Review: "Resolution"

Lamb of God released their sixth studio album today. It’s called Resolution.

It’s melting my head with rock.

Lamb of God is a band that sort of fell by the wayside after their first few albums for the usual reasons: their sound changed and they became more mainstream. Their fan base changed, and their music changed along with it. Given that fact, one wouldn’t necessarily expect them to be putting out a really great album any time soon. But that’s exactly what they’ve done. I’m even going to go out on a limb here: Resolution is Lamb of God’s best album yet.

The album opens with a breath. A single inhalation packed with anticipation and energy, ready to be unleashed. Then you’re hit with huge blast of sound, a reminder to any who doubted that LOG can still pack a real punch. Through the first two songs, the sound is big, heavy, and utterly brutal. It’s LOG at their finest. Their tone is instantly recognizable; the tuning and EQing of the drums and guitars are, and have always been, one-of-a-kind. They sound just like they always have, but somehow better.

“Ghost Walking” is the third track on the album. It was also the album’s lead single. It kicks in with an adrenaline-inducing acoustic riff, which leads into an adrenaline-releasing electric riff. The album’s first (and one of it’s best) guitar solos hits partway through this track. And with that, the album has everything it needs to take over your speakers: loud instruments, brutal vocals, crushing drum beats, and epic guitar leads.

In most reviews, I talk about each track individually, and what each brings to the table. That is not a particularly useful tactic here because the album is not made to be a series of tracks. It’s made to be an album. (Really good) Gapless transitions make this obvious, but it’s true regardless. Thematically and sonically the album flows from beginning to end, and it’s clear that the band really worked to make a cohesive musical journey, and not a series of sing-along singles.

I will also usually allocate space in my reviews to addressing the lyrical themes explored in the vocals. Often this will be omitted in my metal reviews because, frankly, it’s impossible to understand what the vocalist is saying. This is not the case with Randy Blythe’s vocals. He’s always been one of my favorite metal vocalists, largely because his vocals are easy to decipher. But never fear, metalheads, the clarity is not for lack of brutality. The other reason I love Randy is that the intensity in his vocals is always jaw-dropping. It’s unlike any other band I’ve listened to yet. Now, to be totally honest, the lyrics are nothing special. The ideas are the same ones you always hear in metal songs. I’m not recommending Resolution because of it’s ground-breaking lyrical messages. I’m recommending it because it kicks ass. 

Start to finish, this album has my attention. It grabs you by the ears and shakes until you regret ever doubting the boys from Virginia. The album ends with another breath, an exhalation that makes the hour between it and the opening feel like a torrential scream. It’s come full circle. It’s a roiling, rocking, and terrifying melee of sound. The beast that is Lamb of God opened it’s mouth, and out came Resolution. Brace yourself.