Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #12

12.Lamb Of God-Ashes Of The Wake(2004)

Lamb Of God finally worked out all the kinks from their past works on Ashes Of The Wake. Ashes Of The Wake is a groovy,catchy and just flat out fantastic piece of heavy metal. The songwriting on this record is really strong and the lyrics are really,really good. I don't tend to focus on the lyrics in metal, but the lyrics on Ashes Of The Wake really struck me. Lamb Of God's gift for amazing riffs is at its finest on Ashes Of The Wake, every riff is insane. Ashes Of The Wake is the ultimate Lamb Of God album.

Standout Tracks 1.Laid To Rest 2.Blood Of The Scribe 3.Hourglass

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #44-43

44.Down-Down III: Over The Under(2007)

Down's third release is easily their most impressive. Phil Anselmo's sounds in the best form since the last two Pantera records. In addition to Anselmo's peak performance, Kirk Widstien and Peeper Keenan riffs are full of sludgey goodness. The combination of Phil Anselmo, one of my favorite vocalists of all time and my favorite style of metal sludge is a match made in heaven(or hell anyway you want to slice it). is Down's first two records showed the potential they had, when it comes to supergroups they are few as good as Down.

Standout Tracks 1.The Path 2.I Scream 3.Beneath The Tides

43.Lamb Of God-Wrath(2009)

Lamb Of God besides being one of the top metal acts around right now, is also one of the most consistent. Wrath is among the best material they have ever created. Wrath is vintage Lamb Of God with a slight change to it. Such as the acoustic intro to "Grace" and some nice melodic soloing. There are plenty of killer hooks,nice guitar solos and drumming, and Randy Blythe's trademark bark and great lyrics. Lamb Of God might be at height of their popularity, but they are showing no signs of slowing down or selling out.
Standout Tracks 1.Broken Hands 2.Grace 3.Dead Seeds

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #62-61

62.Lamb Of God-As The Palaces Burn(2003)

As The Palaces Burn is the record where Lamb Of God started to truly shine and come into their own as a band. The change of style that Lamb Of God put into the place on this record would stick on their follow-up records. Randy Blythe's change to a more audible scream pays dividends for Lamb Of God. Despite being a little bit choppy, As The Palaces Burn kick some serious ass.

Standout Tracks 1.Vigil 2.Boot Scraper 3.Ruin

61.Converge-Jane Doe(2001)

Converge is one of the most influential metalcore/hardcore acts of all time. Their sound is overwelmingly chaotic yet extremely textured and technical. Jane Doe is a remarkable record with twists at every corner from the blistering opener "Concubine" to the epic 11-minute closer "Jane Doe". There is so much going on and it will take you 20+ listens to fully understand everything that is at work on this record. Converge are absolute masterminds of music and their genius has never been more prevelent than on Jane Doe. It is an absoultely mezmerizing musical experience.
Standout Tracks 1.Hell To Pay 2.Concubine 3.Phoenix In Flight

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #72-71

72.Killswitch Engage-As Daylight Dies(2006)

Killswitch Engage is one of my favorite bands of all time. They are one of the bands that layed down the blueprints of metalcore. On their 4th record, As Daylight Dies Killswitch continues their winning formula. Howard Jones is seriously one of the best vocalists around. His clean vocals are truly astonishing and his screams are perfect. Top to bottom As Daylight Dies is extremely strong. It has many layers,slick production and in typical Killswitch fashion top-notch metal. Despite not being Killswitch's strongest album, it is still noteworthy.

Standout Tracks 1.This Is Absolution 2.Daylight Dies 3.Unbroken

71.Lamb Of God-Sacrament(2006)

Sacrament, like most Lamb Of God albums is just plain dawn awesome. Sure Lamb Of God might not be the most creative band on the planet but that doesn't make their music not fantastic. Tracks like "Walk With Me In Hell and "Descending" are fucking epic. The overall sound of these tracks are apocolyptic. In addition to these tracks, you have the always fun, R-rated sing-a-long song "Redneck" and the groovy "Foot To The Throat". Lamb Of God is one of the most consistent bands in the entire metal genre and Sacrament is no expection to that rule.

Standout Tracks 1.Walk With Me In Hell 2.Descending 3.Foot To The Throat

Concert Review: Rockstar Mayhem Fest Mansfield,MA July 27,2010

Got to the Comcast Center a little bit later than I expected but wasn't much of a problem got into the venue pretty quick and didn't miss a band(even though I didn't really care about the first 3 bands).

In This Moment was up first. I really don't like this band and live they were pretty unimpressive. Maria Brink does have a pretty good singing voice but her screaming is pretty weak. I am not really to into their music. I will say that they did do a pretty cool thing during their last song Maria went out into the crowd and stood at the soundboard and had the crowd circle pit around her. Side Note Maria Brink is really,really hot.

Stemm was the Jager Band at the last Mayhem Fest as well. My thoughts are still the same. They are a pretty decent band they have good energy and they got shit going. Good for them.

Norma Jean was up next so I wondered off to the Rockstar Tent so I got some Rockstar and picked up a 3 Inches Of Blood Shirt while they were on. I did see most of their set despite doing other things and they were pretty shitty.

It was finally time for one of the bands that caused me to come to this year's Mayhem Massachusetts's own Shadows Fall. It was my 1st time seeing Shadows Fall and they put on a good show. The setlist was good and the band played really well. One small complaint is that Brian Fair was a little off on vocals but he is a good frontman who knows how to work a crowd and it is hilarious to watch him circle headbang because of his dreads. I am surprised he hasn't fallen and completely fucked himself up on stage because of them. Anyways Shadows Fall was good and I will most likely see them again.

