Album brings relentless heavy metal

The heavy metal band, Lamb of God, is known for its amazing music, and the band did not let the pandemic affect them because Lamb of God released their self-titled album Lamb of God last year. This is a deluxe edition album, which not only has the main version of the tracks but also has a live version of each song. Both versions of each tune are classic. Randy Blythe’s vocals carry authority across each song with how he shrieks out the lyrics. The guitar playing from John Campbell, Mark Morton and Willie Adler fills the record with jaw-dropping riffs, and Art Cruz’s drum playing is amazing, with each drumbeat as firey as the last. 

The opening song, “Memento Mori,” is a great way to kick off the record. Immediately, Blythe’s vocals are powerful. Right at the beginning of this piece, Blythe emerges from the dark atmosphere and starts to sing the lyrics slowly and emotionally. The absolute best part is when Blythe, out of nowhere, starts to scream out the words in pure rage. The live version is just as good because of how Blythe uses his vocals to create aggressive sound while singing. For the most part, Blythe’s vocal style gives this track a heavy dose of metal havoc, and on “Memento Mori,” Blythe proves how he is still capable of being one of the best vocalists in metal music.

A thunderous song like “Reality Bath” is a deep tune filled with impactful bass guitar playing from Campbell. Nothing is more enjoyable than hearing vibrating notes that can shake the speakers with ear-bleeding power, and Campbell does a great job of making sure his guitar skills match the level of insanity the rest of the band is on. Hearing the live version of this piece is sweet by how Campbell creates high-strung riffs that leaves the audience wanting more. “Reality Bath” is a composition that can cause fans to headbang to music while the deep notes from the bass guitar jolt their minds.

“Poison Dream,” featuring Jamey Jasta, is a total jam that displays the vocal chemistry between Blythe and Jasta, Hatebreed’s lead singer. Jasta’s vocals are solid and strong while screaming the lyrics, and Blythe’s voice adds more fuel to this piece with his dominant vocals shouting in pure rage. Also the concert version shows how powerful the chemistry between Jasta and Blythe is because both vocalists produce high pitched yelling and screaming that fills the air with great metal music. “Poison Dream” is a well-sung tune by two vocalists who know how to blow people’s minds with their voices.

The heart jolter track “Bloodshot Eyes” is an energizing composition raging wild with guitar playing from Mortin and Adler. Right off the bat, surging guitar notes from Morton and Adler compliments the theme with smashing noise. Mortin and Adler sound sjust as amazing on the live version due to how each riff causes the endless mayhem people want to hear. It is fun to hear how talented Morton and Adler are as musicians because their guitar skills light up “Bloodshot Eyes” with soul-shaking riffs that can leave listeners wanting to hear more. Fans will appreciate the amount of work they put into the song.

The ending tune, “Ghost Shaped People,” closes Lamb of God with a heavy kick of wicked drum playing from Art Cruz. Throughout the entire main and live piece, Cruz’s drum beats are smooth due to the simple nature of the tempo. Every time Cruz punches the cymbals and drum heads with his sticks, a heavy and fast-paced sound resonates. While listening to the live version, each drum surges through the speakers and shakes the veins with the bittersweet sound of metal. If people want to hear mind-smacking drum playing, “Ghost Shaped People” can fulfill that need.

Lamb of God is a killer album that shows how much Lamb of God has grown through their music, and there is nothing to stop the band from succeeding in the music world.