RIAA-certified, Billboard chart-topping, Richmond, VA band LAMB OF GOD may be one of the biggest bands in modern metal, but they will never forget where they came from. Mark Morton (guitar), John Campbell (bass), and Chris Adler (drums) formed the first incarnation of the band, BURN THE PRIEST, in the winter of 1994 after meeting four years earlier as students at Virginia Commonwealth University. Less than a year later, in the summer of 1995, they met vocalist Randy Blythe before adding Chris Adler’s brother, Willie Adler (guitar), prior to transitioning to LAMB OF GOD – and the rest is global metal history.
Guitarist Mark Morton says, “To truly understand the essence of the band BURN THE PRIEST, one must first consider the landscape in which it began: the mid-90s. Grunge and alternative music ruled the airwaves. Social media and the internet had yet to assume their role as our collective sources for entertainment and cultural exchange. It was a time when DIY ‘zines turned us onto new bands and regional scenes, and ‘copy and paste’ still implied a print shop and a glue stick.”
BURN THE PRIEST’s self-titled debut album, released via Philadelphia-based Legion Records, documented what was, in essence, a primal punk band performing metal. Ultimately, as they grew in local popularity, the five-piece chose to stray away from their name to avoid being associated with satanic metal, choosing the name LAMB OF GOD.
Morton continues, “As our sound and songs developed, so did our goals… we began playing basement parties and warehouse shows and in doing so, we realized that the energy we were creating was transferable. The shows we played in those squats and warehouses [in Philadelphia] and the people we met there are forever embedded in our collective consciousness and the DNA of our band.”
As they enter their 20th year since releasing their first self-titled album as BURN THE PRIEST, the band will release a full-length covers album that reflects on the greatness of classic punk, hardcore, crossover and noise – rock subgenres that contributed to what LAMB OF GOD – and indeed, the world – now view as modern heavy metal.
As BURN THE PRIEST, the band presents »Legion: XX« – featuring tracks originally performed by CRO-MAGS, AGNOSTIC FRONT, QUICKSAND, MINISTRY, BAD BRAINS, MELVINS, S.O.D., THE ACCUSED, BIG BLACK and Richmond punk band SLIANG LAOS. The tracks are performed with the unmistakable precision that has kept the band vital for two decades, but ultimately harks back to the raw, punk-driven sound first explored by four unsuspecting college students and a line cook-turned-vocalist in their formative years. Produced with Josh Wilbur at the helm, »Legion: XX« exhibits BURN THE PRIEST in their true element.
“Our inauspicious beginnings somehow grew into something none of us had ever even imagined possible, let alone aspired to, however, this is the story of BURN THE PRIEST,” adds Morton. “The songs we chose to cover on this album reflect that story. They are touchstones from that point in time. The inspiration we gleaned from these bands and these songs carries through our work and our creative pursuits, even to this day. Many thanks to these bands for lighting our fire and endless gratitude to our fans around the world for keeping it lit.”
»Legion: XX« will be officially released on May 18, 2018 via Nuclear Blast [Epic Records in the US] and will be available for purchase via all physical and digital retailers. Physical pre-orders and merch bundles are available now via: http://nblast.de/BTPLegionXX
Today, fans can watch the brand new BURN THE PRIEST music video for ‘Inherit The Earth’, originally performed by THE ACCUSED, and cut from »Legion: XX« (video directed by Travis Shinn).
Inherit the Earth (Official Video) by Burn The Priest on VEVO.
“I’ve been an ACCUSED fan since I was 14 when they were on the »Thrasher Skate Rock Volume 3« compilation with C.O.C. and all these amazing crossover bands,” says frontman Randy Blythe. “Their singer Blaine Cook was a huge influence on me, vocally.”
Drummer Chris Adler recalls, “‘Inherit The Earth’ hit me in the face soon after I managed to get my grubby mitts on the album sometime around ‘88. I got the ACCUSED record at a “Yellow Banana” record store on Route 1 south of DC while in route back from my “counselor” to my home in Woodbridge, Virginia. I got home and grabbed my board and I rocked it on my Discman. At about 2:12 into the tune the clouds parted above me and on a loudspeaker, God bellowed down to me, ‘RECEIVE YOUR PURPOSE.’ That was the moment I knew that if I tried hard enough, I could convey myself and how I felt – with music. It will never be “ours,” and we know that about all the tunes we’ve covered, but hopefully one of them hit you in the face as I had been, and God will part the clouds for you, too.”
