Review: Lamb of God – As The Palaces Burn (10th Anniversary Edition)

Lamb Of God are one of the biggest Metal bands in recent years. Controversial, heavy and mesmerizing, they’re one of the most influential Metal bands to have spawned since the likes of Metallica, Pantera and Iron Maiden and have only seemed to progress with each album they release.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of one of their most critically acclaimed albums to date, an album that inspired many artists and influenced some of the greatest Metal albums released over the last ten years. This remixed, remastered version of ‘As The Palaces Burn' is something for the fans to relish in as the tracks sound better than ever and an assortment of bonus content.

The album begins with ‘Ruin’, a track that is fast and heavy. It is a killer opening, filled with chuggy riffs, epic and complex drumming, shredding bass-lines and Randy’s unique vocal abilities. From the outset, you can hear the vast difference between sound quality from this remixed edition to the original version. Everything is heavier, sharper and more crisp. The mix seems a little more tight and things you may not have noticed before hand appear from nowhere.

Every little detail can be heard, providing a richer, more fulfilling album to listen to. Tracks such as ‘11th Hour’, ‘A Devil In God’s Country’, ‘Blood Junkie’ and ‘As The Palaces Burn’ really stand out, with ‘11th Hour’ being one of their most acclaimed and popular songs to date.

Everything works nicely, a smooth flow of heavy and furious Metal. With anger and hatred being spit out by Randy Blythe and with everyone else providing the instrumentals that help complete the album, it is an amazing experience that seeps into your mind. The lyrics are full of hatred that is aimed at the US government, questioning their motives and facing the subject of 9/11 (something daring seeming as the event took place just two years earlier).

People despised the album for it being so daring but it proved to be an essential album that helped influence so many other artists, including Machine Head, with ‘As The Palaces Burn’ helping to inspire their latter album, ‘Through The Ashes Of Empires’, released one year after Lamb Of God’s masterpiece. After the usual tracks from the original album, you get three unreleased demo tracks for ‘Ruin’, ‘As The Palaces Burn’ and ‘Blood Junkie’. These are the perfect companions for a tenth anniversary, showing the progression of these particular songs.

Fans will revel in the bliss of these demos and in the perfection of the entire album itself. Something of a collectors item for all the fans, it serves its purpose and does it well. The mix and the mastering is well handled, making sure every little thing can be heard providing an amazing experience for its listeners. It is something to give back to the fans and proves why this band are one of the biggest Metal bands in recent history. It is damn near remarkable.

With chuggy bass, precision drumming, electrifying riffs and vocals to wake the dead, this is something to behold and revel in its beauty. The original album was, and still is, amazing but this really helps bring it to the forefront, showing everyone just how good it is. It’s understandable why the band are as big as they are now, with this album alone proving their masterclass. Some hail it as their masterpiece, others say it was the first album that truly showed how good Lamb Of God are.

Whatever your opinion, there is no denying that this album is as beautiful as it is heavy, as shocking as it is amazing, as influential as it is controversial. It is inspiring whilst it makes you want to smash everything in sight. Now, what else would you want from a Metal album?

10/10

- Asa

Review: Protest The Hero - Volition

Crowd funding seems to be the new direction bands are taking in the industry to get albums out to fans. After successfully getting their new album funded (with nearly triple the amount asked for), Protest The Hero is ready to give the fans what they invested in months ago. Volition is well worth every dollar put into this record.

With so much going on in each song, it is hard to keep up with the relentless shredding and lightning fast riffs. Protest draws their influences from all their previous albums. They really have stuck true to their sound while stepping up their overall game. It will be hard to pick out a favorite on Volition. Each song has so much going on at once, it will take listeners a few times to really catch everything that is going on.

Rody Walker has stepped up his vocal melodies and range with this album, sounding much like an Iron Maiden vocal offspring. Guitar’s as usual are shredding and have a unique taste to each song. A concern of many fans was the departing of drummer, Moe Carlson, but rest assured Chris Adler absolutely kills it. There are no boring or “fill” in parts put into this album.

