Published on Dec 29, 2015
On their major-label debut, Richmond, VA’s own Lamb Of God came out of the gates raging. This is without a doubt one of the best metal records EVER released by a major label and one of the most exciting records of the 21st century.
Simply put, “Laid To Rest” and “Now You’ve Got Something To Die For” are two of the greatest metal songs ever released, and the fact they came from just one band is extraordinary. Everything from the music to the vocals to production is perfect, and both songs are great examples of the power of metal!
But there’s great metal to be found all over the record, from “Break You” to the slower crunch of “Omerta.” The title track contains a tribute of sorts to their metal forefathers as Alex Skolnick of Testament and Chris Poland (formerly of Megadeth) lend a hand with some amazing solos to really bring out the intensity.
“The Faded Line” and another fan favorite “Hourglass” are other prime examples of how definitive this album is for 21st century metal fans. For me personally, if it hadn’t been for a great college friend of mine and episodes of “Headbanger’s Ball” on MTV2, I might have missed this album entirely. Thankfully that didn’t happen and this quickly became one of the most listened to record of my college years.
Lamb Of God has made a bunch of records since this and every one would try and be heavier and more aggressive than the last. But while those records are all great and essential listening, it’s hard to hold a candle to this one. They were at the top of their game and were able to prove to the world what they were capable of.