#18: LAMB OF GOD – NEW AMERICAN GOSPEL
Thursday, June 11th, 2009 at 5:00pm by David Bee Roth
We recently polled a wide array of musicians, managers, publicists, label reps, and writers from within the world of metal to find out what they thought the 21 Best Metal Albums of the 21st Century So Far have been. Eligible albums were released between January 1, 2000 and April 1, 2009. Each panelist turned in a ballot, with their #1 album worth 21 points, their #2 album worth 20 points, and so on and so forth. The ballots are now in and we’ll be counting down one album a day until we reach #1. Today we present the #18 album, coming in with a total of 110 points…
Lamb of God, New American Gospel (Prosthetic, 2000)
Randy Blythe — Vocals
Mark Morton — Guitars
Willie Adler – Guitars
John Campbell — Bass
Chris Adler — Drums
Produced by Steve Austin and Lamb of God
Any fan attending any Lamb of God show in the last nine years has had absolute confidence in one aspect of the set list: they’re going to close with “Black Label.” It has been such a staple for the band that I can say with utmost certainty that should they continue for another nine years, this song will never go unplayed. Why would they rob their fans of the perfect closer? From the tension building intro with that insistent piccolo snare (dundundun pop pop pop pop pop pop dun dundun) to the crippling breakdown, there is so much finality in the song that an encore would undermine it completely. It’s the goddamn encore-annihilator! This is your last chance to dance, motherfuckers!!! This song makes teenagers want to rush each other to butt heads. When I was just a wee sprite and I first saw the video, I thought I had finally discovered death metal. “Black Label” is violently heavy.
So could the message be any clearer on 2000’s New American Gospel when it appears as the opening track? Mike Tyson v. Hector Mercedes – 1985. First Round Knockout.
It was Lamb of God’s first step after changing their name from Burn the Priest, and though it was only the beginning of a successful career, I don’t believe the band can ever repeat the feel they captured on this album.
All of its immediate flaws have come full circle in my opinion to become downright charming. It’s youthful, maybe even a bit amateur at some points. Remember, this is from a time before Randy Blythe got expert vocal coaching, when John Campbell only had three strings on his bass, the Willie Adler/Mark Morton frontline was still learning to shred and even the intimidating Chris Adler had only recently decided to play drums full-time.
New American Gospel is the sound of a band desperate to be heard. This band knows it’s good, and they will bludgeon you until you agree. I think “bludgeon” is the right word to use because there is a certain lack of subtlety. Stylistically, the metal-to-core ratio is a pretty even split, and there’s more breakdowns per capita than any other record.
Of course this fits with their vision: directly heavy music minus the bullshit. Though the production by Today is the Day legend Steve Austin might sound barbaric next to later releases with Machine, it captures perfectly an underground sound for a band that was too good for subterranean obscurity.
You want moments? How about the recurring breakdown in “In the Absence of the Sacred?” The thundering build-up midway through “Pariah?” The Slayer-solo that opens “Terror and Hubris in the Hous of Frank Pollard?” The serpentine riffing of “Subtle Arts of Murder and Persuasion?” What about the Southern style poser-beatdown of the colorfully titled “Officer Dickhead Gets A Black Fucking Eye?” Right there is what I love about this record: it’s immediacy. There’s no time to make each riff perfect or write political lyrics, so just write about somebody who pissed you off the other day. You’d have to be pissed off to record this music anyway.
It’s a pretty confident crew that decides to name their album New American Gospel. Take note that the “American” part of that isn’t accidental. While Europeans have always displayed a certain amount of finesse in their metal, American metal has usually been far less pretty. It seems only appropriate that this crude but undeniably fierce album would lead a whole new era across a continental scene.
Blythe 1:10 reads: “Exterminate with extreme prejudice.”
-DBR
Download New American Gospel from Amazon or iTunes!
THE LIST SO FAR:
#20 – Shadows Fall, The War Within
#21 – Slipknot, Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses
THE PANEL OF VOTERS
Chris Adler, Lamb of God
Dan And, Bison B.C.
Ben Apatoff, Apatoff for Destruction/Metal Injection
Jason Bittner, Shadows Fall
Tim Brennan, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
Freddy Cai, Painkiller Magazine
Ian Christe, Bazillion Points
Reverend David J. Ciancio, Yeah! Management
Betsey Cichoracki, Relapse Records
Paul Conroy, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
J. Costa, Thy Will Be Done
Dallas Coyle, ex-God Forbid/Coyle Media
Doc Coyle, God Forbid
CT, Rwake
Anso DF, MetalSucks/Hipsters Out of Metal!
