First Listen: Lamb of God - Sacrament

[MetalMusicMan]

I really liked Lamb of God's second album, As the Palaces Burn, alot.  It was a very solid CD through and through, and it had some very memorable tracks.  The band's third effort, Ashes of the Wake, was a good CD, but less impressive.  It has less feeling.  Although there were still 3 or 4 tracks that I really connected with, I just didn't get the same feeling with it as I did with As the Palaces Burn.

This latest effort sounds very familiar-- I almost wanted to call it Ashes of the Wake: Part Two, but it didn't even seem to stick as much as that album did.  It definitely seems like a decent CD, but the originality seems to be lacking more and more with each passing effort from Lamb of God.  The power of songs like Vigil, Blood Junkie, and For your Malice seems absent, long gone, even.

The band seems to be stuck in a funk, both lyrically and instrumentally.  I like the CD, it's just not anything new.  Instrumentals are good, as always, but they are almost exactly the same as previous albums.

The vocalist seems to have learned a few new tricks, he's experimenting with extra layering in the production of his voice to make it sound a bit different, and even doing a litle less of his trademark "growling" ... a little less.  I'm not sure what to think of this, Lamb of God has always been a more raw band, and this extra production value is an interesting change of pace, I just wish that there was more of it to sample.

I like Lamb of God alot, but it seems like they really need a change.  Not necissarily anything major, but I feel like they're beating a dead horse with this particular effort.

Even so, Lamb of God has never been a "hit" band, and they've always taken a while to grow on me, so time will tell.

[Taco]

too much screaming for me 

[MetalMusicMan]

too much screaming for me 

Lamb of God really has to grow on you, and this album is not the album that you'd want to listen to if you're just starting to get to know them.

Now, Taco, this is less directed at you specifically and more directed at the type of comment that you made...  Sorry, but you put me in "bothered" mode when I read that.

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Ehem... NEW RULE -- for every time that anyone says "too screamy" (or makes any other generic stupid comment) and leaves it at that, I will kick you in the nuts through the internet.  That's basically the equivalent of typing "TLDR" or some other bullshit.

If you don't like it, fine-- but the fact that someone is screaming is the most stupid and thoughtless explanation of your tastes that you could ever possibly shit into the response box.  IT'S METAL, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FUCKING SCREAM.  You wouldn't expect to hear a Celine Dion album and not hear a bunch of stupid pansie cliche love songs, would you? 

If you don't like the way the vocals sound, or the lyrics don't appeal to you, or the riffs don't hit right, that's fine-- but don't ever say something so generic and retarded as "too screamy", or I will cover you in peanut butter and sentence you to death by Chihuahua licking, you fucker.

I understand that there are some bands out there like Cannibal Corpse, etc. that just plain fucking SUCK.  What makes me mad is that people hear them "screaming" (lame groaning with no musical talent whatsoever) and immediatly blanket statement EVERY band that doesn't use "traditional" vocals.  "Oops, he just grunted, looks like this band sucks... darn, I really liked them until I heard that part".  You need to learn the difference between crappy screaming and music that is really good, but doesn't use normal vocals and rather uses a scream or a grunt.

You don't have to agree with me, but please have an argument if you do.  If you don't have an argument to back something up, then you're probably just spitting out re-manufactured bullshit that your best friend/parents/priest told you and assuming that they are right.

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Anyway, Lamb of God is by no means the best band in the world, or even close-- but they do have a few pretty good songs.  I don't hold anyone to liking them though because they just aren't good enough to warant that kind of respect.  They're just kind of there,  you know?  As the Palaces Burn was really, really good, but most of thier other work is so-so.

[magnesium]

too much screaming for me 

Lamb of God really has to grow on you, and this album is not the album that you'd want to listen to if you're just starting to get to know them.

Now, Taco, this is less directed at you specifically and more directed at the type of comment that you made...  Sorry, but you put me in "bothered" mode when I read that.

---

Ehem... NEW RULE -- for every time that anyone says "too screamy" (or makes any other generic stupid comment) and leaves it at that, I will kick you in the nuts through the internet.  That's basically the equivalent of typing "TLDR" or some other bullshit.

If you don't like it, fine-- but the fact that someone is screaming is the most stupid and thoughtless explanation of your tastes that you could ever possibly shit into the response box.  IT'S METAL, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FUCKING SCREAM.  You wouldn't expect to hear a Celine Dion album and not hear a bunch of stupid pansie cliche love songs, would you? 

If you don't like the way the vocals sound, or the lyrics don't appeal to you, or the riffs don't hit right, that's fine-- but don't ever say something so generic and retarded as "too screamy", or I will cover you in peanut butter and sentence you to death by Chihuahua licking, you fucker.

I understand that there are some bands out there like Cannibal Corpse, etc. that just plain fucking SUCK.  What makes me mad is that people hear them "screaming" (lame groaning with no musical talent whatsoever) and immediatly blanket statement EVERY band that doesn't use "traditional" vocals.  "Oops, he just grunted, looks like this band sucks... darn, I really liked them until I heard that part".  You need to learn the difference between crappy screaming and music that is really good, but doesn't use normal vocals and rather uses a scream or a grunt.

You don't have to agree with me, but please have an argument if you do.  If you don't have an argument to back something up, then you're probably just spitting out re-manufactured bullshit that your best friend/parents/priest told you and assuming that they are right.

---

Anyway, Lamb of God is by no means the best band in the world, or even close-- but they do have a few pretty good songs.  I don't hold anyone to liking them though because they just aren't good enough to warant that kind of respect.  They're just kind of there,  you know?  As the Palaces Burn was really, really good, but most of thier other work is so-so.

MmM's post is too screamy

[MetalMusicMan]

Damn you, Mags!  Damn you!