“This Album Will Set You Ablaze!”

 Rob Milz TMO

They just don’t make bands like this anymore...pure, all-American Metal music! No Metalcore spin-off’s, no emo-screamo vocals...just straight up, kick your ass, in your face Metal!!! These guys are the epitome of what American metal should be. Since this is a meat and potato’s album, it’s gonna get a meat and potato’s review, and It goes without saying that if you thought “As The Palaces Burn” was smokin’... This album will set you ablaze!

As far as I’m concerned, these guys are the next PANTERA for me. They have found that magic formula for making great music and they have stuck to it. There aren’t many frills, unless of course you count Chris Adler’s furiously galloping drums, punishing riffs and unmatched fretwork a la Willy Adler and Mark Morgan, John Campell’s Bass lines and Randy Blythe’s choking vocals... then I guess this whole album could be considered one big frill. I really think Randy and the Boys got what it takes to go all the way with this thing, and I hope we can expect many more releases in the future.

Details, details...Hmmm, Chris Poland returns to lend his chops for another solo, as well as Alex Skolnick of TESTAMENT, both appear only on one track however, “Ashes Of The Wake”. Other than that, these guys haven’t deviated from their formula too much and if anything have only gotten better, just listen to track #4 “The Faded Line”, I thought I was gonna pass out it’s that good! Whew!

Bottom line, if you like LAMB OF GOD you will love this album and chances are already have it. If you have never heard LAMB OF GOD, this album is just as good as any to start with, so get it. No doubt, this is one of the top 5 albums of 2004. \m/ (Online November 3, 2004)