This is your invitation to go old skool
It’s times like this when MV doesn’t half feel like an old git.
In fact, anyone under the age of about 35 will probably have no idea what the next 200 or so words are about, but bear with us or ask your parents.
Once upon a time there used to be these things called CD singles. Ace they were, with unreleased songs and all sorts. As I type this there are hundreds of these things on the shelves in front of me. Some of my very favourite songs, songs that weren’t on albums either, songs that were released for no other reason than for the hell of it.
Anyway, the internet killed that. Now its all soundcloud and videos on YouTube and all the fun of actually going down to the record shop has been sucked out of it (thanks Tim Berners-Lee).
But brilliantly here come Lamb of God to go all retro on us with “The Duke”. Two unreleased songs and three live cuts and just for a minute blokes of a certain age can get all nostalgic.
This reflection comes over in the poignant lead track too. ‘The Duke’, written in honour of the band’s late friend and fan, Wayne Ford, who was named after “The Duke” John Wayne.
“A little while ago I became friends with a fan named Wayne Ford – he was terminal – leukaemia. I talked with him often, even video chatted him into the studio. He was very calm about his impending death, and we discussed it very openly. I learned a lot from him. This song is for him,” says vocalist Randy Blythe.
It is a fitting tribute too, from the mellower, mid-paced end of the LoG material, this still possesses a mean groove and a quietly seething, almost grunge feel in the verses.
“Culling” is more your archetypal Lamb Of God rabble rouser and moshpit starter, proof if ever it were needed that no one does this kind of Southern Groove metal better.
The live stuff is great, but suffers from that which all live recordings do: that isn’t the same as being there, still for all that, “Still Echoes” whips up a sonic maelstrom, “512” is deeply personal to Blythe and “Engage The Fear Machine” is everything you’ll need to tide you over until the next album comes out.
Brilliant, for loads of reasons. The single revival starts here.
Rating 8/10
