Lamb of God: An Interview
by Alun Thomas
Published July 6, 2006 in The Zephyr, Galesburg, Ill.
Becoming a heavy metal band that can attain mainstream success and
major label status in 2006 is a feat most bands could ever hope to achieve,
particularly metal bands of the traditional order. The ascent of Lamb Of God
since their 2000 debut ÔNew American GospelÕ can be seen as a major victory in
many regards, the band starting out in the mid 90s as Burn The Witch, and
releasing a self titled album in 1998, three years after the Virginia-bred act
first assembled. Changing the bands name, LOG quickly gained a measure of
credibility with ÔNew American GospelÕ, with its thrash meets NEW metal crunch,
that revealed there was indeed a band out there capable of equaling stalwarts
like Slayer and Pantera in terms of mass acceptance.
2002Õs ÔAs The
Palaces BurnÕ catapulted the band into the ranks of a major label, Epic Records
signing them after the commercial impact of their second album. Capitalizing on
this the band quickly recorded their Epic debut, 2004Õs ÔAshes Of The WakeÕ, a
more diverse set that strayed from the earlier brutal work and duly sold over
thirty thousand copies in its first week, reaching 27 on BillboardÕs album
chart. After a successful headlining set on OzzfestÕs second stage that year,
the band filmed two Philadelphia shows that resulted in 2005Õs ÔKiladelphiaÕ
DVD which has since gone gold. With new album ÔSacramentÕ due in August and
currently on tour with Slayer as part of the ÔUnholy AllianceÕ tour, the future
seems brighter than ever for LOG. Recently I had the opportunity to talk with
guitarist Mark Morton about how things are progressing in the LOG camp before
the bandÕs performance in San Antonio.
The Zephyr: Did you ever think you would be in a position where
you would be playing alongside Slayer with an album due arguably as anticipated
as theirs?
Mark Morton: ÒWell I donÕt know if I could comment safely on
the second bit (laughs) but we have played with Slayer before at a couple of
shows in London a few years ago and on Ozzfest in 2004, but this tour (ÔUnholy
AllianceÕ) is different, being on an arena tour with them is an honor. As a
teenage kid growing up they were one of my favorite bands, so to be sharing the
stage with them is really cool. The whole bill in general, with Mastadon,
Children Of Bodom, itÕs a killer tour. The crowds have been great so far,
absolutely nuts and with good reason. This is the heaviest tour out right now,
something for the real metal fan and theyÕre coming out in droves. IÕd be lying
if I said we were selling places out, but these are huge arenas you know?Ó
TZ: Did you expect the sales of ÔKilladelphiaÕ to reach the
levels they have? You must be pleased with the results.
MM: ÒVery pleased. We didnÕt have any expectations and we
rarely do. We donÕt know what people are going to buy and we do our thing.
WeÕve never made decisions based on how it might affect sales. We write our
songs and record our albums and ÔKilladelphiaÕ was just another example of that.
ItÕs a real honest look at what we do and whatÕs itÕs like to do it. Our agenda
was just to be honest and real and itÕs something we decided to do before we
started filming any of it. Looking at how it came together I think itÕs a
really interesting piece going beyond the show and a behind the scenes look at
a touring metal band. ThatÕs a lot of the reason for its success as someone
could get something out of it without ever having heard of LOG.Ó
TZ: Has it been a conscious decision on the part of the band to
keep the majority of the new material secret?
MM: ÒI think so. Part of the reason is that over the course of
our career weÕve never made music for anyone but ourselves. ItÕs hard enough
for us to find an album or a song that the five of us agree on so we donÕt
solicit or are interested in any outside opinions, from fans, anybody. ItÕs
tricky to say we donÕt care about our fans but to a certain degree if you love
it great, if you donÕt thatÕs cool too. WeÕre making music for us, thatÕs all
weÕve ever done. To start letting new songs out and getting a lot of feedback
is something we donÕt want. I want it to be new and fresh the day it drops.Ó
TZ: How important was it for metal to have a band like LOG
reach such lofty heights after so many barren years for the genre, especially
the mid 90Õs when acts like Metallica abandoned thrash?