Went and met 3 Inches Of Blood near the end of Shadows Fall's set. Really cool guys. After getting autographs and talking to them for a few minutes Winds Of Plague was about to start. I know Winds Of Plague is frowned upon by most of the metal community but these guys got their shit together. I personally loved their last record The Great Stone War and in my opinion it is the best deathcore record ever. Winds of Plague has greatly matured in the past year. They have greatly stepped up their live show. The last time I saw them they are a bit of a letdown but this time they were great.

Chimaria was fantastic. Great stage presence and their songs just are so much heavier and better live. The main example is song like Secrets Of The Dead which I personally don't like at all on disc was sick live. The Dehumanizing Process was also a nice surprise addition and best of all we were the first date to get it on the whole tour.

Atreyu played next. I was meeting Winds Of Plague during their set but the Revolver Booth was pretty close to the Silver Star Stage so I could see and hear them from the line to meet them. I used to love Atreyu when I was in middle school but I soon grew out of them. They weren't too good live. It was kind of fun for nostalgia purposes they played a lot of older material that I knew but still they weren't good at all.

Hatebreed as usual was fucking insane live. Jamey Jasta is a such an insane frontman and puts 110% into their performance. The setlist was fantastic Smash Your Enemies and Hands Of A Dying Man were great additions to the set. Fantastic performance and one of the best bands of the day.

3 Inches Of Blood closed out the side stages and all I can say is holy shit. I had seen them live once before with In Flames last October but they were even better today. Even though the crowd was not that large due to Five Finger Death Punch playing on the main stage the people that where there were going apeshit. Insane performance and I am so happy that Deadly Sinners is back in the setlist.

Lamb Of God was 2 songs into their set when I made to the Main Stage but I wasn't really too sad. Lamb Of God crushed as usual. One of the best live bands in the whole metal genre. That being said even though they were still fantastic they were not as good as the last time I saw them.

Avenged Sevenfold was playing the Massachusetts date only on Mayhem. Once again this band that is frequently shit talked and I guess they do deserve some of it(They do have kind of a gay image and stupid stage names)but I do enjoy most of their music. I hadn't seen them in 4 years so I really did not know what to expect from them. Avenged Sevenfold was great. A lot of energy and it was such a pleasure seeing Mike Portnoy behind the kit. He had some crazy fills that are not in the original songs on the older material. A pleasant surprise for sure.

Rob Zombie was one of the greatest performances I had ever witnessed. Absolutely jaw-dropping amazing. Zombie is a born showmen and in a live environment he is pretty much unbeatable. The craziest thing about the set was probably John 5's solo his playing was insane. I don't know if Zombie did this on all dates but John 5 smashed his guitar after School's Out and it was awesome. I will make an effort to see him next time he comes to MA he was amazing.

Pretty much ditto for Korn. Insane live really not much else I can say.Such a fantastic show pretty much every band slayed. It was pretty much a dream come true seeing Korn and Rob Zombie two of the artists that got me into metal at the same time. Can't wait till Mayhem 2011. I would like to thank my friends that I attended this with. You guys are all fucking awesome and added to the already fantastic experience.

Scores
In This Moment 3/10
Stemm 6.5/10
Norma Jean 3/10
Shadows Fall 7.5/10
Winds Of Plague 8.5/10
Chimaria 8.5/10
Atreyu 4/10
Hatebreed 9.5/10
3 Inches Of Blood 9/10
Lamb Of God 9.5/10
Avenged Sevenfold 8.5/10
Rob Zombie 10/10
Korn 10/10

Set Lists

Shadows Fall
King Of Nothing
War
Thoughts Without Words
Still I Rise
The Power Of I and I
Bark At The Moon(Ozzy Osbourne Cover)
The Light That Blinds

Winds Of Plague
Earth(Intro)
Chest and Horns
Decimate The Weak
Angels Of Debauchery
The Impaler
One Body Too Many
Reloaded

Chimaira
Black Heart
Pleasure In Pain
Power Trip
Secrets Of The Dead
Resurrection
The Dehumanizing Process
Pure Hatered

Atreyu
Bleeding Mascara
Becoming The Bull
?
Right Side Of The Bed
You Give Love A Bad Name(Bon Jovi Cover)
?
Ex's and Oh's
Lip Gloss and Black

Hatebreed(Order might be off on a couple of songs in the middle but all the songs are correct)
Everyone Bleeds Now
In Ashes They Shall Reap
Hands Of A Dying Man
As Diehard As They Come
Smash Your Enemies
Live For This
Tear It Down
Perseverance
Last Breath
To The Threshold
Defeatist
This Is Now
I Will Be Heard

3 Inches Of Blood
Battles and Brotherhood
Silent Killer
Trial Of Champions
Call Of The Hammer
Wykydtron
Deadly Sinners
The Goatrider's Horde

Lamb Of God
The Passing(intro)
In Your Words
Set To Fail
Walk With Me In Hell
Now You've Got Something To Die For
Laid To Rest
Redneck
Black Label

Avenged Sevenfold
Nightmare
Critical Acclaim
Welcome To The Family
Beast and The Harlot
Buried Alive
Unholy Confessions
Almost Easy

Rob Zombie
What Lurks On Channel X?
Superbeast
Scum Of The Earth
Living Dead Girl
More Human Than Human
Sick Bubblegum
House Of 1000 Corpses
Joey Jordison Drum Solo
Never Gonna Stop(The Red,Red Kroovy)
Mars Needs Women
Thunder Kiss 65
John 5 Solo
School's Out(Alice Cooper Cover)
Dragula

Korn
Right Now
Here To Stay
Did My Time
Oildale(Leave Me Alone)
Falling Away From Me
Somebody Someone
Let The Guilt Go
Freak On A Leash
Blind
Shoots and Ladders/One(Metallica Cover)
Clown
Got The Life