ALBUM REVIEW: Omens – Lamb Of God
What a storied career LAMB OF GOD have had. They went through hell and back and are still consistently knocking out top-notch albums full of killer riffs and aggressive vocal hooks like they’re still in their early years. Back with their ninth studio album Omens, the Richmond Royalty once again show no signs of slowing down.
After the turbulent times surrounding the release of VII: Sturm Und Drang had finally settled, the band were well in need of an invigorating shot of adrenaline to get back on track. Thankfully the 2020 self-titled release was a big success and a return to form which has now paved the way for the follow-up. While the self-titled was perhaps a look into self-reflection, Omens sets its eyes towards the current state of the world, and boy are they not loving what they’re seeing.
Vocalist Randy Blythe’s signature spoken words open up Nevermore until it gives way to a colossal riff in spectacular LAMB OF GOD fashion. His barked command to “Go and choke on it” is a perfect example of the pissed-off emotions emanating from the band throughout the album. Omens overall is the band at their aggrieved best. Guitar hooks are launched into the fray with hostility as seen on the fiery Vanishing. Long-haired windmills will be in full effect as the track swings with all the grace of a wrecking ball.
Due to this album being recorded almost completely live as a band, there is a real sense of rawness that you only get from experiencing the pummelling attack you feel from a first-hand performance. The tracks have also seemingly been tailored to the live setting due to the mammoth choruses that stand tall. The title track features one such chorus that will be a popular live staple going forward. The bouncing riff taking flight is met with an impactful gang shout that will have the masses hollering at full volume.
If there is anyone still questioning Chris Adler’s replacement after Art Cruz’s performance here, they are just being petty now. Cruz holds his own throughout the album and sure, there may be some moments where that special Adler flair may have been beneficial, but the drumming on display is generally magnificent. He grooves through the relentless Ill Designs and fist-pumping album highlight Ditch with utmost ease. His place in the band is now well earned.
While on the surface Omens is your typical LAMB OF GOD album, there are a few little tweaks dotted around. The frantic Denial Mechanism is straight-up old-school hardcore that rips through its shorter than usual two-and-a-half-minute runtime, while album closer September Song ventures into a more chill territory before imploding and eventually fading out with a chanting section. It is arguably one of the most well-crafted songs the band have written over the last three albums. While these tracks shake up the mould just a little, it would have been interesting to see them push the boundaries just a tiny bit more, but the band know what they do best and this is them on top form. The riffs are as heavy as they are hypnotic and Blythe on vocals still sounds as venomous as he did on albums that they penned 20 years ago.
The choice to record the album the way they did has proved wonders as their natural aggressiveness is evident on every track and it gives the whole album that hit of unrivalled emotion that LAMB OF GOD want you to feel while listening. Omens is another incredible album to add to an already stacked back catalogue that features just enough subtle additions to keep the band still sounding as fresh as ever.
Rating: 8/10
Omens is set for release on October 7th via Nuclear Blast Records.
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