Lamb of God doesn't like to give people a chance to pause on either their studio albums or live, and that is quite the point. You are either a devout believer or not, and if you are not, the band doesn't care. It knows what it is.
Among the thrashers in the last 30 years, the best of Lamb of God might not rival the best of Metallica, but few bands do. The key to LoG has been their consistency in brilliance. The last decade has been a bit of a digression, however. Not bad, but not elite. Until now, that is.
Into Oblivion, the band's 10th album, is easily their best since at least 2012. From the opening title track and its all-out aggression through the end, it is brutal, loud, epic, and entertaining. Rage is real, but not as an ode to violence. Vocalist Randy Blythe is simply angry that the world is melting down and people are letting it happen.
Lamb of God reminds us of their brilliance on Into Oblivion
War rages, billionaires control the narrative, the working class is helpless, and helpless to get back control. This isn't humanity, this is money as God, and Blythe doesn't like the situation one bit.
Mellowing is not on the menu for Lamb of God either. The production is only slightly intentionally sandy, but the double drums correct any flaws (and even those are probably intentional). The best tunes on Into Oblivion recall the best on Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar, and that's a great thing.
LoG has always understood how to mix Industrial with Black Metal, though, even while nodding more to the latter than the former. "El Vacio," for instance, could have been created by Nine Inch Nails, though it might be even a tad soft for older Nine Inch Nails.
The best parts of the most recent Lamb of God release, however, are "Parasocial Christ," arguably one of the best tracks the group has ever created, "St. Catherine's Wheel," a thrasher in the highest degree, and "Blunt Force Blues," which is as bombastically brutal as the name of the song implies.
Even pointing those three tracks out, though, is a disservice to the rest of the album. The whole record is legitimately brilliant from start to finish, and one fans will love. New devotees as well. Plus, the whole album seems set up to be a tour de force in concert, just as metal should be.
Rating: 9 out of 10