It also seems like Mark and Willie decided to add some more Messhugah with the song's solo, which shares some main characteristics with the Swedish math metallers (being the elongated notes that don't sound like it's coming from a guitar and instead a synth, the doom-like feel to the tone, and the lack of movement within the solo itself). "A Devil In God's Country" takes a standard metal riff, adds some odd timing to it, and hooks you in with a catchy chorus. The rest of the song is their standard stuff, with a cool solo and alright ending. "Boot Scraper" seems like LoG studied Messhugah for a while and came up with this dizzying intro. The atmospheric guitars compliment the thrashy rhythm and disappear in time to emphasize the main riff. Randy begins with a spoken word piece, and bursts into his typical rage. "For Your Malice" displays the unconventional chord structures that has helped garner LoG's respect and popularity in the underground. From the drumming, to the fast-as-hell palm muting, to the well delivered vocals and thought out lyrics, "11th Hour" is a serious standout. The brutal composition gives soundtrack to the approaching apocalypse, internal or not. "11th Hour"'s sound truly lives up to its name. The solo here has an odd tone, as it is drowned in the mix but cuts through just enough for you to know its there.
"Purified" keeps evolving as you listen to it, and makes you look like an idiot when you first try to go with the flow of the first major breakdown. The short length is done tastefully, as it acts as a closer to the opening of "Ruin." Randy' lyrics are a perfict fit for the song, which can be interpreted as being about the war in Iraq. As "Ruin" ends, it bleeds life into "As the Palaces Burn" which just has a groovin' chorus that's instantly catchy. At first listen, I thought Lamb of God was a Middle-Eastern metal band due to the less popularly structured riffs, but this simply adds to their originality. His timing of delivery is perfect and combined with the riffs of Mark and Willie, they paint a picture of destruction and chaos. His sound has evolved greatly from New American Gospel, which just made him sound like a novice behind the microphone. "Ruin" at first may sound boring, but once Randy's razor screams enter the mix, one knows that Lamb of God is here to stay. The guitar tones are sometimes a bit lacking, but come off more unique than your typical cookie-cutter metal band stuff. The drums are phenomenal, with accents that aren't typically used in most metal bands. It is true that the bass isn't that present, but it does its job adding to the devastatingly heavy parts or breakdowns in the songs. The production on this album isn't the best, but I believe Devin Townsend was going for a fittingly raw sound for a raw band. I have listened to many a death metal band At the Gates, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, etc, and I can honestly say that I hear influences, but not the degradation of their recycled riffs. They have a more original tone and playing style than one is used to, and has a southern tinge to it as well.
As a precursor to this review, when I first heard "Laid to Rest" on my TV, I hated it, but slowly and surely, I realized why Lamb of God is hailed so highly in the metal world, and this is truly the record that started their ascent.Īs "Ruin" erupts from whatever speakers you're listening to, it's plain to see that Lamb of God deserve to be described as pure american metal.
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