In honour of Lamb of God’s impending second visit to India, we bring you: Lamb of God – A brief history.
Originally, Lamb of God was formed in 1990 by guitarist Mark Morton, drummer Chris Adler, and bassist John Campbell. And it was formed under the name ‘Burn The Priest’. Vocalist Randall Blythe only joined the band in 1995.
In 1997, they released their first full-length album, Burn the Priest. Willie Adler only joined the band after the recording of this album and that was when the band became the present day Lamb of God!
(P.S. No, the name wasn’t changed because they were banned from certain venues contrary to what rumour claims. They were banned from those while being as awesome as they currently are. m/)
In 2000, New American Gospel was released under Prosthetic Records, which included the songs ‘Pariah’, ‘Black Label’ and ‘A Warning’ among others.
As the Palaces Burn was released on May 6th 2003. Notably, Rolling Stone wrote that “Unlike many of their overreaching, Slipknot-influenced contemporaries, Lamb of God deliver a meticulously crafted metal assault.”
[youtube_video id=WtFyY0PXZ0M]
Lamb of God released Ashes of the Wake in August 2004, which debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200, and sold over 35,000 copies in its first week. The album was distributed through the band’s new record label, Epic Records. Johnny Loftus of Allmusic praised the album, saying “With the genre getting clogged by PVC goofs and Alice in Chains impersonators, Lamb of God balances the equation of power, rage, tradition, and craft. It kills the filler.” The title track of the album featured Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick and ex–Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland. This was the album with the legendary ‘Laid to Rest’!
[youtube_video id=HL9kaJZw8iw]
They toured extensively during this time, including OzzFest(2004) and 2005’s Sounds of the Underground. Out of these tours, ‘Killadelphia’ was born, a performance recorded and released by the band which went on to go platinum!
In August 2006, Sacrament was released. To support the album, the band went on tour overdrive, including appearing on The Unholy Alliance Tour with Slayer, Mastodon, Children of Bodom, and Thine Eyes Bleed (Damn, don’t you wish you were there for that one!) The best tracks off this album would definitely have to be ‘Walk With Me in Hell’ and ‘Beating on Death’s Door’.
[youtube_video id=twuWYz2ACiQ]
On February 23, 2009, the band released their sixth studio album internationally via Roadrunner Records, titled Wrath and one day later in America via Epic Records. The album is dedicated to Mikey Bronsnan, who helped them get started in Philadelphia, PA. Wrath debuted on the Billboard 200 at number two, selling over 68,000 copies in its first week!
And now, in 2012, *Drumroll* Resolution.
While Resolution admittedly contains some of “the swampiest, sludgiest stuff” of their career, according to Morton, as well as some of the aforementioned “most punk” songs they’ve ever laid to tape, the album also boldly goes elsewhere and features strings, orchestral movements and bluesy, acoustic guitars living among the band’s patented, potent groove and swagger. The song ‘Insurrection’ is a signature, natural and instinctive moment for Chris Adler, who revealed the song was born when the group was locked together in a room and tasked with seeing what it could come up with. Album closer ‘King Me‘ is a real showpiece on an album full of showpieces.
[youtube_video id=bLeqJmNgeKs]
Catch Lamb of God Live in concert, May 26th 2012 at the Nokia Alive Fest in Bangalore!
