In 2006, Lamb of God achieved the unlikely feat of scoring a top 10 hit with their album Sacrament. The album drew on a number of metal styles but controversially added hints of melody to a band known for brutality.
This move proved successful both critically and commercially, and Lamb of God pulled off the seemingly impossible as they began to bridge the gap between their hardcore fan base and the general public. Nearly three years later, the band announced its follow-up album Wrath would be “deliberately a little more raw and more aggressive,” and on that end it does not disappoint.
“The Passing” is a brief acoustic intro that owes more than a little to Metallica. But once it ends, the band puts the pedal to the floor and does not let up until every face is melted, every head banged and every pit moshed. The problem, though, is that is just about all the album does. Sacrament presented a crossover appeal and sound that was fresh and engaging, but also alienating to some fans. Wrath attempts to solve this problem but ends up keeping one foot in the past while blindly stumbling forward with the other.
The few moments when the album really shines are when it deviates the most from what is expected, such as “In Your Words,” which manages to sound melodic and interesting while kicking you in the stomach. The song is reminiscent of the best moments on Sacrament and displays the creative force that the band clearly possesses, but is for some reason afraid to use.
Later, on “Broken Hands,” the pronounced melody does undercut the song’s power, suggesting that the band is simply unsure as to how best utilize their new style without abandoning their core audience and sound. At this point, though, even their familiar territory is starting to sound tired. “Grace” is plenty heavy but features a typical speed/thrash metal guitar solo that seems to have no point other than to reassure listeners that these guys can play really fast.
When all else fails, they once again resort to ripping off Pantera with “Contractor,” which sounds like the quintet set out to do nothing more than update “Primal Concrete Sledge” from 1990’s classic Cowboys From Hell. The song is somehow harder than its source but still sounds out of date thanks to vocalist Randy Blythe’s ham-handed and trite lyrics about private military contracts. The lyrics are typical American metal fare, but they are delivered with surprising force on this track and the album as a whole. Blythe may not be the deepest thinker, but he growls and snarls like a man possessed, adding another level of ferocity to every song.
Ultimately, the album never finds its footing, but manages to succeed based on its moments of creativity and the band’s ability to overpower its listeners with intensity and pure metal muscle. It sounds alternatively new and played out, an album by a band that can innovate and impress, but is not yet confident enough to take the risk of losing its base. In a few years Wrath may be seen as a lost point in Lamb of God’s career, before they fully realized their new sound, but for now it is just an average entry in an otherwise above average career.
2 1/2 stars out of 5.
