beat the crap out of something after you are done. I can sit here all day and tell you how good this CD is but the best way if to go out and buy it yourself and see just what kind of beast Lamb of God is.



--Chaoslord 09.27.04
LAMB OF GOD ASHES OF THE WAKE SONY 2004 - Reviewed by Grim Gaijin

Track Listing1) Laid To Rest 2) Hourglass 3) Now You've Got Something To Die For 4) The Faded Line 5) Omerta 6) Blood Of The Scribe 7) One Gun 8) Break You 9) What I've Become 10) Ashes Of The Wake 11) Remorse Is For The Dead

The New Wave Of American Heavy Metal has been very active as of late. With upcoming bands such as Mastodon, Killswitch Engage, God Forbid, & Shadows Fall, good ole American Heavy Metal is once again making its mark on the metal scene and leaving a stain of blood as well! Leading the pack of those stellar acts is Lamb Of God, and with the release of their third album, " Ashes Of The Wake" they have proved yet again that metal is alive and here to stay.

With their first release, "New American Gospel" LoG destroyed us with Pantera style riffs and enough hardcore to tame fans of Earth Crisis & Integrity. With their sophomore effort, "As The Palaces Burn", they continued the brutality but added more melodic riffs and crushing time signatures that left ears bleeding all over the world. With "Ashes Of The Wake" they have completely lost their minds to deliver some of the most punishing metal to date. Every song is a gem, but several tracks that stick out are: The Faded Line, Blood Of The Scribe, Ashes Of The Wake, and Remorse Is For The Dead. The definite high point is the instrumental title track, Ashes Of The Wake. Within Ashes is an onslaught of 80's metal riffs and guest solo's by Alex Skolnick (ex-Testament) and Chris Poland (ex-Megadeth). Trust me, it will get your blood pumping and prepare you for Remorse Is For The Dead - The CD's closer track. As "Ashes" ends, it fades into a short accoustic piece that is the start of "Remorse". However, as it's soothness is just about to wind you down, you get smacked in the face with one of the most punishing tracks on the CD. Randy spews, "The dirty lord of the manor surveys his filthy domain" while the rest of the band remains in synch and pulverizes us with a dose of millennium inspired 80's thrash.

Lamb Of God are special in that, if you have never heard of them, you can pick up any of their three CD's and become an instant fan. They started off at the top and continue to climb. Ashes Of The Wake get my vote for metal album of the year, so pick it up and prepare yourself for a thrash metal adventure into the future.


--Grim Gaijin 09.22.04