LAMB OF GOD
Omens (Nuclear Blast)
After hitting the time-honoured reset button of releasing a self-titled album in 2020, Lamb Of God come roaring back with renewed vigour and vitriol on Omens. This album is a massive statement of intent from a group who could have easily relied on past glories, keeping things ticking over nicely whilst keeping their fans on their side without trying anything new, but instead Omens is filled with an urgency usually reserved for bands with many fewer miles on the clock.
No two songs sound alike: you’ve got your groove-metal on the title track, all-conquering blast beats on Ditch and, most strangely of all, key passages of closer September Song are reminiscent of Tool at their most tricksy. Vocalist D. Randall Blythe sums up the record thusly: “The world is crazy… Omens is a response to the screwed-up world we live in.” That screwed-upness has resulted in one very fine album.
words ADAM JONES