»Legion: XX« track listing:
1. Inherit The Earth (originally performed by THE ACCUSED)
2. Honey Bucket (originally performed by MELVINS)
3. Kerosene (originally performed by BIG BLACK)
4. Kill Yourself (originally performed by S.O.D.)
5. I Against I (originally performed by BAD BRAINS)
6. Axis Rot (originally performed by SLIANG LAOS)
7. Jesus Built My Hotrod (originally performed by MINISTRY)
8. One Voice (originally performed by AGNOSTIC FRONT)
9. Dine Alone (originally performed by QUICKSAND)
10. We Gotta Know (originally performed by CRO-MAGS)
Bonus song (only on LP!):
In The Meantime (originally performed by HELMET)
Blythe adds, “I have a radio show on Gimmie Radio, and [the station] is all metal shows except for mine. I do the punk rock show because I want to show the direct correlation between my band, and the punk scene going back to THE MC5 and THE STOOGES. There is a direct link — look at old pictures of METALLICA, SLAYER and ANTHRAX, and they’re wearing MISFITS, D.R.I., and C.O.C. t-shirts. They fused the technicality of metal with the intensity of punk rock. Before them, metal was like in slow motion. Speed metal bands were listening to DISCHARGE. I beat that drum all the time when I talk to kids.”
»Legion: XX« is a sonic tribute to metal’s dark, dirty secret – the punk inspiration of all future heavy music to come.
Beginning May 10th, LAMB OF GOD will tour as support on SLAYER’s final world tour, North American legs one and two. LAMB OF GOD will also perform select one-off festival dates, as well as headline shows featuring support from BEHEMOTH. Tickets and VIP packages are on sale now at www.lamb-of-god.com. See below for all currently confirmed tour dates.
LEG ONE
w/ SLAYER, ANTHRAX, BEHEMOTH, TESTAMENT
10.05. USA San Diego, CA – Valley View Casino Center
11.05. USA Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre *SOLD OUT*
12.05. USA Pomona, CA – Fox Theater #
13.05. USA Sacramento, CA – Papa Murphy’s Park
16.05. CDN Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
17.05. CDN Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Events Centre
19.05. CDN Calgary, AB – Big Four *SOLD OUT*
20.05. CDN Edmonton, AB – Shaw Conference Centre *SOLD OUT*
22.05. CDN Winnipeg, MB – Bell MTS Place
23.05. USA Sioux Falls, SD – The District #
24.05. USA Minneapolis, MN – Armory *SOLD OUT*
25.05. USA Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
27.05. USA Detroit, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill *SOLD OUT*
29.05. CDN Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage *SOLD OUT*
30.05. CDN Laval, QC – Place Bell *SOLD OUT*
01.06. USA Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun *SOLD OUT*
02.06. USA Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
03.06. USA Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theatre # (w/ JASTA)
04.06. USA Reading, PA – Santander Arena *SOLD OUT*
06.06. USA Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
07.06. USA Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
09.06. USA Pittsburgh, PA – KeyBank Pavilion
10.06. USA Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
11.06. USA Raleigh, NC – The Ritz #
12.06. USA Virginia Beach, VA – VUHL Amphitheater
14.06. USA Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
15.06. USA Orlando, FL – Amphitheater
16.06. CDN Montebello, QC – Rockfest ##
17.06. USA Houston, TX – Smart Financial Centre *SOLD OUT*
19.06. USA Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory *SOLD OUT*
20.06. USA Austin, TX – Austin360 Amphitheater
# LOG (headliner) & BEHEMOTH only
## LOG only
LEG TWO
w/ SLAYER, ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, NAPALM DEATH
26.07. USA Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
27.07. USA Bangor, ME – Impact Music Festival
29.07. USA Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
31.07. USA Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
01.08. USA Albany, NY – Times Union Center
03.08. USA Darien Lake, NY – Performing Arts Center
04.08. USA Syracuse, NY – Lakeview Amphitheater
06.08. CDN London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
07.08. USA Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
09.08. USA St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
10.08. USA Atlanta, GA – Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
12.08. USA Nashville, TN – Municipal Auditorium
13.08. USA Rogers, AR – Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion
15.08. USA San Antonio, TX – Freeman Coliseum
16.08. USA Oklahoma City, OK – The Zoo Amphitheatre
18.08. USA Denver, CO – Fiddler‘s Green Amphitheatre
19.08. USA Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
21.08. USA Boise, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
23.08. USA Portland, OR – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
26.08. USA San Jose, CA – SAP Center
