Album Review: Lamb Of God - VII: Sturm Und Drang

Although there's no dearth of material to draw on, vocalist Randy Blythe is adamant this is no "prison album".

His incarceration is referenced, but only fleetingly. Still Echoes and thrash-inflected Footprints bristle with the visceral, grooving metal and propulsive polyrhythms that have elevated them to star status, while retaining the potential to deliver a bloodier beat-down than a cranky Brock Lesnar. Greg Puciato and Chino Moreno add further colour and, perhaps not an outfit renowned for curveballs, Blythe's pseudo-clean tones on Overlord prove refreshing. Their most consistent platter since Sacrament nearly a decade ago.