Ashes Of The Wake

When listening to "Ashes of the Wake," a listener may notice something important; all the songs sound the same! Fortunately, they all rock as well! All of the songs on this CD, just like every other song Lamb of God has recorded, is in drop D tuning. Those down-tuned guitars sounds almost like a motorcycle idling and the bands syncopation of drum beats and guitar rhythms adds a bouncy feel to the songs.

Now, about the drums. Lamb of God's Mark Morton is masterful. His beats are original and innovative. He pulls off complicated syncopations, bass rolls, and time changes effortlessly. The seams invisible. The guitar, though it is repetitive, is still excellent, and innovative, in its own way. Singer Randy Blythe's lyrics smack almost of the pulpit, and his voice, though is sounds like sandpaper soaked in gasoline, is clear and audible. He actually has excellent range as a screamer, although the work here only allows him to hint at that.

The band has opted for a very low-fi production sound, which complements the music in every way. This album is brutal, raw, and metal.