Hard Features

Lamb of God Hits NYC

Lamb of God, Roseland Ballroom, NYC. 13th October, 2004.

by Travis Bain

Lamb of God headlines their tour in support of their third album, Ashes of the Wake. On tour metal legends Fear Factory and OzzFest alumni Throwdown play support. Lamb of God begins the show with a heavy power chord and the crowd screams with anticipation. It is to foreshadow what is to come.

The band runs across the stage jumping up and down to the music. Vocalist Randy Blythe screams into the microphone "New York fucking City we're Lamb of God!" The crowd screams back as they play "Hourglass." Other phrases like "get these fucking fists in the air," were common.

During the middle of the set there is silence and darkness on stage, which is a breath of fresh air. With a bass drum kick from drummer Mark Morton and groaning ringing guitars by Willie Adler and John Campbell comes Randy Äre you still with us New York," and the energy in the room rises again. A low gurgling "Yeah," kicks things off once more. Some kids in the crowd were bowing to the band as if they were the second coming especially when guitarist Willie Adler would play an awesome guitar solo and as they played their hit song "Ruin." The kids sing during the chorus "This is the resolution / The end of all progress / The death of evolution / It bleeds all life away." This shows the group can still go back to their roots and the fans loved it. After the song Blythe jumps in the middle of the pit and everyone swarms toward him.

Before they play the last song Randy proclaimed that nu-metal is dead. Then they played a crowd favorite "Black Label," which they turned into a war zone! The audience moves to the beat and a circle pit is formed.

After Lamb of God exited the stage people wanted more. It was a highlight of the night that people truly respect this band and what they are trying to accomplish. Every time I see this band play they become tighter and more fluid with the audience. Anyone who listens to good aggressive no holds barred metal then Lamb of God is the show to attend.