Lamb of God revives 'Ashes of the Wake' with anniversary reissue and tour

Lamb of God is marking the 20th anniversary of their album Ashes of the Wake with not only an anniversary Ashes Of Leviathan tour, which they are co-headlining with Mastodon, but also a major reissue.

The 20th anniversary edition of Ashes of the Wake is set to release on August 30 and promises an exciting collection of new mixes, demos, and live versions of the album's iconic tracks. This special edition features new mixes by HEALTH, Justin K Broadrick (known for his work with Godflesh and Jesu), and contributions from Kublai Khan TX and Malevolence. One standout track from the reissue is "Another Nail for Your Coffin," which now includes features from Kublai Khan TX and Malevolence.

The reimagined version brings a modern, ferocious energy to the song, which originally was a bonus track often overlooked in Lamb of God's catalog. Guitarist Mark Morton expressed his excitement about the updated track, saying, "I'm excited to see 'Another Nail For Your Coffin' get reborn! This has always been a really cool, unique song in the Lamb Of God catalog but it's been overlooked since it was a bonus track. Matt and Alex both absolutely spit flames on this new, updated version, and gave it a ferocious modern energy. I'm glad to see this tune get some shine after all this time!"

Morton has also released a memoir, saying, "It really was like my first solo record — I just kind of did it to see if I could do it..."

Why did Lamb of God redo some of their songs?

On the issue of redoing songs, frontman Randy Blythe added, "I'm not much for re-recording our existing material – old songs are a snapshot of where we were as a band at that time, for better or worse. But when the idea came up to have a guest vocalist re-do my parts on 'Another Nail For Your Coffin,' I was all for it, especially if we could get two younger heavy hitters to bring a fresh approach to the song. Anyone who has seen Malevolence and Kublai Khan TX know that Alex and Matt crush it – it's an honor to have these dudes bring new life to the tune 20 years after we first recorded it."

Lamb of God has done similar projects before, though with other bands; a few years back, Lamb Of God and Megadeth teamed up for a cover of Megadeth's track "Wake Up Dead."

More about Lamb of God

Lamb of God, originally formed in 1994 under the name Burn the Priest, is an influential American heavy metal band known for their aggressive style and intricate musicianship, while tending to play "for the song" more than some other metal bands. Far from totally obscure, the band received a Grammy nomination recentlyenough (in 2016) for their song "512." They have become one of the leading bands in the New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement.

Their fourth studio album, Ashes of the Wake, released in 2004, is widely regarded as a pivotal release in their career, solidifying their status in the metal community. The band's lineup during the original recording of Ashes of the Wake included Randy Blythe on vocals, Mark Morton and Willie Adler on guitars, John Campbell on bass, and Chris Adler on drums. This album features notable tracks such as "Laid to Rest," "Now You've Got Something to Die For," and the title track "Ashes of the Wake."

The album is celebrated for its technical proficiency, intense riffs, and politically charged lyrics, reflecting the band's views on the Iraq War. In addition to their reissue and tour, Lamb of God continues to influence the metal scene with their powerful live performances and evolving sound.

Their commitment to pushing the boundaries of heavy metal while staying true to their roots has earned them a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim over the years. In an age where American Idol”still thrives, bands like this are as important as ever.