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Lamb of God (band)
Encyclopedia
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal
band from Richmond, Virginia
. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe
, guitarists Mark Morton
and Willie Adler
, bassist John Campbell
, and drummer Chris Adler. The band is considered to be a part of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal
movement.
Since its formation, Lamb of God has released six studio albums, one live album, one compilation album and three DVDs. The band's cumulative sales equal almost two million in the United States. In 2007 the band received a Grammy nomination
for their 2006 album Sacrament
. Lamb of God has toured with the Ozzfest
twice and appeared on Slayer
's The Unholy Alliance Tour in 2006. They have also played at many other major festivals around the world including Download Festival
and Sonisphere Festival
in the UK
, Soundwave Festival and Gigantour
(headlined by Megadeth
). Recently, (2008–2010) they have toured with Metallica
(World Magnetic Tour
). Lamb of God also played on the main stage on Mayhem Festival 2010
. The band has currently finished their new album
, which is tentatively due on January 24th, 2012.
, drummer Chris Adler and bassist John Campbell
started a band named Burn The Priest. The band members knew each other from the college they were all attending, Virginia Commonwealth University
, in Richmond
, Virginia
. Morton left the band soon after its inception to receive his master's degree
. Adler and Campbell replaced Morton with Abe Spear. For the next five years, the band practiced in Richmond and around Virginia. In 1995, the band released its self-titled first demo
. After the demo, Burn the Priest recorded two split album
s with Agents of Satan and ZED respectively. After the band's first three demos, Burn the Priest added vocalist Randall Blythe to its line up.
In 1997, Morton returned to the band. Two years later, the band released its first full-length self-titled album, Burn the Priest, through Legion Records
. Mikey Bronsnan of Legion Records saved up $2,500 for the recording and then broke them in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
through DIY
shows. The album was produced by Today Is the Day
guitarist and vocalist Steve Austin
. Spear left the band, leaving an open position for a guitarist. Willie Adler
, became the band's second guitarist a year later, and a deal with Prosthetic Records
was signed. After being banned from playing in certain places (some venue owners believing the band possessed an "evil" name), Burn the Priest changed their name to Lamb of God.
With a new name and label, the band released its second album, New American Gospel
, in September 2000. Patrick Kennedy of Allmusic compared the band to Pantera
stating, "The essential signatures of post-Pantera metal are in abundance on Lamb of God's inaugural album. New American Gospel provides a mighty oak upon which gritty American metal's faith is maintained, effectively bridging the '90s' insistence upon drill-sergeant technicality and the old school's determined focus on riff construction." Chris Adler commented: "This is a classic record. We had all the elements come together to make one of the heaviest, yet contagious records of our career. It was difficult to contain us—we didn't even understand at the time what we had created."
Lamb of God toured for two years before releasing their third studio album, As the Palaces Burn
, on May 6, 2003. Kirk Miller of Rolling Stone
gave the album three out of five stars, writing that "unlike many of their overreaching, Slipknot
-influenced contemporaries, Lamb of God deliver a meticulously crafted metal assault." The album was voted the number one album of 2003 by both Revolver Magazine and Metal Hammer
. The band toured on the first Headbangers Ball
tour, where they recorded a DVD including live performances and a documentary, titled Terror and Hubris
. The DVD was a success, debuting at number 31 on the Billboard Top Music Videos chart.
Lamb of God released Ashes of the Wake
in August 2004, which debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200
, and sold over 35,000 copies in its first week. The album was distributed through the band's new record label, Epic Records
. Johnny Loftus of Allmusic praised the album, saying "With the genre getting clogged by PVC goofs and Alice in Chains
impersonators, Lamb of God balances the equation of power, rage, tradition, and craft. It kills the filler." The title track of the album featured Testament
guitarist Alex Skolnick
and ex–Megadeth
guitarist Chris Poland
.
The band supported Ashes of the Wake with extensive touring, including a second stage slot on Ozzfest
in 2004, and the 2005 Sounds of the Underground
tour. The band was awarded 2nd Best Album of the Year by Revolver magazine behind Mastodon's
Leviathan
, and was awarded Best Music Video for "Laid to Rest
" (2005). While on tour, the band recorded a performance and released it with the name of Killadelphia
. The release was made available as a DVD and a CD. The DVD was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
in 2007.
In 2006, a cover version of the first single from the album, "Laid to Rest
", was featured as a playable track in Guitar Hero II
.http://hub.guitarhero.com/games/gh The original version was released for Guitar Hero Smash Hits in 2009. The original version is also available as downloadable content for Rock Band
http://www.rockband.com/songs/laidtorest.
In August 2006 Lamb of God released its fifth studio album, Sacrament
. The album debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 and sold nearly 65,000 copies in its first week of sales, nearly doubling the first week sales of Ashes of the Wake. The album received generally positive reviews, with Cosmo Lee of Stylus Magazine
stating, "Sacrament has the band's most memorable songs to date. Musically, there's no fat. The band plays with laser precision and songs move smoothly through riffs and transitions." Ed Thompson of IGN
referred to Sacrament "one of the best metal albums of 2006", and Jon Pareles of Blender
called it a "speed rush all the way through".
The band appeared on major tours to support the album, including The Unholy Alliance
with Slayer
, Mastodon
, Children of Bodom
, and Thine Eyes Bleed
, Gigantour
, supporting Megadeth
; main stage at Ozzfest; an appearance at the Download Festival
, and an exclusive co-headlining tour with Killswitch Engage
, Soilwork
, and DevilDriver
, where Killswitch Engage and Lamb of God shared headlining spots alternately each show. Lamb of God was nominated for Best Metal Performance
at the 2007 Grammy Award
s for "Redneck
", but lost out to Slayer
's "Eyes of the Insane
".
