​Rising from the ‘Ashes’

Lamb of God celebrates 20th anniversary of a seminal album

by John Showalter

john.d.showalter@gmail.com

Photo by Travis Shinn

When the band Burn the Priest formed in 1994, they likely did not realize the impact that they would have on the metal genre. Thirty years later, the band is still going strong, albeit with a few changes in lineup and their adoption of the much better-known moniker Lamb of God. In that time, they have released eleven studio albums (two of which were under their original name), one live album, one compilation album, three DVDs, two EPs and 28 singles.

They have received two Grammy nominations for tracks from their 2009 release “Wrath,” and a third nomination for the track “512” in 2016 from their 2015 album “VII: Sturm und Drang”. They have toured with Ozzfest twice and supported thrash metal stalwarts Slayer on their final world tour. Their albums have cumulative sales of almost two million units. To say that they have carved out a place in the annals of American heavy metal music would be an understatement.

The year 2024 sees Lamb of God setting out on their newest tour, co-headlining with fellow rockers Mastodon. It is the 20th anniversary of both Lamb of God’s album “Ashes of the Wake” and Mastodon’s “Leviathan”. “Ashes of the Wake” featured biting lyrics about the then-contemporary War on Terror penned by frontman Randy Blythe along with relentless riffs. “Leviathan” was a sludgy, heavy metal take on the Great American Novel, Moby-Dick.

“Ashes of the Wake came out as we went on our first Ozzfest,” said Willie Adler, rhythm guitarist for Lamb of God. “That was the first tour that increased our visibility. Leviathan put them [Mastodon] on the map, Ashes put us on the map.” 

The two bands have toured together extensively both in the states and abroad. “We were nominated for Grammys together," Adler said. "It made sense that we should commemorate these albums together.”

Will Adler joined the band in 1997 at the recommendation of his brother, founding member and original drummer, Chris Adler. He has lent his singular shredding skills to the band for over two decades and two of the largest obstacles that occurred during the band’s history. 

The first was vocalist Randy Blythe’s June 2012 arrest in the Czech Republic. At the time, Blythe was arrested, charged, and remanded for an incident that had occurred at a concert in Prague two years prior. Prosecution had accused Blythe of shoving a 19-year-old fan off the stage and inflicting fatal wounds on him as a result. Eventually the promoters and security members were found at fault and Blythe was acquitted, but it was quite an ordeal for the band. 

“You can imagine how difficult it was to have our singer get arrested in a foreign country,” said Adler. “We helped him the only way we knew how. Randy did what he needed to do, we did what we needed to do, whether it was supporting him through optioning equipment or paying legal fees.”

The second major obstacle faced by the band was the departure of Chris Adler. In 2017, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that shattered his collarbone and right shoulder. While he was able to join their summer 2018 tour with Slayer, he had to take a leave of absence that July. Art Cruz, drummer of the bands Winds of Plague and Prong, replaced him for the remainder of the tour and the next summer his replacement was announced by the band to be permanent. 

“We had an established history with Art,” said Willie Adler. “He recorded our newest album "Omens" with us and has played in quite a few supporting tours.”

When asked if Lamb of God has any future projects in the works following the current tour,  Adler said, “We are in the process of working toward our next album. We’re in the early stages.” While he was not able to share much more in the way of details with me, fans of the band have the current tour and a strong discography to tide them over until the band releases their newest sonic assault.

IF YOU GO:

Lamb of God & Mastodon

Tuesday, August 13, 7 p.m.

Bluestem Center for the Arts,

801 50th Avenue S., Moorhead