Wrath | ||||
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Studio album by Lamb of God | ||||
Released | February 23, 2009 | |||
Recorded | 2008 | |||
Genre | Groove metal, thrash metal | |||
Length | 44:43 | |||
Label | Epic, Roadrunner | |||
Producer | Josh Wilbur | |||
Lamb of God chronology | ||||
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Singles from Wrath | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 74/100 |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
About.com | |
AllMusic | |
The A.V. Club | A |
Blabbermouth.net | 8.5/10 |
Consequence of Sound | |
Entertainment Weekly | B+ |
Kerrang! | |
Los Angeles Times | |
NME | 8/10 |
PopMatters | 6/10 |
Rock Sound | 9/10 |
Rolling Stone | |
Slant Magazine |
Wrath is the sixth studio album by American groove metal band Lamb of God. It was internationally released on February 23, 2009 via Roadrunner Records, and on February 24, 2009 via Epic Records in the U.S. It achieved number 2 on Billboard 200, with sales exceeding 68,000 in the U.S. during its first week of release. As of 2010 it has sold over 202,000 copies in the United States.
In August, 2008, it was announced that the band had commenced work on the follow-up to Sacrament, and that it was expected to be released on February 24, 2009. Josh Wilbur was confirmed as the producer for the album. Wilbur takes the place of the band's previous producer, Machine, who worked with them on Ashes of the Wake and Sacrament.
The recording process of Wrath was made available for online viewing through the band's website, with two webcams installed in the studio (specifically in the drum room and mixing room).
A producer version of the album with 4 split tracks per song (vocals, guitars, bass, drums) is available on the Deluxe Producer Edition Bonus CD (2009) allowing people to analyse and remix the individual elements of the album.
Speaking about the record, drummer Chris Adler stated:
"This album is going to surprise a lot of people. Typically bands that get to where we are in our career begin to slack off, smell the roses and regurgitate. We chose a different path. No one wants to hear another band member hyping a new record. Wrath needs no hype. We have topped ourselves and on February 24 (as 2009) you will feel it."
"We are excited to be changing things up this time and working with Josh. We've never stayed in one place too long, and the band's evolution continues. There is an aggressive shift in the material and our approach. The bar has been raised."
Guitarist Mark Morton was also quoted in an interview stating:
"We usually try to do something fresh every time. This one, I think, is deliberately a little more raw and more aggressive than Sacrament was. Sacrament was a really, really dynamic record on every level, and the songs were all over the place - it was also heavily produced. This one's really raw and real-sounding, from every angle, and we're celebrating imperfections on this record. We're choosing what takes stay on the record based more on their character and personality than how completely mechanically precise they are. It's more about vibe and attitude in the takes than it is about, 'Wow, that was perfect.' It's the perfect ones that get thrown away, because they're just too sterile."