In December 2007, the band re-released the album as Sacrament: Deluxe Producer Edition. The release contained all of the original songs from Sacrament on the first disc, and the second disc was a CD-ROM
featuring all of the vocal, bass, guitar, and drum tracks
in 192kbit/s MP3 format, enabling the buyer to produce their own interpretation of the songs. Blythe stated, "you sometimes have to do something special to get kids to even buy an album these days rather than download it." The band is taking a break to write new material throughout 2008 and prepare a new record for release, slated for 2009. The band is negotiating for a new record label to distribute records outside the United States. Chris Adler stated Epic Records in the United States "couldn't be more perfect", but wants a different label for international releases. The band later inked a deal with Roadrunner on 1 May 2008 for distribution outside the United States.
On May 3, Lamb of God announced via MySpace
their new DVD
, Walk with Me in Hell
, would be released on July 1, 2008. The DVD is a double-disc and has nearly five hours of footage, containing the feature documentary Walk with Me in Hell and multiple live performance extras from the Sacrament World Tour
. At the end of the Walk with Me in Hell documentary the members stated that they are excited more than ever to write new material.
'Walk With Me In Hell', the third DVD from Richmond, VA's metal icons LAMB OF GOD, has officially reached platinum status.
In August, 2008, it was announced, by studio producer Cole Higley, that the band had commenced work on the follow-up to Sacrament, and that its release was scheduled for February, 2009. Josh Wilbur was also named as the producer for the record. They will also be touring with Metallica
as a direct support act starting in December 2008.
The recording process of the new record was made available to view online live through the band's website, with two webcam
s installed in the studio (specifically in the drum room and mixing room).
Their latest album is named Wrath and was released on February 23, 2009 internationally via Roadrunner Records
and on February 24, 2009 in America via Epic Records
. The album is dedicated to Mikey Bronsnan, who helped them get started in Philadelphia, PA. In November 2008, Bronsnan was killed by a drunk driver. According to drummer Chris Adler, "Without Mikey, we'd very well might not be a band today." Drummer Chris Adler was quoted saying "This album is going to surprise a lot of people. Typically bands that get to where we are in our career begin to slack off, smell the roses and regurgitate. We chose a different path. No one wants to hear another band member hyping a new record. ‘Wrath’ needs no hype. We have topped ourselves and on February 24 you will feel it." With that said, "Wrath" debuted on the Billboard 200
at number two, selling over 68,000 copies in its first week.
In support of Wrath, the band in spring of 2009 embarked on the first leg of their world tour
, No Fear Energy Tour headlined by themselves with main support from Children of Bodom
and As I Lay Dying
, and rotating opening slots with God Forbid
and Municipal Waste
. The tour was a massive success for the band with rave reviews and large turnouts at each show. The band played in Europe
in the summer to perform with Metallica
on the World Magnetic Tour
along with Mastodon
, while also playing headlining shows of their own and performing at major European festivals. For the final six dates of the tour, Unearth
's Buz McGrath
filled in for Mark Morton, as he left early to be with his wife and his first child.
Lamb of God has been announced to also serve as Metallica
's direct support for the North American leg of their 2009 world tour
, as well as finishing the year off by headlining shows in Australia
and New Zealand
with Shadows Fall
and DevilDriver
.
on the Main Stage alongside Korn
, Rob Zombie
, and Five Finger Death Punch
. Paul Waggoner
, guitarist for Between the Buried and Me
, filled in for Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton during Mayhem Fest.
Lamb of God was nominated for a Grammy in 2010 for the Best Metal Performance category for "Set To Fail", but lost out to Judas Priest.
Lamb of God played the Download Festival 2010 after being confirmed via the official Download Festival website at 00.30 on February 16, 2010. It was their third appearance at Download Festival.
Lamb of God performed for the first time in the Philippines for the annual PULP Summer Slam on April 17, 2010 with thrash metal band Testament
. The band also played in India for the first time on May 15, 2010, headlining the Summer Storm festival in Bangalore. They played for their Turkish fans at Kucukciftlik Park, Istanbul, on May 17.
On April 19, 2010, IGN
released a 'making of' video that features Lamb of God working on their next single, "Hit the Wall", which is available as Internet download, without the vocal's presence here http://www.youtube.com/v/C7tFP8QLJ-4. The single is featured in the Iron Man 2
video game.
Lamb of God was announced as one band (the other being Baroness
) to support Metallica
on their Australian tour in late 2010.
In a September 2010 interview, drummer Chris Adler mentioned that Lamb of God will enter the studio in February 2011 to begin work on a seventh album. In November, Chris also mentioned that the band will work with producer Josh Wilbur again.
In 2010, the band was confirmed as being part of the soundtrack for Namco Bandai Games
' 2010 remake of Splatterhouse.
The band was nominated for a Grammy
in 2011 for "In Your Words" at the 53rd Grammy Awards but lost to Iron Maiden.
Lamb of God released the single "Hit the Wall" as a digital download in the US on February 15, 2011.
On October 31, 2011, it was announced that the band is set to release their sixth studio album, Resolution
, on January 24, 2012. The band also revealed the album's tracklist and cover art, and has said that the album's sound resemble more the band's earlier work such as As the Palaces Burn
and Ashes of the Wake
.
joined. Since the success of the release of 2004's Ashes of the Wake
the band has been considered a leader of the "New Wave of American Heavy Metal
".