Vince Edwards, Metal Blade Records
Charles Elliott, Abysmal Dawn/Nuclear Blast Records
Brian Fair, Shadows Fall
Leo Ferrante, Warner Music Group
D.X. Ferris, author 33 1/3: Reign in Blood/Freelance Journalist
Mike Gitter, Roadrunner Records
Nick Green, Decibel
Matt Grenier, August Burns Red
Anthony Guzzardo, Earache Records
Kevin Hufnagel, Dysrhythmia
Mark Hunter, Chimaira
Steve Joh, Century Media
EJ Johantgen, Prosthetic Records
Kim Kelly, Metal Injection/Hails & Horns/Freelance Journalist
Josh “The J” Key, Psychostick
Jason Lekberg, Epic Records
Eyal Levi, Daath
Bob Lugowe, Relapse Records
Matt McChesney, The Autumn Offering
Jake McReynolds, Psychostick
Marc Meltzer, The Syndicate
Josh Middleton, Sylosis
Matt Moore, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder
Vince Neilstein, MetalSucks
Sammy O’Hagar, MetalSucks
Anton OyVey, MetalSucks/Bacon Jew
Rob Pasbani, Metal Injection
Alex Preiss, Psychostick
Carlos Ramirez, NoiseCreep/NetReach
Brian Rocha, Fresno Media USA
Jeremy Rosen, Roadrunner Records
Axl Rosenberg, MetalSucks
Satan Rosenbloom, MetalSucks/Cerebral Metalhead
David Bee Roth, MetalSucks
Jason Rudolph, Heavy Hitter, Inc.
Amy Sciarretto, Roadrunner Records/NoiseCreep
Carl Severson, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
Gary Suarez, MetalSucks/No Yoko No/Brainwashed
Geoff Summers, The End Records/Crustcake
Bram Teitelman, The Syndicate/Metal Insider
Alisha Turull, Heavy Hitter, Inc.
Christopher R. Weingarten, 1000TimesYes/Freelance Journalist
i was wondering when lamb of god would show up.
ditto, I thought for sure that Ashes of the Wake would be on here too…thats my personal fav LOG album…
Not too much of a surprise. Good album though.
YEAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LAMB OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!
The wall of death is awsome
Although I’m sure Ashes of the Wake will show up later in this little countdown you got goin’, it’s awesome to see some older LoG make the list. I’m one of the few (I think) who enjoy this and As the Palaces Burn more than any of LoG’s other albums.
I’m right with you
those two are better than Sacrament and Wrath (which I loved)
I actually prefer Palaces, but this one is good too.
Palaces and seeing them live on Ozzfest and participating in the Wall of Death is what sold me and got me completely off mainstream metal.I think Palaces is their best album and while I don’t want to say Ashes doesn’t belong on here, I’d hope to see Palaces chart higher than Ashes, if it does in fact chart.
As the Palaces Burn was produced by Devin Townsend, not Machine.
Nevermind, misread something. lol.
wasnt expecting this album to even come up. Ashes of the wake, while not my favorite LoG album, is definetly the beggining of and era for LoG, and metal in general
*and was the only album by them i expected to make the list. I want As the palaces burn to make it on though, that album kicks ass!!
don’t worry it will make it
…or else
This is another awesome album. I can’t stand Shadows Fall, but other than that one album, the other three on the list have been among my favorite albums. It’s good to see a list of the greatest metal alums made after 2000, because all the undisputed classics aren’t there. You can see what the best albums of this generation are.
While I can’t say ANYTHING bad about this band. (They are my favorite band of this Decade.). There are 2 other albums that I would put on this list before this one. (I guess I will have to see what happens)
It’s hard for me cause I like all the albums. Part of me doesn’t like this choice the other part of me does.
I just think the songs from this album come off sounding WAY……… better live.
Worst Lamb of God album. I love Black Label, but not much else on the album does anything for me.
I miss this version of LoG.
NEW AMERICAN GOSPEL > Palaces/Ashes/Sacrament/Wrath
well sure, all the denominators in that complex fraction are going to bring down the total considerably.
You can buy the rare, now-out-of-print original pressing of this album for only $7 from our webshop, store.prostheticrecords.com. Feel free to pick up the LP ($17) or the remastered 2006 reissue (which featured four bonus tracks and the video for “Black Label”) instead, should you be so inclined.
