- Country: USA
- Style: Groove metal / Thrash metal
- Label: Epic / Nuclear Blast
- Release date: 19 June 2020
Naming an eighth album after yourself is a statement, and Lamb of God back it up. This is the first record with Art Cruz behind the kit after Chris Adler’s departure, produced by Josh Wilbur, and it was pushed from May to June because of the pandemic.
Opener “Memento Mori” has Randy Blythe at full roar, and from there the album barely lets up. “Checkmate” is a straight-ahead thrasher with one of Mark Morton and Willie Adler’s best riffs in years. “New Colossal Hate” and “Gears” are pure Richmond groove, the kind of thing this band does in its sleep but still sounds vicious. Cruz is a different drummer from Adler, more direct, less swing, and it gives the songs a harder edge.
The guests earn their spots. Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta trades lines with Blythe on “Poison Dream”, and Testament’s Chuck Billy turns up on “Routes”, which hits like a war cry. No reinvention, no wasted songs either. Their strongest album since Sacrament? It is hard to argue against it.
Best tracks:
Memento Mori
Checkmate
New Colossal Hate
Routes
Author’s rating: 8.6/10
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