Burn the Priest and early Lamb of God has been defined as a thrash metal
, death metal
and hardcore punk
or grindcore
hybrid with a strong element of power groove
, which often connects Lamb of God with the influential metal band Pantera
. Another connection between Pantera and Lamb of God is the fact that both were and are highly influential metal bands from the Southern United States
, Texas and Virginia, respectively. Lamb of God could currently be helping to strengthen a young tradition of great southern metal that was first pioneered by Pantera. Burn the Priest and early Lamb of God include growling death metal vocals. The style has been considered to vary between several different genres, including hardcore punk, thrash metal, and even possessing sludge metal
influences.
New American Gospel
continues in a similar style as Burn the Priest, with drum-heavy production of alternate picking and double-kick drumming. Here, the band has been considered by Allmusic to be effectively bridging the 1990s' tendency towards technicality and early metal's focus on riff construction and plays a brand of heavy metal described as not unlike Meshuggah
without some of their mathematical components.
2003's As the Palaces Burn
saw the band's compositions focusing more on what some have called "memorable" riffs. On 2004's Ashes of the Wake, they continued the progression of As the Palaces Burn with more frequent guitar solos.
Sacrament
, released in 2006, was described by critics as more technical, especially considering the vocal performance. Again, the band experimented with more melody and guitar solos; however, the band has also been often reproached by the critics for the similarity of the songs within their albums.
2009's Wrath focused on the increased groove metal substance explored in Sacrament. However, this release contained increased tempos and fewer guitar solos. It also included more clean guitar, such as on the songs "The Passing", "Grace", and "Reclamation".
Due to the variety of influences, stylistic elements and changes throughout the band's career the press has chosen several genres and terms to describe Lamb of God's music. Lamb of God has been labeled as a groove metal and thrash metal band. Campbell, on the Walk With Me in Hell DVD, says that Lamb of God is "a punk band that plays heavy metal", while Chris Adler refers to Sacrament as a speed metal
album.
's "Blacken the Cursed Sun". Many of their songs have political themes, especially in the albums As the Palaces Burn
and Ashes of the Wake
. The band also has many misanthropic or apocalyptic songs, such as "Reclamation". The song "Omerta" from the album Ashes of the Wake talks about the Italian Mafia law of silence: omertà
. The Ashes of the Wake album featured many songs critical of the war in Iraq, such as "Hourglass" and the instrumental title track. Though an instrumental, this song makes use of two audio recordings of former staff sergeant and former Marine Jimmy Massey giving an interview about the war. Lyrical themes that the band frequently explores are hypocrisy and other faults in the personality, particularly on songs such as "Choke Sermon" and "Pathetic".
Former
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe
Randy Blythe
David Randall "Randy" Blythe is the vocalist of American groove metal band Lamb Of God and side-project band Halo of Locusts. He is known as D. Randall Blythe on Lamb of God's albums....
, guitarists Mark Morton
Mark Morton (musician)
Mark Duane Morton is the lead guitarist of the American groove metal band Lamb Of God.- Before Lamb of God :Morton grew up near Williamsburg, Virginia. His first band was Axis, which was composed of other local youth, one being Ryan Lake of Alabama Thunderpussy fame. Morton played rhythm guitar...
and Willie Adler
Willie Adler
William M. Adler is the rhythm guitarist in the groove metal band Lamb Of God. He is the younger brother of bandmate Chris Adler.Willie joined Lamb of God after the first guitarist, [Keven Maglasang ], left the band...
, bassist John Campbell
John Campbell (bassist)
John Steven Campbell is the bassist and a founding member of the groove metal band Lamb Of God.Unlike many bass players who will use four and five string basses, Campbell at one time played a self modified three-stringed Guild Pilot bass, excluding the higher G-string...
, and drummer Chris Adler. The band is considered to be a part of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal
New Wave of American Heavy Metal
The New Wave of American Heavy Metal is a movement in that originated in the United States during the early to mid 1990s and has expanded most in the recent 2000s. Some of the bands considered part of the movement had formed as early as the late 1980s, but did not become influential or reach...
movement.
Since its formation, Lamb of God has released six studio albums, one live album, one compilation album and three DVDs. The band's cumulative sales equal almost two million in the United States. In 2007 the band received a Grammy nomination
Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance was an award presented at the Grammy Awards to recording artists for works containing quality performances in the heavy metal music genre...
for their 2006 album Sacrament
Sacrament (album)
Sacrament is the Grammy Award nominated fifth studio album from the American groove metal band Lamb of God. Released on August 22, 2006, Sacrament debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 charts with first-week sales of 63,000....
. Lamb of God has toured with the Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
twice and appeared on Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
's The Unholy Alliance Tour in 2006. They have also played at many other major festivals around the world including Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
and Sonisphere Festival
Sonisphere Festival
The Sonisphere Festival is a touring music festival which takes place across Europe between June and August. The festival is owned by John Jackson and Kilimanjaro Live. It is jointly-promoted by K2 and Kilimanjaro Live...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Soundwave Festival and Gigantour
Gigantour
Gigantour is the name of a sporadically organised traveling heavy metal music festival organized by Megadeth's Dave Mustaine. The tour was founded in 2005 with dates across North America, and the 2006 and 2007 line-ups also traveled to Australia...
(headlined by Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
). Recently, (2008–2010) they have toured with Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
(World Magnetic Tour
World Magnetic Tour
World Magnetic Tour was a 2008/2009/2010 concert tour by American heavy metal band Metallica in support of the group's ninth studio album, Death Magnetic, which was released in September 2008....
). Lamb of God also played on the main stage on Mayhem Festival 2010
Mayhem Festival 2010
Mayhem Festival 2010 was the third annual Mayhem Festival created by Kevin Lyman. The 2010 edition of the festival was co-headlined by Korn and Rob Zombie. As in previous years, the main sponsor of the festival is Rockstar Energy drink, and each date had a different Battle of the Bands winner...
