Lamb Of God
Live @ Estragon (BO) 21.02.2010

Fresh from a "Wrath" that paid off their past hard work, the 5 thrashers from Virginia arrive in Bologna for the first of three Italian dates of their tour supporting their latest effort, accompanied by some of the most promising modern bands from the American scene.

At 7 PM, the doors of Estragon open, and at about 8:25 PM, the show starts with Between The Buried And Me, who bravely propose a style hovering between post-core and jazz, monstrous in technique and perhaps deserving of a higher slot in the lineup (they play just 25 minutes), maybe instead of August Burns Red; our band plays metalcore, a genre that has been widespread worldwide for about a decade now, and they stand out from the myriad of groups in the mentioned scene only thanks to some technically commendable passages. They were probably included in the evening's bill to warm up the front rows in anticipation of Job For A Cowboy. Before analyzing their performance, it should be noted that the five guys from Arizona have already had a lot of success at home even though they are only on their second album, receiving commendable feedback from critics who consider them the beacon of new extreme metal. Yet the ferocious Americans bore the audience after just three or four songs, who are probably already waiting for the headliners, despite their good stage presence and undeniable technical skill also on stage.

It's been a good half hour since the Job's show ended when the notes of "The Passing" start, a perfect intro for the latest album and a siren heralding hell: as per script, the Lamb Of God kick off with "In Your Words" followed as on record by the compact "Set To Fail". The first impressions of the band can be read on the faces of the headbangers after this first pair of songs: fun, fatigue, and adrenaline. Next, the band takes a step back in time with "Walk With Me In Hell", sung at the top of their lungs by the audience, the controversial "Now You've Got Something To Die For" and the now iconic "Ruin". After the splendid "Hourglass", they continue with three new tracks from "Wrath," leading to another historic track, "Laid To Rest", and then to the mosh pits on the crust/punk notes of "Contractor". The audience is exhausted but hasn't had enough, and after Randy (Blythe, the singer) celebrates his 39th birthday with a dinosaur bite of a cake handed to him by some fans (the singer celebrated his birthday on February 21st), they can resume with the "gentle" "Vigil". One gets the feeling that the show is about to end only after they play "Redneck", a beacon of the "Sacrament" album that opens a noticeable circle pit in front of the stage. At this point, Randy, smiling, signals the audience to split in two, and to the notes of "Black Label", he initiates the famous "Wall Of Death"; then, goodbyes and home.
Summing up the evening, Between The Buried And Me seemed better than the two bands that followed them, while Lamb Of God demonstrated themselves more than worthy of their growing fame with a performance of great ferocity and technical prowess (but what is Adler doing behind the drums!?) making one think that they will become much more than a cult band.


SET LIST LAMB OF GOD:

1. "The Passing"
   
2. "In Your Words"
   
3. "Set To Fail"
   
4. "Walk With Me In Hell"
   
5. "Now You've Got Something To Die For"
   
6. "Ruin"
   
7. "Hourglass"
   
8. "Dead Seeds"
   
9. "Blacken The Cursed Sun"
   
10. "Grace"
    
11. "Broken Hands"
    
12. "Laid To Rest"
    
13. "Contractor"
    
14. "Vigil"
    
15. "Redneck"
    
16. "Black Label"