Lamb Of God To Change Record Labels Outside Of United States

In a brand new and recently published interview by Lucem Fero's Welsh interviewer Anthony Morgan, Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler discusses Black Sabbath's influence on heavy metal, the group's musical aims with 2006's "Sacrament" in hindsight and which of them were achieved, plans to rest and write during 2008, and the group's decision to leave Sony/Epc in non-US territories. A few excerpts from the interview follow:

Lucem Fero: Were you influenced by their (Black Sabbath) music?

Chris Adler: Yeah. If anybody who plays heavy metal says that they weren't influenced by Black Sabbath's music, then I think that they're lying to you. I think all heavy metal music was, in some way, influenced by what Black Sabbath did. Yeah, I think Black Sabbath was a big building block in terms of where we came from.

Looking back, what do you feel Lamb of God aimed to musically achieve with "Sacrament" (2006)? Also, how much of that do you feel the group actually achieved?

The biggest goal was probably to not just repeat ourselves, and to somehow try and outdo ourselves. We wanted to write something that was, quote unquote, better than what we had written before, and that was our goal when we entered the studio. We worked on the material for a pretty long time; we demoed a lot of material, and threw a lot of material out. Also, we worked with the material in different ways, and in every which way we could. In the end, I think we achieved exactly that. We didn't repeat ourselves, and we evolved as a band. We branched out in different directions that we hadn't explored before. On a plain level, and on a songwriting level, I think it's absolutely the best record we've ever done.

When "Sacrament" came out, Lamb of God's popularity seemed to just skyrocket really.

It's interesting talking to you about it, given the fact that it seems to happen at different times in different countries. In the US, "Ashes of the Wake" (2004) seemed like the record that really helped our popularity. There was a huge surge in the number of people coming to our shows. When you take both the responses at Download and at the shows we've been playing into account, it seems like "Sacrament" was the album that really helped our popularity over here. I think it has something to do with our label as well. They do a fantastic job for us in the US, and have not done a very good job at all for us overseas. We are in a different situation now, a situation where we're talking to other labels about the next record. We want to work with different labels overseas, so I think that's going to be a very positive step.

So Lamb of God is thinking of working with different labels overseas?

Yes, outside of the US.

Is that just a possibility which is being discussed, or is that a definite plan?

It's a definite plan.

There's no rift with Epic Records in the US though?

No. In fact, we couldn't ask for more. They're fantastic in the US, and we're very happy with them.

Are label discussions at an advanced stage, or is it early days?

It's somewhere in the middle. We don't know who it's going to be with, though it's not going to be with Sony Epic.

You can't reveal who you're in discussions with?

Not quite.

All will be revealed?

All will be revealed.

You said Lamb of God plan on taking "the entirety of 2008 to reconnect, get hungry and write". Can you tell me about that?

Yeah. We've been touring for a long time, as we spoke about earlier. "Sacrament" came out during the end of August last year, and we were on the road in July of last year. Before it even came out, we were on the road. Ever since, we've been travelling pretty much non-stop. Therefore, I think it's important for us. We know we want to do another record. The label wants us to do another record too, and so do the fans. For us to do that properly though, we need to go home, rest and get away from each other for a little while. We can then recharge our batteries somewhat, and get back together. Once again, we'll feel hungry about wanting to outdo ourselves.

You did say that you feel Lamb of God's next album has to "more intense than anything" the band has done before. How did you hope Lamb of God's next album will be more intense, and in what respects?

As we spoke about earlier, I think we expect more from ourselves this time. Every time we write another record, there's no point in going backwards. There's no point in putting out something that's not as good as what you've done before, or otherwise we should possibly stop. For us, it has to be more intense; it has to be a more intense process, it has to be a more intense record and it has to outdo what we've done previously.

To access the entire interview go to this location.

Comments

[Quantonyne]

first?
good for lamb of god...i remember back in the olden days of new american gospel...but they have changed their sound a lot...and i respect that in a band

[EnterIbanez]

First comment! Lol. I agree, theirs no use in repeating yourself i mean who wants to hear the same album 10 times. Would be rad to hear a heavier album! Lamb of god are a awesome band and i'm sure they'll come through like they do every album. Ashes of the wake was my favourite though.

[EnterIbanez]

Ah dam. Second comment

[Valathalion]

first,can't wait for a new album

[LamB_OF_goD]

I do as well. People say how much they hated Sacrament, but I found it to be a refreshing step forward. Don't get me wrong, Ashes of the Wake was genius by any means, but staying in one sounds continually becomes monotonous.

[jonnyharris1]

hmmm, I wander which label theyll go for: Roadrunner? Nuclear Blast?

[EnterIbanez]

Sacrament was a big step. I love the album though! Besides everyone knocking it

[EnterIbanez]

LamB_OF_goD wrote:

I do as well. People say how much they hated Sacrament, but I found it to be a refreshing step forward. Don't get me wrong, Ashes of the Wake was genius by any means, but staying in one sounds continually becomes monotonous.

like slayer! Lol i dig the band, albums just sounds too similar

[Quantonyne]

i was not a big fan of sacrement...but thats not to say its not good...thought new american gospel and as the palaces burn's production sucked ass.....but thats what gave them some edge...the raw dry sound.