. The band has currently finished their new album
Resolution (Lamb of God album)
Resolution is the seventh studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, due to be released on January 24, 2012 in the US, January 31 in Canada...
, which is tentatively due on January 24th, 2012.
Formation and Burn the Priest (1994–1999)
In 1990, guitarist Mark MortonMark Morton (musician)
Mark Duane Morton is the lead guitarist of the American groove metal band Lamb Of God.- Before Lamb of God :Morton grew up near Williamsburg, Virginia. His first band was Axis, which was composed of other local youth, one being Ryan Lake of Alabama Thunderpussy fame. Morton played rhythm guitar...
, drummer Chris Adler and bassist John Campbell
John Campbell (bassist)
John Steven Campbell is the bassist and a founding member of the groove metal band Lamb Of God.Unlike many bass players who will use four and five string basses, Campbell at one time played a self modified three-stringed Guild Pilot bass, excluding the higher G-string...
started a band named Burn The Priest. The band members knew each other from the college they were all attending, Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
, in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Morton left the band soon after its inception to receive his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
. Adler and Campbell replaced Morton with Abe Spear. For the next five years, the band practiced in Richmond and around Virginia. In 1995, the band released its self-titled first demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
. After the demo, Burn the Priest recorded two split album
Split album
A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
s with Agents of Satan and ZED respectively. After the band's first three demos, Burn the Priest added vocalist Randall Blythe to its line up.
In 1997, Morton returned to the band. Two years later, the band released its first full-length self-titled album, Burn the Priest, through Legion Records
Legion Records
Legion Records was started in 1997 by Michael Brosnan under the name Goatboy Records then changed to Goatboy Farms Recordings. It was centered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The final name change occurred in 1999 for, publicly, unknown reasons...
. Mikey Bronsnan of Legion Records saved up $2,500 for the recording and then broke them in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
through DIY
Do it yourself
Do it yourself is a term used to describe building, modifying, or repairing of something without the aid of experts or professionals...
shows. The album was produced by Today Is the Day
Today is the Day
Today Is the Day is an experimental noise rock/metal/grindcore band from Nashville, Tennessee. They have a diverse sound that includes influences from alternative rock, grindcore, & progressive rock among other genres...
guitarist and vocalist Steve Austin
Steve Austin (musician)
Steve Austin is the guitarist, singer and songwriter for noise rock band Today Is The Day. Austin has been the band's only permanent member since their 1992 debut EP, How To Win Friends And Influence People....
. Spear left the band, leaving an open position for a guitarist. Willie Adler
Willie Adler
William M. Adler is the rhythm guitarist in the groove metal band Lamb Of God. He is the younger brother of bandmate Chris Adler.Willie joined Lamb of God after the first guitarist, [Keven Maglasang ], left the band...
, became the band's second guitarist a year later, and a deal with Prosthetic Records
Prosthetic Records
Prosthetic Records is a record label specializing in heavy metal recordings. Founded by E.J. Johantgen and Dan Fitzgerald both former employees of Columbia Records, in Los Angeles, California in 1998...
was signed. After being banned from playing in certain places (some venue owners believing the band possessed an "evil" name), Burn the Priest changed their name to Lamb of God.
New American Gospel and As the Palaces Burn (2000–2003)
New American Gospel
New American Gospel is the second album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2000 on Prosthetic Records. New American Gospel is the first release with Willie Adler on guitar, and the first album under the name "Lamb of God"....
, in September 2000. Patrick Kennedy of Allmusic compared the band to Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
stating, "The essential signatures of post-Pantera metal are in abundance on Lamb of God's inaugural album. New American Gospel provides a mighty oak upon which gritty American metal's faith is maintained, effectively bridging the '90s' insistence upon drill-sergeant technicality and the old school's determined focus on riff construction." Chris Adler commented: "This is a classic record. We had all the elements come together to make one of the heaviest, yet contagious records of our career. It was difficult to contain us—we didn't even understand at the time what we had created."
Lamb of God toured for two years before releasing their third studio album, As the Palaces Burn
As the Palaces Burn
As the Palaces Burn is the third studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released under Prosthetic Records in 2003. As the Palaces Burn received considerably more airplay than their previous effort, with three singles. The album was produced by Lamb of God and Devin Townsend...
, on May 6, 2003. Kirk Miller of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
gave the album three out of five stars, writing that "unlike many of their overreaching, Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
-influenced contemporaries, Lamb of God deliver a meticulously crafted metal assault." The album was voted the number one album of 2003 by both Revolver Magazine and Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
. The band toured on the first Headbangers Ball
Headbangers Ball
Headbangers Ball is a music television program consisting of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV2, MTV Australia, MTV Two , MTV Adria , MTV Brand New, MTV Portugal, MTV Finland, MTV Arabia, MTV Norway, MTV Sweden, MTV Denmark, MTV Greece, MTV Türkiye, MTV...
tour, where they recorded a DVD including live performances and a documentary, titled Terror and Hubris
Terror and Hubris
Terror and Hubris is the first DVD by the metal band Lamb of God. It was released in January 2003. Due to legal reasons, the video for "11th Hour" could not be included on the DVD.-Track listing:#Intro#How They Met Interview#"In the Absence of the Sacred"...
. The DVD was a success, debuting at number 31 on the Billboard Top Music Videos chart.
