Ashes of the Wake

Following up a successful appearance at Ozzfest 2004, prog-metal outfit Lamb of God released ASHES OF THE WAKE, its major-label debut. Wielding a sound that's crushingly heavy while still maintaining a righteous groove, LOG serves up in-your-face metal that's sure to please fans of Pantera and Slayer.
Frontman Randy Blythe howls with a voice reminiscent of Venom's Kronos, as he rants about finding salvation in vice ("The Faded Line") and organized crime's code of honor ("Omerta"). Fueled by the double-kick-drum ferocity of skin-basher Chris Adler, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler lay down a two-pronged attack that falls somewhere between the pummeling assault of classic American thrash and the more melodic and orchestral complexity of European metal. Anyone doubting Adler and Morton's chops need listen no further than the gnarly instrumental title cut, which finds Lamb of God's axe-wielders forming a musical relay team with guest guitarists Alex Skolnick (Testament) and Chris Poland (Megadeth) amid interview sound-bites of soldiers serving in Iraq. ASHES OF THE WAKE finds Lamb of God at the forefront of a new wave of American metal.