Fuck. YES
This is exactly why I love this website, and visit multiple times daily. I’ve never listened to this album, and I’m probably going to pick it up after work. Kick ass.
n00b.
Totally.
Well, you’re in for a treat.
dude check out “Ashes of the Wake”, I think it will be more appealing you
Anyone says anything bad about Lamb of God, then ima hafta go internet tough guy up in here…my personal favorite band. I think at least Ashes will make the list as well.
YES!
I am so pleasantly surprised that New American Gospel is on this list!!!! I always thought it the most underrated LOG album because it bridged so perfectly the southern metal Pantera influence of present LOG with its grind roots in Burn The Priest.
AWESOME!
while i do love lamb of god, does anyone else find it odd that this made the list? It is a good album, but i don’t think this is deserving. I would have expected palaces to make it, not this
In regards to the “Are You Douches Ever Happy?” skin, yes, I am very happy with this list so far. I predict Ashes and Palaces will both be on this list soon, with Palaces before Ashes.
I miss them playing Bloodletting. I guess since technically they weren’t Lamb Of God when they wrote it, it kinda makes sense. It was still a bad ass song to enjoy live though.
Great fucking choice,I will never forget the first time I heard “New American Gospel” I was floored.
Such a raw album of pure brutal American metal.
I must admit was surprised, probably least listened to of the LoG albums, though nothing wrong with it, as mr Bee Roth says it has its moments, but would think that if this album is at #19 then Ashes/Sacrament is somewhere along the lines.. well should be. I would substitute this ‘un for As the palaces burn, tis my favourite.
I think this list might just alternate between Mastodon and LoG….
Woops at #18 not #19
I’ve never understood this band. They’re certainly not bad but I’ve never been able to get into them. I’d still like to see them live, though- heard they put on a great show.
Seen them three times. I died twice.
It’s good to see this album on the list.
The people saying other LoG albums should of made the list, this was only #18 morons, plenty of more room for more LoG. You’ll will probably also see more Mastodon.
Ehh, people are stupid. I think only one more LoG album should make the list (prob Ashes) and two more Mastodon albums should make the list (Leviathan and Crack theSkye)
I love Lamb Of God, but this album never really did anything for me. I still think Palaces is their best, with Ashes a close second.
Alright !!!….. I remember when you tried to spread the rumor of this awesome band splitting up (Aprils fool or something like that) … fuckers
Some of the songs on here are pretty good, especially how they are live now, but i hate this recording. The tin can drums and indecipherable vocals just make this too tough to really play on a regular basis. the vocals are just too “Rar Rar RAr RAr rararrararar!
your gay this album actually sounds raw and sincere. i actually thought the vocals sounded better on this album tnan any other. sacrament sucked balls. while wrath was wayy better than sacrament, it was no where neer where this record or as the palace burns was.
Good choice but I would put Remission ahead of it. I would be suprised if Ashes of the Wake or Leviathan isn’t number 1.
fuck yeah! LOG rules! AOTW is my favorite album but NAG is really awesome too!!!
“I want you to pretend this is fuckin’ Braveheart or some shit, alright. Let’s make fuckin’ history right here. So spread it out, spread it out. On the cue of four… All right this is “Black Label”, hold, hold, hold, hold your positions, alright hold, hold, hold, 1…2…3…4 RAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This list so far has been compromised of good (even great) albums and bands, but I want to see something obscure or really extreme on this list. So far everything has been relatively mainstream.
You’re voicing my thoughts,even though I kind of expected to see much praise for the bands I often read about on here,than the ones who don’t get much attention from the MS team in general.Most bands that they worship,they will post about them,while other awesome fucking bands stay in the dark since they don’t seem to be into absolute brutality.
I could be wrong but this is my two cents.
I haven’t heard ”New American Gospel”,and I believe Lamb of God is a band that has potential even though they are THE trend right now.Trends doesn’t make a band suck a bunch of ass necessarily.
But I’ll be surprised if I see any mention of let’s say Obscura or Origin,even if I’ve read posts about these bands on here before.These bands aren’t ”trendy”,so…
The way they set up this list would prohibit less mainstream bands from being mentioned. Read how this list was set up. If a band is more unheard of it is MUCH less likely to be voted for by multiple people. Even though those that voted are “metal insiders” you have to remember they have just as much chance to know about some obscure bands as you do.
So if it’s extreme or obscure it should be on the list?
It should be on the list if it’s good. Most of the time a band makes it bigger cause they touch more then 3 guys in their late 20’s that live in their parents basement and work at Walmart.