Ashes of the Wake (2004–2005)
Ashes of the Wake
Ashes of the Wake is the fourth studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2004. The album debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 copies in its first-week and was rated by Guitar World as the 49th greatest Guitar Album of all Time...
in August 2004, which debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, and sold over 35,000 copies in its first week. The album was distributed through the band's new record label, Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. Johnny Loftus of Allmusic praised the album, saying "With the genre getting clogged by PVC goofs and Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
impersonators, Lamb of God balances the equation of power, rage, tradition, and craft. It kills the filler." The title track of the album featured Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
guitarist Alex Skolnick
Alex Skolnick
Alexander Nathan Skolnick is an American jazz and metal guitarist. He was a member of the San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band Testament from 1983 until his departure in 1993...
and ex–Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
guitarist Chris Poland
Chris Poland
Chris Poland is an American guitarist, best known for being a former member of heavy metal band Megadeth.-Early career:...
.
The band supported Ashes of the Wake with extensive touring, including a second stage slot on Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
in 2004, and the 2005 Sounds of the Underground
Sounds of the Underground
The Sounds of the Underground tour was a festival-like tour that rivaled Ozzfest in its first year of existence .The tour features extreme metal and metalcore, and hardcore bands. The existence of this tour, which was held in national arenas, was to attract the rising interest of metal, hardcore,...
tour. The band was awarded 2nd Best Album of the Year by Revolver magazine behind Mastodon's
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
Leviathan
Leviathan (album)
Leviathan is a concept album by sludge metal band Mastodon, released in 2004 by Relapse Records. The album is loosely based on the Herman Melville novel Moby-Dick, and the songs "Iron Tusk", "Blood and Thunder", "I Am Ahab" and "Seabeast" were released as singles...
, and was awarded Best Music Video for "Laid to Rest
Laid to Rest
"Laid to Rest" is a song by the groove metal band Lamb Of God from their fourth album, Ashes of the Wake. It was the first single from the album, and a music video was made for it....
" (2005). While on tour, the band recorded a performance and released it with the name of Killadelphia
Killadelphia
Killadelphia is a slang reference to the city of Philadelphia, PA's high murder rate. It may also refer to:* Killadelphia , an album by Lamb of God* Killadelphia , a DVD by Lamb of God...
. The release was made available as a DVD and a CD. The DVD was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
in 2007.
In 2006, a cover version of the first single from the album, "Laid to Rest
Laid to Rest
"Laid to Rest" is a song by the groove metal band Lamb Of God from their fourth album, Ashes of the Wake. It was the first single from the album, and a music video was made for it....
", was featured as a playable track in Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane. It is the second installment in the Guitar Hero series and is the sequel to Guitar Hero...
.http://hub.guitarhero.com/games/gh The original version was released for Guitar Hero Smash Hits in 2009. The original version is also available as downloadable content for Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
http://www.rockband.com/songs/laidtorest.
Sacrament (2005–2007)
Sacrament (album)
Sacrament is the Grammy Award nominated fifth studio album from the American groove metal band Lamb of God. Released on August 22, 2006, Sacrament debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 charts with first-week sales of 63,000....
. The album debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 and sold nearly 65,000 copies in its first week of sales, nearly doubling the first week sales of Ashes of the Wake. The album received generally positive reviews, with Cosmo Lee of Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
stating, "Sacrament has the band's most memorable songs to date. Musically, there's no fat. The band plays with laser precision and songs move smoothly through riffs and transitions." Ed Thompson of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
referred to Sacrament "one of the best metal albums of 2006", and Jon Pareles of Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
called it a "speed rush all the way through".
The band appeared on major tours to support the album, including The Unholy Alliance
The Unholy Alliance (tour)
The Unholy Alliance Tour is a biennial heavy metal concert tour of Europe and North America, with the tag-line "Preaching to the Perverted". The tour is headlined by the thrash metal band Slayer, and featured Trivium, Amon Amarth and Mastodon in its latest edition.-Europe 2004:The 2004 European...
with Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
, Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
, and Thine Eyes Bleed
Thine Eyes Bleed
Thine Eyes Bleed is a melodic death metal band from London, Ontario, Canada. They released their first album In the Wake of Separation in 2005. And on April, 15th 2008 released their follow up album, Thine Eyes Bleed.-Members:...
, Gigantour
Gigantour
Gigantour is the name of a sporadically organised traveling heavy metal music festival organized by Megadeth's Dave Mustaine. The tour was founded in 2005 with dates across North America, and the 2006 and 2007 line-ups also traveled to Australia...
, supporting Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
; main stage at Ozzfest; an appearance at the Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
, and an exclusive co-headlining tour with Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
, Soilwork
Soilwork
Soilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name Inferior Breed, the band changed their name in late 1996 to Soilwork .Their sound is a fusion of the classic...
, and DevilDriver
DevilDriver
DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002. The band was originally named Deathride, however, due to copyright issues and the name being taken by several bands, Deathride changed its name to DevilDriver, which refers to bells Italian witches used to...
, where Killswitch Engage and Lamb of God shared headlining spots alternately each show. Lamb of God was nominated for Best Metal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance was an award presented at the Grammy Awards to recording artists for works containing quality performances in the heavy metal music genre...
at the 2007 Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s for "Redneck
Redneck (song)
"Redneck" is the seventh single from the heavy metal band Lamb of God, from their fourth album Sacrament, as well as the first single from the album...
", but lost out to Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
's "Eyes of the Insane
Eyes of the Insane
"Eyes of the Insane" is a 2006 single by American thrash metal band Slayer, taken from their 2006 album Christ Illusion. The lyrics explore an American soldier's mental anguish following his return home from the second Gulf War, and is based on an article entitled "Casualty of War" which was...
".
In December 2007, the band re-released the album as Sacrament: Deluxe Producer Edition. The release contained all of the original songs from Sacrament on the first disc, and the second disc was a CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
featuring all of the vocal, bass, guitar, and drum tracks
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
in 192kbit/s MP3 format, enabling the buyer to produce their own interpretation of the songs. Blythe stated, "you sometimes have to do something special to get kids to even buy an album these days rather than download it." The band is taking a break to write new material throughout 2008 and prepare a new record for release, slated for 2009. The band is negotiating for a new record label to distribute records outside the United States. Chris Adler stated Epic Records in the United States "couldn't be more perfect", but wants a different label for international releases. The band later inked a deal with Roadrunner on 1 May 2008 for distribution outside the United States.
