Lamb of God
As the Palaces Burn
Prosthetic Records 2003
By Nathan Pearce
If you havent heard of Lamb of God, youre either not American or un-American. Lamb of God has managed to pry a large stick of dynamite beneath the lid of the underground, and that lid is set to blow at any moment. Lamb of God have already accomplished more than nearly any other underground band in America could ever hope for. Theyve headlined festivals, theyve had coverage on MTV, and theyve even had their latest album reviewed in Rolling Stone magazine. I suppose youre wondering if all this media attention has softened the band. Have they sold out?
As the Palaces Burn sounds like I wish Shadows Falls latest would have. Like Shadows Fall, Lamb of God have a deep love for Americas tr00est form of metal thrash. Unlike Shadows Fall, Lamb of God has retained the deep-seeded aggression found on their previous and equally devastating New American Gospel. Steve Austin helped shape New American Gospel into a nasty slab of American metal. On As the Palaces Burn Lamb of God enlisted the production talents of the mighty Devin Townsend. Is this a good thing? I, for one, like the nasty savagery of Steve Austins work on New American Gospel.
Fortunately Devin Townsend spent his time with the band refining a sound that hasnt changed much since New American Gospel. Riffs have more punch, the drums are as punishing as ever, and the vocals have sort of moved forward in the mix. Typical of Devin Townsend, the mix is very clear and precise. This is actually not a bad thing for Lamb of God. Nothing was compromised in the production. Lamb of Gods ability to write well-crafted songs with some of the best riffs in America has remained intact, and As the Palaces Burn actually passes up pretty much every other American band in that race.
As the Palaces Burn will probably be hailed as the album that made Lamb of God too big for the underground, but anybody that skips this for that reason obviously doesnt listen to music for the right reasons. This is an album that brings together the riffs of thrash, the breakdowns of metalcore, the guitar harmonies of melo-death, and the brutality of American death metal. Lamb of Gods added presence in the media is only going to be an added bonus . . . more chances to see and hear them.
9/10
www.lamb-of-god.com
As the Palaces Burn
Prosthetic Records 2003
By Nathan Pearce
If you havent heard of Lamb of God, youre either not American or un-American. Lamb of God has managed to pry a large stick of dynamite beneath the lid of the underground, and that lid is set to blow at any moment. Lamb of God have already accomplished more than nearly any other underground band in America could ever hope for. Theyve headlined festivals, theyve had coverage on MTV, and theyve even had their latest album reviewed in Rolling Stone magazine. I suppose youre wondering if all this media attention has softened the band. Have they sold out?
As the Palaces Burn sounds like I wish Shadows Falls latest would have. Like Shadows Fall, Lamb of God have a deep love for Americas tr00est form of metal thrash. Unlike Shadows Fall, Lamb of God has retained the deep-seeded aggression found on their previous and equally devastating New American Gospel. Steve Austin helped shape New American Gospel into a nasty slab of American metal. On As the Palaces Burn Lamb of God enlisted the production talents of the mighty Devin Townsend. Is this a good thing? I, for one, like the nasty savagery of Steve Austins work on New American Gospel.
Fortunately Devin Townsend spent his time with the band refining a sound that hasnt changed much since New American Gospel. Riffs have more punch, the drums are as punishing as ever, and the vocals have sort of moved forward in the mix. Typical of Devin Townsend, the mix is very clear and precise. This is actually not a bad thing for Lamb of God. Nothing was compromised in the production. Lamb of Gods ability to write well-crafted songs with some of the best riffs in America has remained intact, and As the Palaces Burn actually passes up pretty much every other American band in that race.
As the Palaces Burn will probably be hailed as the album that made Lamb of God too big for the underground, but anybody that skips this for that reason obviously doesnt listen to music for the right reasons. This is an album that brings together the riffs of thrash, the breakdowns of metalcore, the guitar harmonies of melo-death, and the brutality of American death metal. Lamb of Gods added presence in the media is only going to be an added bonus . . . more chances to see and hear them.
9/10
www.lamb-of-god.com
