Lamb Of God release “Checkmate” play Chicago House of Vans
Today upper-echelon metal outfit Lamb Of God released their first new music in five years. The video for “Checkmate” is now available to view on the band’s website. The new song will be included on the band’s next self-titled album, slated for release May 8.
“Checkmate” begins a new chapter and turning point for Lamb Of God. Vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler and bassist John Campbell have welcomed new drummer Art Cruz (Prong, Winds Of Plague) into the fold. (Cruz replaced longtime member Chris Adler in 2019.) Produced by Josh Wilbur, the self-titled album also features the participation of Hatebreed founder Jamey Jasta and Chuck Billy of Testament.
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“‘Checkmate’ brings together all the components of the Lamb Of God sound that we’ve been developing over the last two decades, but with the ambition and ferocity that comes with the start of a new chapter for our band,” says Morton. “Re-energized and reignited, this is Lamb Of God 2020. We’ve never been more excited.”
When asked why, on album no. 8, they chose an eponymous title, Blythe was lucid. “Putting only our name on it is a statement,” says the frontman. “This is Lamb Of God, here and now.”
In addition, the band will be playing a special free gig at Chicago’s House Of Vans on February 14. Harm’s Way will be sharing the stage. Fans can RSVP for admission beginning at 12 noon CST today at HouseOfVans.com In addition, an exhibit of Blythe’s photography will be on display at the venue. These images will be used in the packaging of the new album.
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While it’s been five years since the release of VII: Sturm und Drang, Lamb Of God’s members have still been active in various projects. The band took some time away from the studio to head out as direct support for Slayer’s “Final Campaign” tour. Morton had his first solo album, Anesthetic, released last spring. (The release featured contributions from Blythe, the late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington and Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz.) Earlier this year, Morton released an EP, Ether, which featured Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, John Carbone of Moon Tooth, Howard Jones (Light The Torch) and Mark Morales (Sons Of Texas). Randy Blythe pursued photography and went on tour with Pigface, the industrial-rock outfit formed by Martin Atkins earlier this winter.
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Any metal outfit knows that when you’ve got new music, you gotta take it to the people. Where there’s fire, there’s someone starting it. We’d be wise to expect some tour dates sometime soon, for sure. Until then, check out the fury of “Checkmate” below.
Lamb Of God tracklisting:
- Memento Mori
- Checkmate
- Gears
- Reality Bath
- New Colossal Hate
- Resurrection Man
- Poison Dream (feat. Jamey Jasta)
- Routes (feat. Chuck Billy)
- Bloodshot Eyes
- On The Hook
European tour with Kreator and Power Trip:
3/27 – Stockholm, SE @ Fryshuset Arenan
3/28 – Copenhagen, DK @ Forum Black Box
3/30 – Oulu, FI @ Club Teatria
3/31 – Helsinki, FI @ Ice Hall Black Box
4/2 – Kraków, PO @ Tauron Arena
4/3 – Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle
4/4 – Oberhausen, DE @ Turbinenhalle
4/5 – Wiesbaden, DE @ Kulturzentrum Schlachthof
4/7 – Zurich, CH @ Samsung Hall
4/8 – Munich, DE @ Zenith
4/9 – Ludwigsburg, DE @ MHP Arena
4/11 – Hamburg, DE @ Sporthalle
4/14 – Barcelona, ES @ Razzmatazz
4/15 – Madrid, ES @ Sala Riviera
4/17 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia Bruno Coquatrix
4/18 – Saarbrücken, DE @ Saarlandhalle
4/19 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique
4/21 – Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy Bristol
4/22 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy
4/23 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy Glasgow
4/24 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy Birmingham
4/25 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton
5/9 – Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome to Rockville *US Festival