Walk with Me in Hell and Wrath (2008–2009)
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
their new DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, Walk with Me in Hell
Walk with Me in Hell (DVD)
Walk with Me in Hell is a 2008 live DVD by American metal band Lamb of God. On May 1st, 2008, Lamb of God stated via Myspace that their new live DVD, Walk with Me in Hell, would be released on July 1, 2008. The DVD is two discs long and has nearly five hours of footage...
, would be released on July 1, 2008. The DVD is a double-disc and has nearly five hours of footage, containing the feature documentary Walk with Me in Hell and multiple live performance extras from the Sacrament World Tour
Sacrament Tour
The Sacrament World Tour was a concert tour by American metal band Lamb of God. It was in support of the band's 5th studio album Sacrament...
. At the end of the Walk with Me in Hell documentary the members stated that they are excited more than ever to write new material.
'Walk With Me In Hell', the third DVD from Richmond, VA's metal icons LAMB OF GOD, has officially reached platinum status.
In August, 2008, it was announced, by studio producer Cole Higley, that the band had commenced work on the follow-up to Sacrament, and that its release was scheduled for February, 2009. Josh Wilbur was also named as the producer for the record. They will also be touring with Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
as a direct support act starting in December 2008.
The recording process of the new record was made available to view online live through the band's website, with two webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
s installed in the studio (specifically in the drum room and mixing room).
Their latest album is named Wrath and was released on February 23, 2009 internationally via Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
and on February 24, 2009 in America via Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. The album is dedicated to Mikey Bronsnan, who helped them get started in Philadelphia, PA. In November 2008, Bronsnan was killed by a drunk driver. According to drummer Chris Adler, "Without Mikey, we'd very well might not be a band today." Drummer Chris Adler was quoted saying "This album is going to surprise a lot of people. Typically bands that get to where we are in our career begin to slack off, smell the roses and regurgitate. We chose a different path. No one wants to hear another band member hyping a new record. ‘Wrath’ needs no hype. We have topped ourselves and on February 24 you will feel it." With that said, "Wrath" debuted on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at number two, selling over 68,000 copies in its first week.
In support of Wrath, the band in spring of 2009 embarked on the first leg of their world tour
Wrath Tour
Wrath Tour was a concert tour by American heavy metal band Lamb of God in support of the group's sixth studio album, Wrath, which was released in February 2009....
, No Fear Energy Tour headlined by themselves with main support from Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
and As I Lay Dying
As I Lay Dying (band)
As I Lay Dying is an American metalcore band from San Diego, California. Founded in 2000 by Tim Lambesis and having completed their first Line-up in 2001, the band consists of vocalist Tim Lambesis, drummer Jordan Mancino, lead guitarist Nick Hipa, rhythm guitarist Phil Sgrosso, and bassist Josh...
, and rotating opening slots with God Forbid
God Forbid
God Forbid is an American heavy metal band formed in 1996 in East Brunswick, New Jersey.-Biography:Building up a following in the late 1990s by touring with bands such as GWAR, Nile, Cradle of Filth and Candiria, God Forbid's first full album Reject the Sickness was released by 9 Volt Records in 1999...
and Municipal Waste
Municipal Waste (band)
Municipal Waste is a thrash metal/crossover thrash band from Richmond, Virginia.They performed at the UK's Download Festival on June 15, 2008, on the tuborg stage....
. The tour was a massive success for the band with rave reviews and large turnouts at each show. The band played in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in the summer to perform with Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
on the World Magnetic Tour
World Magnetic Tour
World Magnetic Tour was a 2008/2009/2010 concert tour by American heavy metal band Metallica in support of the group's ninth studio album, Death Magnetic, which was released in September 2008....
along with Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
, while also playing headlining shows of their own and performing at major European festivals. For the final six dates of the tour, Unearth
Unearth
Unearth is an American metalcore band from Winthrop, Massachusetts. Formed in 1998, the group has released five studio albums. Their fourth record, The March was released on October 14, 2008 meeting with high positive reception by many...
's Buz McGrath
Unearth
Unearth is an American metalcore band from Winthrop, Massachusetts. Formed in 1998, the group has released five studio albums. Their fourth record, The March was released on October 14, 2008 meeting with high positive reception by many...
filled in for Mark Morton, as he left early to be with his wife and his first child.
Lamb of God has been announced to also serve as Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
's direct support for the North American leg of their 2009 world tour
World Magnetic Tour
World Magnetic Tour was a 2008/2009/2010 concert tour by American heavy metal band Metallica in support of the group's ninth studio album, Death Magnetic, which was released in September 2008....
, as well as finishing the year off by headlining shows in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
with Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. They are one of the few contemporary metal bands who take their lyrical influence from Eastern philosophy and some references to the Rastafari culture...
and DevilDriver
DevilDriver
DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002. The band was originally named Deathride, however, due to copyright issues and the name being taken by several bands, Deathride changed its name to DevilDriver, which refers to bells Italian witches used to...
.
Festival performances and Resolution (2010 onward)
Lamb of God was on the 2010 Mayhem FestivalMayhem festival
The Mayhem Festival is a touring metal festival that takes place during the summer. The inaugural iteration took place in 2008; the festival has since become an annual event across the United States and Quebec, Canada. The tour has been sponsored by the Rockstar Energy Company since the time of its...
on the Main Stage alongside Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
, and Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2005, the group's name is derived from classic oriental martial arts cinema. The band originally consisted of vocalist Ivan Moody, guitarist Zoltan Bathory, guitarist Caleb Bingham, bassist Matt Snell,...
