With the many accolades heaped upon Lamb of G-d's prowess in the live arena, and the impressive new CD "Ashes of the Wake" getting many recent spins in my CD player, I was eager to catch the Virginian metal lads on stage. For here are a band who stand apart from the US pack, and whilst they proudly wear their Slayer influences on their sleeve, I certainly see no problem with that.

First up on the evening were As I Lay Dying. They played a competent set of aggressive, new-school tinged metal to prepare the crowd for the Lamb of G-d onslaught.

And what an onslaught it was. Beginning with the glorious "Laid to Rest", the sheer brutality and mathematical riffing instantly got the crowd moving. Frontman Randy Blythe's guttural vocals were right on cue, whilst guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler shredded without a trace of mercy. Again mention was made of the great Dimebag Darrell, and the spoken intro to "Omerta" was particularly poignant given the circumstances. Material from "As the Palaces Burn" was also aired, all played with blistering precision. The strength of Lamb of G-d lies in their ability to use each riff to it's optimal usage level, with no riff over or under-used. Tonight they did not fail to impress, and the crowd were appreciative of the tight, heavy and slick metal package that was delivered.

The future of metal is in safe hands!

Back to the bootlegs page