Lamb Of God - O2 Academy Brixton, London - January 18 2014 (Live Review)
Monday, 20 January 2014
Written by Alec Chillingworth
There’s nothing but a sea of black. No, this isn't a leather-clad tribute to Project Mayhem – although Fight Club is kinda metal, right? - these are Lamb Of God's people. As Ted Maul would say: “The metalheads? They've been here all day.”
Brixton Academy's hallowed hall is already packed by the time Huntress turn up. While the band boasts a mighty array of beards, it's undoubtedly vocalist Jill Janus who steals the show. She struts across the stage like she's at London Fashion Week one minute, before assuming the Abbath crab-walk position the next.
The band's doom-laden style of classic heavy metal is the perfect springboard for Janus – her harsh shrieks during Spell Eater are genuinely disturbing, yet the Bruce Dickinson-esque wail she belts out on the gloriously titled I Want To Fuck You To Death adds an unexpected singalong to proceedings. It’s all good fun.
The same can't be said for Decapitated. Well, unless you class getting belted across the face with a rusty crowbar as ‘fun’. Needless to say, Decapitated grab Brixton by the bollocks right from the start – they sound check by playing Walk, for Christ's sake – and don't let go until they have the crowd braced in the foetal position.
Day 69, Spheres Of Madness, Carnival Is Forever – this is how to do death metal. Tighter than your parents' pockets after Christmas, the Polish bruisers lay down the law, exposing the audience to a whole new level of nasty.
After Decapitated's assault upon innocent ears, it seems that patience is wearing thin. Lamb Of God aren't even late, yet the chants begin way before the band arrives. This is the Virginian heavyweights' first UK tour since frontman Randy Blythe was acquitted of manslaughter charges last year and to call this gig highly anticipated would be an understatement.
When they do arrive, Lamb Of God stroll forward with the subtlety of a bull in ballerina shoes. Chris Adler's primal, utterly savage drumming heralds the opening throes of Desolation, which are followed by a huge singalong that carries over into Ghost Walking and Walk With Me In Hell. Whoever put this set-list together needs a high-five.
Blythe is, without question, an amazing frontman. His animalistic vocal delivery is a complete juxtaposition to the humble being who stands inside Brixton Academy tonight. The man is just happy to be here. Lead guitarist Mark Morton is absent, yet Between The Buried And Me's Paul Waggoner heroically fills in, replicating Morton's fret-melting guitar attack.
Classics are aired amid new tracks; the immortal grooves of Redneck and Laid To Rest are compulsory inclusions, yet the addition of The Undertow is more than warmly received. Vigil is, without doubt, the highlight of the evening – hysteria ensues merely from the intro tape. By the time Black Label is churned out, well, even the piss-poor sound that Brixton laid on tonight can't stop the fun. Lamb Of God: Richmond motherfucking Virginia. Untouchable.
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