. Paul Waggoner
Paul Waggoner
Paul Waggoner is the lead guitarist of the American heavy metal band, Between the Buried and Me from North Carolina. Being an avid fan of progressive rock, he is heavily influenced by John Petrucci, Pat Metheny, Allan Holdsworth and Steve Vai. He formerly played guitar in the metalcore band, Prayer...
, guitarist for Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina. They have released a total of five studio albums, as well as a cover album, an EP and a live DVD/CD...
, filled in for Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton during Mayhem Fest.
Lamb of God was nominated for a Grammy in 2010 for the Best Metal Performance category for "Set To Fail", but lost out to Judas Priest.
Lamb of God played the Download Festival 2010 after being confirmed via the official Download Festival website at 00.30 on February 16, 2010. It was their third appearance at Download Festival.
Lamb of God performed for the first time in the Philippines for the annual PULP Summer Slam on April 17, 2010 with thrash metal band Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
. The band also played in India for the first time on May 15, 2010, headlining the Summer Storm festival in Bangalore. They played for their Turkish fans at Kucukciftlik Park, Istanbul, on May 17.
On April 19, 2010, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
released a 'making of' video that features Lamb of God working on their next single, "Hit the Wall", which is available as Internet download, without the vocal's presence here http://www.youtube.com/v/C7tFP8QLJ-4. The single is featured in the Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2 (video game)
Iron Man 2 is a 2010 video game loosely-based on the film of the same name. It was released on May 4, 2010, days after the film's international release and days before the film's domestic release. The game was published by Sega and developed by Sega Studios San Francisco , High Voltage Software ...
video game.
Lamb of God was announced as one band (the other being Baroness
Baroness
Baroness is the female equivalent of the nobility title Baron.Baroness or The Baroness may also refer to:* Baroness , a metal band from Savannah, Georgia* Baroness , a fictional villain in the G.I...
) to support Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
on their Australian tour in late 2010.
In a September 2010 interview, drummer Chris Adler mentioned that Lamb of God will enter the studio in February 2011 to begin work on a seventh album. In November, Chris also mentioned that the band will work with producer Josh Wilbur again.
In 2010, the band was confirmed as being part of the soundtrack for Namco Bandai Games
Namco Bandai Games
is an arcade, mobile and home video game developer and publisher based in Japan which is the product of a merger between the video game development divisions of Bandai and Namco. Namco Bandai Games is a wholly owned subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings and specializes in production and sales of...
' 2010 remake of Splatterhouse.
The band was nominated for a Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 2011 for "In Your Words" at the 53rd Grammy Awards but lost to Iron Maiden.
Lamb of God released the single "Hit the Wall" as a digital download in the US on February 15, 2011.
On October 31, 2011, it was announced that the band is set to release their sixth studio album, Resolution
Resolution (Lamb of God album)
Resolution is the seventh studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, due to be released on January 24, 2012 in the US, January 31 in Canada...
, on January 24, 2012. The band also revealed the album's tracklist and cover art, and has said that the album's sound resemble more the band's earlier work such as As the Palaces Burn
As the Palaces Burn
As the Palaces Burn is the third studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released under Prosthetic Records in 2003. As the Palaces Burn received considerably more airplay than their previous effort, with three singles. The album was produced by Lamb of God and Devin Townsend...
and Ashes of the Wake
Ashes of the Wake
Ashes of the Wake is the fourth studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2004. The album debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 copies in its first-week and was rated by Guitar World as the 49th greatest Guitar Album of all Time...
.
Musical style and lyrical themes
Lamb of God was originally an instrumental band called Burn the Priest, and included vocals after Randy BlytheRandy Blythe
David Randall "Randy" Blythe is the vocalist of American groove metal band Lamb Of God and side-project band Halo of Locusts. He is known as D. Randall Blythe on Lamb of God's albums....
joined. Since the success of the release of 2004's Ashes of the Wake
Ashes of the Wake
Ashes of the Wake is the fourth studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2004. The album debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 copies in its first-week and was rated by Guitar World as the 49th greatest Guitar Album of all Time...
the band has been considered a leader of the "New Wave of American Heavy Metal
New Wave of American Heavy Metal
The New Wave of American Heavy Metal is a movement in that originated in the United States during the early to mid 1990s and has expanded most in the recent 2000s. Some of the bands considered part of the movement had formed as early as the late 1980s, but did not become influential or reach...
".
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
, death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
and hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
or grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
hybrid with a strong element of power groove
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
, which often connects Lamb of God with the influential metal band Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
. Another connection between Pantera and Lamb of God is the fact that both were and are highly influential metal bands from the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, Texas and Virginia, respectively. Lamb of God could currently be helping to strengthen a young tradition of great southern metal that was first pioneered by Pantera. Burn the Priest and early Lamb of God include growling death metal vocals. The style has been considered to vary between several different genres, including hardcore punk, thrash metal, and even possessing sludge metal
Sludge metal
Sludge metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk, and sometimes incorporates influences from southern rock, stoner rock and grunge. Sludge metal is typically abrasive; often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting...
influences.
New American Gospel
New American Gospel
New American Gospel is the second album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2000 on Prosthetic Records. New American Gospel is the first release with Willie Adler on guitar, and the first album under the name "Lamb of God"....
continues in a similar style as Burn the Priest, with drum-heavy production of alternate picking and double-kick drumming. Here, the band has been considered by Allmusic to be effectively bridging the 1990s' tendency towards technicality and early metal's focus on riff construction and plays a brand of heavy metal described as not unlike Meshuggah
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
without some of their mathematical components.