[BBoyBlaZe]

ehehe...yeah lamb of god is the best modern heavy metal band out there..i doubt some band would come out and outdo lamb of god..they have their very own distinctive sound..every damn riff is frickin different...the vocals are very aggressive and the musik is awesome..sacrement wasnt bad at all actually it was very good...cant wait for the next album..i hope it blasts me away like they always do

[willy_99]

i hope they dont go to road runner

[JustinBrand]

they are definetly the best new metal band out thre and i agree i pray they don't go to roadrunner. roadrunner controls its bands and makes then change their style. or so it seems.

[face_the_fear]

willy_99 wrote:

i hope they dont go to road runner

Give me a good reason why not, there are some awesome bands on that label. Megadeth, opeth, dream theater, killswitch, devil driver and machine head are a few. Yea there are some shit ones but I dont see how that changes anything.

[JustinBrand]

Megadeth, dream theater, Killswitch are all good yes but look how much roadrunner changed the 3. think about it, the only band on there that didn't change was 3 inches of blood because they are too new to be influenced yet. Roadrunner is a good solid label but they shoot too mainstream.

[qwikfngr]

Cool, not a huge LOG fan but I want to see them live and I've heard some stuff of theirs that I like. I didn't know they had so many albums, I'll ahve to pick 'em up cause my drummer loves these guys

[face_the_fear]

I see where your coming from but the way they change the bands arnt necessarily bad. Megadeths and Machine heads latest albums are their best in years IMO. Thing is people have said how it's cool that LOG change their sound on each album. So if Roadrunner changes what a band sounds like then maybe this is a good thing for them.

[Gu1T@r_H3r0]

Does this mean we'll finally get Killadelphia in the UK? I ****ing hope so.

LOG aren't the type of band that'll be changed by a label, when they signed to Epic, Randy specifically told them that they weren't gonna change anything about the band. It's on the DVD that comes with Sacrament.

[Infamou$17]

face_the_fear wrote:

Thing is people have said how it's cool that LOG change their sound on each album. So if Roadrunner changes what a band sounds like then maybe this is a good thing for them.

That would be true if Roadrunner didn't change everything to make it mainstreamed. Aside from 3 Inches of Blood, but their next album will probably be all Roadrunner.

Nuclear Blast FTW

[jonnyharris1]

You are aware that megadteh and Dream theater had already finished their albums when they signed to RR. I think its total rubbish when people say labels make them change their sound because 99% of the time it simply is not true.

[LetTheBassPlay]

Wow, this was a good interview. He was very polite, and clear. Maybe the label switch will be a good thing. You never know till it happens.

[Phe4rTheGod]

besides 3 inches theres also DevilDriver Sepultura and Suffocation...roadrunner is an awesome label and it would fit LoG better than nuclear blast...they sound WAY too american to be in that range...

but they well deserve all the attention they have, i hope it works out...and damn i cant wait for the new album...

[herbouvian]

Lamb of God is an excellent band, I'm really looking forward to their new album. Chris Adler seems like a really cool, polite guy and I have a lot of respect for him

[metalminded07]

Their best album was when they were Burn The Priest!!!!

[skindred]

JustinBrand wrote:

Megadeth, dream theater, Killswitch are all good yes but look how much roadrunner changed the 3. think about it, the only band on there that didn't change was 3 inches of blood because they are too new to be influenced yet. Roadrunner is a good solid label but they shoot too mainstream.

sorry dude i dont agree with machinehead becoming mainstream, the blackening in my opinion was the album of the year hands down. machinehead, lamb of god are the current top dogs in metal, devildriver are getting there too

[DarthKarth]

No matter who they go to, they won't change their sound. Randy said when they signed with Epic that, "They weren't going to let anyone tell them how to make metal." Epic agreed.

And if the new company MAKES them change their sound, Randy will have a hissy fit, and they'll get dropped.

[666Sabbath666]

Gu1T@r_H3r0 wrote:

Does this mean we'll finally get Killadelphia in the UK? I ****ing hope so.

.

You guys don't get it? Man I feel bad, it's some killer stuff

[fcukinghostile]

Look what is wrong with a metal band being mainstream.
its good for them they're getting recognition by the society..

i hate how people stop listening to their fav metal band just because they're going mainstream.

[kurtshapedbox]

I'm personally really glad they've progressed from NAG. If they still had a breakdown in every song it would be f***ing annoying. I blame NAG for their reputation as a metalcore rather than thrash band.

[roarinflames]

same here
everyone says theyre a metalcore band still
EVEN UG SAYS THIS!!!

COME ON UG, YOU CANT DENY THEY HAVE CHANGED FROM THEIR PAST TO MORE THRASH METAL.
why cant we talk about them in the metal foruns?

[skindred]

roarinflames wrote:

same here
everyone says theyre a metalcore band still
EVEN UG SAYS THIS!!!

COME ON UG, YOU CANT DENY THEY HAVE CHANGED FROM THEIR PAST TO MORE THRASH METAL.
why cant we talk about them in the metal foruns?

sorry but no, just no they are not thrash, slayer is thrash, tallica is/was thrash, sex machineguns is thrash, pantera is thrash, lamb of god are just metal, just like machine-f*cking-head!

[skindred]

p.s. that aint a bad thing either, too many bands class themselves over some many types of metal, there should be more bands which say they are just metal.

[totalxanarchy]

jeez i wish they wud just hurry up and record the new album, instead of takin all the time to tell us how theyr gonna do it.