So the first LOG album and Mastodon album are Mainstream? I know people who like LOG who don’t even own NAG. It’s far from mainstream.
I realize after reading this last comment that many,many people need to grow some balls and listen to a band before classifying it and especially saying that it is destined to ”this” or ”that” type of people.
I doubt a band would get a record deal if it didn’t have any sort of potential.A label that signs a band obviously expects said band to get good sales,regardless of the genre it corresponds to,be it death metal,or any genre that’s actually really trendy today.
Going as far as saying that because some people know some awesome bands you’ve never heard of,they’re automatically living in their mother’s basement,makes you look like someone who’s a bit frustrated you never dared scratch deeper than the surface when it comes to diversity in music.I am an independent worker who has been working for a radio for free for over a year now,and I pay my own rent.I suggest you drop this very juvenile way of pointing fingers at people you know nothing about.
By the way,read closely: I have said good things about Lamb of God in all the replies I’ve posted on this thread.I’m saying that they are trendy because obviously they are.That doesn’t make their band a shit stain on the face of the earth,EVEN though I believe some bands who sound nothing like them also deserve a mention in this list.
That one reply was for JRTME.
As a reply to Anus Apache’s comment,I’m pretty sure some of the voters do know some more ”obscure” or ”underground” bands,but the bands who are going to get a mention are obviously those who are the biggest sellers in the mainstream world.This is aditionnal publicity for these albums to sell even more,considering the amount of people who read this blog.That is my point of view.In many forms of media,more ”obscure” bands are getting a lot less publicity than those huge sellers.Many metal medias are starting to follow this one standard.I’m not saying Metal Sucks has no consideration for these ”obscure” bands,I’m only saying that based on their contacts (labels,etc),it is only logical that they will mention the bands these contacts are promoting,and in some cases,the bands they are part of.I understand that very well.
And by the way,I promote a lot of these ”obscure” and unsigned bands on my own radio show.I don’t only look in the mainstream and neither do all of these people.They’re only boosting the sales of the artists that are huge sellers in order to do some business.When it comes to personnal tastes,I’m sure they are more vast than what we see in this list.
Cheers.
breakdowns fucking suck
no one cares
Actually, people do care. That’s why everyone except scene kids hates deathcore.
Scene kids and Suicide Silence’s wiggers… the one’s that Guy Kozowyk claims do their hip hop hand motions during their supremely cliche chugga chugga’s.
If it helps, I don’t care.
Saw them about 2 year ago on Dimebag’s Deathiversary. Absolutely loved the show. Devil Driver was there as well. Really enjoyed it all the way around. Glad they made the list. (Which of course I knew they would.) Can’t wait to see more guys, keep the real Metal coming!
No surprise that 2 of the 4 so far are from bands who had members polled for the list.
i’d agree that the shadow fall pick was pretty dumb, but i think the other 3 (YES, vol 3 is a good album) have been good picks
LoG is the Pantera of today.
I wouldn’t go as far as saying that,personnally.Pantera is very hard to top,even by a band that has plenty of good riffs and a frontman who has a remarkable stage presence.
We’re still talking about Phil Anselmo and Dimebag Darrell.Very,very hard to top,or to imitate.
wow i though palaces was gonna be on here this is still a great album
LAMB OF GOD MOTHERFUCKERS!!! THE BEST METAL BAND OUT THE RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!
Terro and Hubris, the best song in the album, FUCK YOUR HOPELESS WORLD, IM BLACKER THAN THE SUN…
TRAGEDY…..TRAGEDY!!!!!!!!!!
OH SHIT!!! WHAT A SONG!!!
You know, now its clear to me a band can have 2 albums on the list, there is no possible way that either, Ashes of the Wake or Sacrament (or Both) are on the list!!
Good Call on LOG. \m/
I really dont get this band. Maybe its me.
I’ve had trouble getting into them at first,because the first album I’ve heard was ”Sacrament”,which has to be their weakest release to date.
The ”hardcore” influence on their sound,added to the huge hype around them,these are the main factors that are making them a band that’s not exactly in my top 40 list.Whatever you say,constantly hearing about one band makes you feel it has more of a mallcore sound than maybe it really does.
But I’ve got to hand it to you,from the moment I’ve heard some bits of ”Wrath” and ”Ashes of the Wake” and also watched the two guitarists jam some of their songs on a Guitar World CD-ROM,I realized that they ARE good,and that it’s not just a lot of talk all over the media.I also saw them live on the Gigantour once,and it was a nice experience.