2003's As the Palaces Burn
As the Palaces Burn
As the Palaces Burn is the third studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released under Prosthetic Records in 2003. As the Palaces Burn received considerably more airplay than their previous effort, with three singles. The album was produced by Lamb of God and Devin Townsend...
saw the band's compositions focusing more on what some have called "memorable" riffs. On 2004's Ashes of the Wake, they continued the progression of As the Palaces Burn with more frequent guitar solos.
Sacrament
Sacrament (album)
Sacrament is the Grammy Award nominated fifth studio album from the American groove metal band Lamb of God. Released on August 22, 2006, Sacrament debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 charts with first-week sales of 63,000....
, released in 2006, was described by critics as more technical, especially considering the vocal performance. Again, the band experimented with more melody and guitar solos; however, the band has also been often reproached by the critics for the similarity of the songs within their albums.
2009's Wrath focused on the increased groove metal substance explored in Sacrament. However, this release contained increased tempos and fewer guitar solos. It also included more clean guitar, such as on the songs "The Passing", "Grace", and "Reclamation".
Due to the variety of influences, stylistic elements and changes throughout the band's career the press has chosen several genres and terms to describe Lamb of God's music. Lamb of God has been labeled as a groove metal and thrash metal band. Campbell, on the Walk With Me in Hell DVD, says that Lamb of God is "a punk band that plays heavy metal", while Chris Adler refers to Sacrament as a speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
album.
Lyrical themes
The lyrical themes of the band often have a double meaning. They frequently use biblical references, but often convey anti-religious sentiment, as in SacramentSacrament (album)
Sacrament is the Grammy Award nominated fifth studio album from the American groove metal band Lamb of God. Released on August 22, 2006, Sacrament debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 charts with first-week sales of 63,000....
's "Blacken the Cursed Sun". Many of their songs have political themes, especially in the albums As the Palaces Burn
As the Palaces Burn
As the Palaces Burn is the third studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released under Prosthetic Records in 2003. As the Palaces Burn received considerably more airplay than their previous effort, with three singles. The album was produced by Lamb of God and Devin Townsend...
and Ashes of the Wake
Ashes of the Wake
Ashes of the Wake is the fourth studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2004. The album debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 copies in its first-week and was rated by Guitar World as the 49th greatest Guitar Album of all Time...
. The band also has many misanthropic or apocalyptic songs, such as "Reclamation". The song "Omerta" from the album Ashes of the Wake talks about the Italian Mafia law of silence: omertà
Omertà
Omertà is a popular attitude and code of honour and a common definition is the "code of silence". It is common in areas of southern Italy, such as Sicily, Apulia, Calabria, and Campania, where criminal organizations defined as Mafia such as the Cosa Nostra, 'Ndrangheta, Sacra Corona Unita, and...
. The Ashes of the Wake album featured many songs critical of the war in Iraq, such as "Hourglass" and the instrumental title track. Though an instrumental, this song makes use of two audio recordings of former staff sergeant and former Marine Jimmy Massey giving an interview about the war. Lyrical themes that the band frequently explores are hypocrisy and other faults in the personality, particularly on songs such as "Choke Sermon" and "Pathetic".
Members
Current- Chris Adler – drums (since 1994)
- John CampbellJohn Campbell (bassist)John Steven Campbell is the bassist and a founding member of the groove metal band Lamb Of God.Unlike many bass players who will use four and five string basses, Campbell at one time played a self modified three-stringed Guild Pilot bass, excluding the higher G-string...
– bass (since 1994) - Mark MortonMark Morton (musician)Mark Duane Morton is the lead guitarist of the American groove metal band Lamb Of God.- Before Lamb of God :Morton grew up near Williamsburg, Virginia. His first band was Axis, which was composed of other local youth, one being Ryan Lake of Alabama Thunderpussy fame. Morton played rhythm guitar...
– guitar (since 1994) - Randy BlytheRandy BlytheDavid Randall "Randy" Blythe is the vocalist of American groove metal band Lamb Of God and side-project band Halo of Locusts. He is known as D. Randall Blythe on Lamb of God's albums....
– vocals (since 1995) - Willie AdlerWillie AdlerWilliam M. Adler is the rhythm guitarist in the groove metal band Lamb Of God. He is the younger brother of bandmate Chris Adler.Willie joined Lamb of God after the first guitarist, [Keven Maglasang ], left the band...
– guitar (since 1998)
Former
- Abe Spear – guitar (1994–1998)
Discography
Studio albums- Burn the Priest (1999)
- New American GospelNew American GospelNew American Gospel is the second album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2000 on Prosthetic Records. New American Gospel is the first release with Willie Adler on guitar, and the first album under the name "Lamb of God"....
(2000) - As the Palaces BurnAs the Palaces BurnAs the Palaces Burn is the third studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released under Prosthetic Records in 2003. As the Palaces Burn received considerably more airplay than their previous effort, with three singles. The album was produced by Lamb of God and Devin Townsend...
(2003) - Ashes of the WakeAshes of the WakeAshes of the Wake is the fourth studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2004. The album debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 copies in its first-week and was rated by Guitar World as the 49th greatest Guitar Album of all Time...
(2004) - SacramentSacrament (album)Sacrament is the Grammy Award nominated fifth studio album from the American groove metal band Lamb of God. Released on August 22, 2006, Sacrament debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 charts with first-week sales of 63,000....
(2006) - Wrath (2009)
- ResolutionResolution (Lamb of God album)Resolution is the seventh studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, due to be released on January 24, 2012 in the US, January 31 in Canada...
(2012)