Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
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Music Reviews of Ashes of the Wake
Music Review: Four stars. Could have been five!
Rating: 4 Stars
Lamb of God is a crazy technical metal band. (Notice I didn't say "metalcore".) These fellas have more talent in their sneezes than some other bands have in their playing skills.
As the Palaces Burn was easily a 5-star release, but Ashes only gets four. Though the production is better on Ashes, the vocals have taken a turn for the worse, IMHO. Randy Blythe sounded like an emotionally-devoid machine on Palaces, now he sounds like just another ticked-off metal maniac. But we don't listen to Lamb of God for the vocals, right? It's the fantastic musicianship that you get when listening to the band.
As any LoG listener knows, the riffs are just insane. Don't get too attached to any one riff though, cause it'll change in a few seconds! It really is a trip to hear the evolution of each song. Kinda like Dillinger Escape Plan, but not as ridiculous. Also, they get super high-fives for the incredibly amazing solos. Gotta love solos!
I made the mistake of getting too attached to a couple of riffs. Beware of tracks 3, 6, and 9. They start out with some of the best thrash riffs known to man, but then change over to typical LoG rockin out. I really wish those songs were straight-out thrash, but hey I can't complain.
Amazingified songs: Hourglass, Blood of the Scribe, What I've Become, Ashes of the Wake (in which Chris Poland makes an appearance!).
Lame songs: Omerta. (Sorry fellas. I still love you!)
Buy this album, and buy As the Palaces Burn. Though I'm sure it's juat as stupendous, I still don't have New American Gospel, so I can't legally recommend it.
Music Review: still good
Rating: 4 Stars
After seeing others reviews, I have a few reservations. I never heard new american gospel, but did hear black label on napster; and it blew me away. I was turned on to ATPB and thought that it was the most refreshing, original metal since the 80's (TNWOBHM). Although I heard a lot of influences, the way this band carried it off was awesome!!! Totally unique with simple but great guitar sounds (I play guitar). Ashes of the wake, when I first heard it, was a disappointment. However, like most great bands, a new album (CD) should make you uncomfortable. After a couple of listens, I was hooked! This is just a continuation of LOGs talent.
I argue with other reviewers about the production betweeen CDs. I think that ATPB is the opitome of what a heavy metal album should be. Blythe's vocals are essentially another musical instrument, and although I like the style, the other musicians provide the backbone of the music, and putting the vocals up front would detract from this.
The production on Ashes is definitely better for the instruments, but I fail to see the difference in Blythe's vocals. He still sound awesome, and doesn't overpower the guitars. Having Skolnick and Poland on for solos was a treat.
I still think As the Palaces Burn is their masterpiece (So far); in the ranks of Master of Puppets, Reign in Blood, and Rust in Peace (don't think I don't know about testament, exodus, nothingface, COC, vio-lence, annihalator, celtic frost, etc.)
I just hope they continue to turn out head banging anthems, and not sell out! (Like Metallica did on their black album!)
Music Review: After a less-than-stellar second release, LoG comes through
Rating: 4 Stars
I'll start out by saying that New American Gospel is a fantastic cd. One of my favorite metal cds, all genres included (death, grind, tech, heavy, power, etc.) It stood out from the pack of rising metal bands that were gaining national recognition because it took an age-old genre of metal--the thrash/hardcore combo that reminds me of slayer/pantera but with a heavier groove--and took that age-old genre to a new level. After New American Gospel came As the Palaces Burn. Many of the songs are solid in writing, but the recording was lacking the heavy pulvarizing sound found on NAG. Now we come to full length number three- Ashes of the Wake. I would have given it 4.5 stars since I don't hand out five stars unless some ground has been broken. The cd is playing as I write this, and first off I notice that it has about as perfect as a recording as you could ask for LOG's style of music. Everyband has a sound of recording that perfectly fits them and while most bands never find that recording sound, LOG has found it for Ashes of the Wake. The drums sound full and perfectly audible at every hit of the stick. The bass is just audible enough to fuel the groove that makes LOG stand on their own, holding down a tight rhythm as the guitars chug over head.
There's nothing new on the vocal front, but thats fine with me; the growling lows and shrieking highs are still there. Over all the song writing is tight and moves between faster thrash parts to rather complex rhythmic breakdowns that have a certain bounce or, as mentioned earlier, groove to them. This cd has restored my faith in LoG, faith that was lost after New American Gospel.
Music Review: One of The Most Violently Perfect Albums of The Year!
Rating: 5 Stars
They just don't make bands like this anymore...pure, all-American Metal music! No Metalcore spin-off's, no emo-screamo vocals...just straight up, kick your ass, in your face Metal!!! These guys are the epitome of what American metal should be. It goes without saying that if you thought "As The Palaces Burn" was smokin'... This album will set you ablaze!
As far as I'm concerned, these guys are the next PANTERA for me. They have found that magic formula for making great music and they have stuck to it. There aren't many frills, unless of course you count Chris Adler's furiously galloping drums, punishing riffs and unmatched fretwork a la Willy Adler and Mark Morgan, John Campell's Bass lines and Randy Blythe's choking vocals... then I guess this whole album could be considered one big frill. I really think Randy and the Boys got what it takes to go all the way with this thing, and I hope we can expect many more releases in the future.
Details, details..., Chris Poland returns to lend his chops for another solo, as well as Alex Skolnick of TESTAMENT, both appear only on one track however, "Ashes Of The Wake". Other than that, these guys haven't deviated from their formula too much and if anything have only gotten better, just listen to track #4 "The Faded Line", I thought I was gonna pass out it's that good! Whew!
Bottom line, if you like LAMB OF GOD you will love this album and chances are already have it. If you have never heard LAMB OF GOD, this album is just as good as any to start with, so get it. No doubt, this is one of the top 5 albums of 2004.
Music Review: Almost flawless
Rating: 4 Stars
The only reason I give this album a 4 is because the lyrics are..well....ugh..you know what I mean.
1. laid to Rest-First Single off the album, good opener, and a great video, it got old though, which turns me off. 7/10
2. Hourglasses' intro is somewhat similiar to Slayers "Raining Blood", good song never the less. Vocals are up to par nice guitar work. 8/10/10
3. Now you've got Something to die For-Kick ass vocals, good title, but the guitars could've been better. 7/10
4. The Faded Line is the best song on this album next to Blood of the Scribe. It has a good hook, good vocals, lyrics. Not too fond of the drumming though. 8/10
5. Omerta could've been waaay better. Its basically too slow, and the guitars are uh...meh.
6. Blood of the Scribe is the best song off the album, lyrics are good, guitars are great, drumming is great, and the overall song struvture/lyrics is good. 9/10
7. One Gun is another song off the album I enjoy, mainly because of randys vocals, he definintley delivered with the lyrics too. Guitars are good, the rest is good. 8/10
8. Break You is an ok song, coud've been way better too. Not much to say about it. 7/10
9. What I've Become is one of the gems off the album, randy showcases a bit of screeching, the vocals are right there in your face. 8/10
10.Ashes of the Wake is an instrumental, its good, reminds me a bit of one gun but just slower.
11. Remorse For The Dead coul've been easily the best songs off the album, the guitars are a bit low, the breakdown is odd (if that is a breakdown) Its a tad slow. 6.5/10