MM: ÒI donÕt know. The way it happened was so genuine, so grass
roots that itÕs really hard to soak up. WeÕre the same band that was sleeping
on top of our equipment at rest stops. And still doing pretty much the same
music. Obviously weÕve changed stylistically and as musicians but the agenda is
still the same. It was as bigger surprise to us as anybody that we are doing as
well as we are right now. The metal scene isnÕt entirely on our shoulders,
there was a movement going of bands that were doing this for real and if youÕd
told me once that I could be playing arenas with tour buses, with all this
gear, selling these records playing the kind of music weÕre playing, I would have
told you youÕre nuts. But it happened. And I donÕt put any rules on this band,
we can do whatever we want. Some of your fans want you to make the same record
over and over. But are we going to be a top 40 band putting out radio hits like
Metallica did? Hell no.
The reason this group started playing together in a basement
over a twelve pack of beer is the simple fact you could not go and see live
metal. It just wasnÕt there except for a handful of bands who we considered to
be real metal, so we said Ôfuck it weÕll just have to do it ourselves.Õ Metal
had slipped so far away and that was the catalyst for us, we were starving for
it.Ó
TZ: Have your major label dealings made things easier for the
band or more stressful with the growing demand of you?
MM: ÒI donÕt want to give the impression that weÕre doing it
for the money but the fact is when we switched to a major label we were able to
do LOG full time. It only helps the music and allows us to focus and direct our
energy on the band and our music. WeÕre by no means wealthy but I have a cool
job right now.Ó
TZ: What was it like working with Devin Townshend (Strapping
Young Lad) on 2002Õs ÔAs The Palaces Burn?Õ
MM: ÒHonestly and he (Devin) knows this as well, I wasnÕt well
versed in his music. I knew who he was and I was familiar with some of his
stuff, but I hadnÕt actively listened to him. After having worked with him IÕm
a big fan. But I went into that situation untainted by the whole fan thing and being
influenced by what he did musically. I was more interested in how we could make
a record together. Over the course of that album we developed a good
friendship. HeÕs a brilliant dude.Ó
TZ: How difficult or simple was the recording process this time
around?
MM: ÒItÕs exhausting as weÕre so invested in these songs and
these albums. On a day to day level itÕs sitting and playing guitar for five
hours. For me itÕs more of the emotional and creative aspects that take a lot
out of you. ItÕs important to us to keep moving forward and not get complacent
with our music, as this is our life. All of us have each given up so much to do
this. It looks great from the outside, you know big metal band, touring the
world, but people donÕt see the things you give up to do that. ItÕs all weÕre
left with, so these albums are really important to us. It really takes a lot
out of you.Ó
TZ: How involved are you in the songwriting process?
MM: ÒHeavily. But weÕre a very collaborative band and at the
end of the day everyoneÕs had some input.Ó
TZ: IÕve asked this to a lot of musicians and the answer
usually varies, but who are more fanatical, Europeans or Americans?
MM: ÒFrom my experience I would say American fans, but my band
happens to be bigger in America. If you asked Machine Head theyÕd probably say
European fans. Everybody has different experiences in different places and
weÕre no exception.Ó
TZ: Stock question, who were your guitar idols growing up?
MM: ÒThe first guitar player I ever got into was Eddie Van
Halen, and I really love Jimmy PageÕs playing. Randy Rhoades was a big one for
for me, in the early eighties Ozzy Osbourne was considered pretty heavy and
extreme and Randy found a way to bring other elements into the music which kept
it fresh. ItÕs a shame his career was cut short and we didnÕt hear more out of
him. WhatÕs there is great though and he really was a big influence on me.Ó
TZ: How long are you playing on the current tour nightly?
MM: ÒAbout 55 minutes to an hour.Ó
TZ: Including any Burn The Priest material?
MM: ÒMost of our fans know about Burn The Priest and last year
we re-released the album and itÕs been doing well, so anything we play of that
the hardcore fans are pretty well acquainted with.Ó
TZ: Why did you change the name of the band? Was it because you
perceived the name as too stereotypical for a metal band that might impede your
progress?
MM: ÒThat questionÕs been covered so much dude.Ó
TZ: To be honest I didnÕt know why. Thanks for your time.
MM: ÒYeah.Ó