It is encouraging to hear a band really step out and create music with this level of technicality and creativity. Protest sounds very fresh compared to all other metal bands out there. There really isn’t anything bad I could point out with this record. The number of guest vocalists is unusual, but every guest spot aids each song in a specific way.

Protest The Hero raised the bar for themselves and for all bands in the metal genre. Pick up Volition on October 29 and lose your mind listening to one of the best metal bands of our time.

9/10

Ryan

Protest The Hero Announce New Drummer

After the departure of longtime drummer, Moe Carlson, Protest The Hero enlisted Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler to fill the position for the recording of their forthcoming album, Volition. Now with extensive touring on the horizon, the band has decided to fill the slot permanently with Mike Ieradi. Here is the statement from the band:

"Finding a new drummer has proven to be a tough task!  We had interest and video submissions from many friends, fans, and family alike (yes, Choadie’s mom sent in a video of her ripping "c’est la vie!").  Every single one of those submissions was wonderful - but we realized it was going to be impossible to select a drummer based on a YouTube video.  We needed someone who we knew.  Someone who we thought we wouldn’t murder and leave at the side of the road two weeks into tour.  We think we have found that person in Mike Ieradi - a Canadian fella we met many moons ago

Protest The Hero Announce Volition

Following a successful crowd funding campaign with Indiegogo, Protest The Hero have completed work on their 4^th studio album to be entitled Volition.  The album follows the band’s 2011 release, Scurrilous. Volition will be released Internationally on October 28^th and in North America on October 29^th.

On the same day as the commercial release, the band will fulfill all the orders associated with their Indiegogo campaign. Those CD and Vinyl editions will feature different/unique artwork from the commercial release and will also include the perks offered during the Indiegogo campaign.

A message from their Facebook can be seen below

We are proud to announce the official release date of our new album will be October 29th. It’s called “Volition” and contains a couple of blazin’ bangers we hope some / most of you will enjoy! We will be peacing on a North American tour beginning of November which will be announced shortly. Stay tuned for tracklisting, artwork, and all that other crap bands usually release come album time

Chris Adler Announces Side Project With 'Protest The Hero'

"I was thrilled to get the call to join up and help out my friends in Protest, how could I turn down one of my favorite bands? I’ve done a bit of session work before with Testament and Ron Jarzombek but nothing this immerse.

I lived and breathed this record for 8 weeks and even lived in Toronto for a month with the guys. The experience was intense to say the least. Some of the most demanding and intricate drum work of my career. I’m very proud to have been a part of the Protest family and can’t wait to have you hear it.” ~ Chris

The Top 10 Modern Drummers

Drummers; they have the best view in the house and are the essential backbone of a band. Not to mention that drummers have to have the stamina of an Olympic athlete when playing live. As metal, hardcore, and other genres get faster, drummers are tasked with keeping a steady rhythm and flow. Now, the criteria we used may upset some people but it’s the only way to be fair. 

1. Each drummer had to have both recorded AND performed live within the past five years.

2. We had to see them live (the only real way to decide to judge this)

 10. Matt Nicholls (Bring Me The Horizon)

We’ll be the first to admit that BMTH were a shitty band for their first two albums (Okay, maybe just the first one). Aside from that, the band grew up (literally and musically) on their last two albums, “There Is A Hell…”, and “Sempiternal”. Matt’s drumming may not stand out when compared to the other drummers on this list, but it’s clear that the band is now making music that’s a clear departure from their beginnings.

9. Dan Searle (Architects UK)

Architects are a very underrated band; they have a huge following in their hometown of Europe but are just breaking through here in the US. Fans of mathcore will appreciate Dan’s drumming on their first two records. Their latest record, Daybreaker, sees a return to their technical roots on Hollow Crown.

8. Billy Rymer (The Dillinger Escape Plan)

Billy may have only joined TDEP four years ago but he’s definitely earned his place on this list. His playing includes plenty of polyrythmns and odd time signatures, which is the core of TDEP’s music which is ironic cause Billy played for a wide variety of bands including 311, Alien Ant Farm, and even Kelly Clarkson.

7. Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour)

Roy was the original drummer of Soufly and has played with Sepultura, and very briefly with Ozzy Osbourne. He joined Stone Sour in 2006 and has destroyed the kit since.

6. Ryan “Legs” Leger (Every Time I Die)

After losing their previous drummer due to “personal conflicts” Ryan auditioned for Every Time I Die and laid down some of their best drum work yet on their latest record, “Ex Lives”

5. Blake Richardson (Between the Buried and Me)

Blake used to play in the deathcore band, Glass Casket before joining BTBAM. Noted for his blast beats, odd timing, double bass drumming, and fill-heavy style, Richardson is considered a standout in his field.

4. Branden Morgan (Misery Signals)

Probably the most underrated drummer considering Misery Signals have been a huge influence for newer bands. Their debut record, Of Malice and the Magnum Heart is highly regarded as one of the best metalcore releases ever. Critics and bands have praised the band’s ability on the record in effortlessly blending melody and aggression.

3. Matt Halpern (Periphery)

When Matt isn’t drumming for Periphery, he’s running BandHappy which allows you to take lessons from your favorite musicians online and on-tour. His playing is more focused on the groove then how fast he can play a blast beat. The kit he plays is just what he needs and nothing more; perfect for playing ghost notes.

2. Matt Greiner (August Burns Red)

If want to hear a great drummer who can play fast and also write some jazz parts, Matt is your man. He not only has great complex timing in his hand movements but also uses double bass in an interesting way and really compliments the rest of the music.

1. Chris Adler (Lamb of God)

Little known fact: Chris played bass long before he decided to pick up the drumsticks. His playing style is known for his creative fills and precision double bass and for his often used heel-toe technique. You can tell what band you’re listening to just by hearing his drumming.

This Or The Apocalypse Debut New Song, Lyric Video

With much anticipation surrounding their new record, THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE has debuted a brand new single, "In Wolves," today via NOISECREEP. 

1. Hell Praiser
2. Power Hawk
3. In Wolves
4. Americans
5. Hate the Ones You Love
6. You Own No One but You
7. A Damn Moment
8. Gaunt and Fierce
9. Kill’em With Guidance
10. Hard Branch to Snap

The new ablum from THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE will be released on September 25, 2012.  Front man Ricky Armellino states:

“‘Dead Years’ is full of some of the most painfully honest material we’ve ever written.”

This will be the band’s first release since "Haunt What’s Left," produced by Josh Wilbur and LAMB OF GOD's own Chris Adler in 2010.

Produced by Kevin Lankford and engineered by Andreas Magnusson, "Dead Years" is some of the band’s most aggressive material to date.

THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE will be shooting a music video for the tracks "Hell Praiser" and "Hate the Ones You Love" with famed director David Brodsky (WHITE CHAPEL, AS I LAY DYING). The band will be shooting the first video for “Hell Praiser” at The Chameleon Club in Lancaster, PA. Any fans in the area are encouraged to come to the shoot and participate!

Chris Adler featured in DRUM Magazine

 DRUM! Magazine recently posted CHRIS ADLER of LAMB OF GOD’s Resolution cover feature for fans to read online at this location. This interview pulls out all the stops—featuring diagrams of his full drum set in 3-D, as well as transcriptions and analysis of four drum parts from the new album. This cover feature is the fifth post in CHRIS ADLER’s cover artist series. DRUM! Magazine unveiled the first CHRIS ADLER cover story post of the series in February of this year.

Internationally viewed as one of the most standout players of the past decade, LAMB OF GOD’s CHRIS ADLER is not only regarded as one of the top drummers in the industry for one of the most popular metal bands of all time, but is consistently praised for his poise and passion for interacting diligently with this fans. DRUM! Magazine has undoubtedly noticed these qualities in the last several years, which in turn has resulted in Chris being featured on their covers repeatedly.