I wouldn’t listen to this band all day,but if I hear some,I won’t turn it off,in fact I might enjoy it quite a bit.
Before I even got to my computer I thought “I bet its a Lamb of God album”. Not a big surprise, they just keep putting out solid albums. I’m waiting to for there to be a shocker on this list, an album nobody expects to be on here…I don’t see it happening though.
Me neither.
fucking love it, i think terror and hubris might be their best song along with 11th hour
good album, but there is 2 log better.
so how many lamb of god albums will be on this list?
I find it funny how there are members from both Lamb of God and Shadows Fall (2 members) on the voting panel.
it’s just one fuckin member from each band. there are three guys from Psychostick on the voting panel, and no, they wont make the list!!!!!!
As I said before metalcore is terrible music. On top of that only people I know that listen too LOG, and other metalcore are teenagers/early twenties.
Hop off your steed you pompous ass
Well, I and about 5 other guys I know in my office are all fans, and the youngest out of them is 31.
See the problem is we just heard some ass shredding metal and liked it before some genre obsessed teen was able to fill us in on whatever the fuck “metalcore” is.
…and for the record, I could give a fuck what the definition is.
Not my personal favorite of theirs, but a badass album nonetheless. I like this list quite a bit.
Fuck. They would pick the only Lamb of God record I haven’t heard yet. I guess that’s motivation enough to go pick it up though. Fuckers.
I don’t own it either I just have Black Label on my computer this and the new one Wrath are the only ones I don’t have.
This album should be in the top 10 or something.
Also, piccolo snare? What the fuck?
We’ll see more LoG before the fat lady sings. They’re definitely the face of the American metal right now, IMO, even though their recent releases haven’t done enough to really justify it. I still maintain that Randy is one of the most enigmatically incredible vocalists out there, though.
The thing that really made NAG was the riffs. Randy’s voice wasn’t up to par with his later output but damn, the riffs on this are so perfect.
If the production on the album was anywhere near listenable I would agree with this choice. They play or used to play the best songs from this album live, which all sound fantastic in the live setting. Go pick up “Killadelphia” which hopefully will be on this list.
Mediocre, just like everything Lamb of God have ever done.
Yeah, so far this list is a ‘best of’ in mediocre american metal unfortunately…….at this rate we are eventually going to see Death Magnetic show up since it was Metallica’s supposed return to form.
They’ve picked the best Lamb of God album, but to put it in the top 21 of the 2000’s is fucking madness.
Satan!
i hope we see as the palaces burn later on, much better than this.
The greatest current metal band of our time – these guys are consistently on top of their game and just keep getting better.
Great record – not on par with ashes of the wake or palaces but still enjoyable. If both of those are not in the top ten than this list has no credibility whatsoever.
Not a chance in hell this album is better than The War Within. You have failed already metalsucks.
I remember the first time I heard this record. Blew my mind. It’s definitely flawed, but the statement it made could not be ignored.
Good Lord…. Shadows Fall…. still taking a keyboard-asswhipin’ 2 picks removed!
This is not better than Remission, sorry.
they didnt play black label when i saw them at Gigantour :(
but they did the other two times !!!
p00n the winky god
Hahah, NICE! Black Label is the 18th most played song on my laptop at the moment, but my top 5 most played songs are off of either Palaces or Wrath (needless to say, this is my favorite band).
Personally I’d say that As The Palaces Burn are the #1 album for me, and I think it’ll always be. The sheer brutality of that record… I mean.. Damn..! It’s almost as brutal as New American Gospel, but Randy’s improved vocals and the improved recording quality makes Palaces a way better record.
Just listen to Blood Junkie or Boot Scraper and tell me it ain’t the epidemy of what metal is and always will be!
I can’t believe the same band that made this awesome hail of machine gun metal is now making turds like Sacrament and Wrath. They’re still an excellent live band, though.
Lamb of god should have been higher and i hope As the palaces burn is here too
Hahah, yeah it would be sweet if they had more than one record on this list! But I kinda suspect that the top records will be stuff like Reign In Blood or Master Of Puppets.
doubt it, it says that albums on this list came out after january 2000
Oh yeah. How the hell did I forget that?
Then maybe… Uhm… Metallica’s new record? I think it scores pretty high on its nostalgia-effect. But other than that I really have no idea. I don’t take notice of records’ release-dates unless I buy it that day or if it’s a record I’m looking forward to.