Twenty-six years into a career built through constant progression, Lamb of God continues to push the envelope and explore the seemingly endless possibilities of metal with their self-titled release.
Expecting Lamb of God to deliver a great album is like expecting grass to be green or water to be wet. The metal titans are one of the longest-running bands in the modern heavy music scene, and they never miss their mark. The music of Lamb of God speaks to the importance forward momentum, and how personal evolution is the key to a long and happy existence. That isn’t to say that progress is smooth or doesn’t require pain, but the group’s catalog tells us that endurance through hard times often produces the most significant art and understanding that humans can achieve.
On their new, self-titled release, Lamb of God targets all the topics that most of us choose to ignore because implementing meaningful change often feels impossible. The band asks that we stop accepting a world where everything is on fire and demands that we do something about it. Everything from the opioid crisis, to school shootings and immigration, is put in the spotlight through some of the group’s heaviest production to date, all to make us pay attention to the broken state of civilization. If you’ve fallen victim to complacency, Lamb of God is here to deliver a wakeup call that will shake your bones and clear the cobwebs from your mind. It is a reminder that you are more powerful than you know, and it is your responsibility to use your strength for good.
A perfect example of this message is “Gears,” one of the standout tracks on the new record. Against a wall of robust metal, frontman Randy Blythe tears down the false sense of security that politicians and corporations sell. “You suffer from a manufactured sickness and envy by design,” he roars in the opening moments, immediately damning the system we live within. “Perpetually unsatisfied, but you never question why.”
With this track and the record as a whole, Lamb of God is doing their best to grab listeners with a firm grasp and force them to confront reality. If the world’s current state is a sign of anything, it’s that far too many believe the lies told by people in positions of power attempting to generate wealth they don’t need from people they view as being below them. Coca-Cola doesn’t care if you’re happy or relaxed on a hot summer day; they want your money. Politicians don’t believe the things you do about the system; they want your vote to retain the power their position gives them. It’s a game, and we’ve all fallen victim to believing the lies promoted around the clock on all of the many screens we each turn to like slaves daily. We are poisoning our perception, and we don’t realize it, but Lamb of God does.
There is no denying the power of Lamb Of God’s work. In an era plagued by repetition and formulaic compositions, the members of this band are making a focused effort to continue their streak of originality. It’s the same band you have loved all these years, but their message has never been more urgent or delivered with more precision than it is on this release.
