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Good review.

I totally agree with your assessment. Real shame!

Yep, running on empty. They still have some cool stuff, but it's just not compelling the way it used to be. I agree that Sacrament was the beginning of the end. Problem is they got really popular. That is my assesment. Only because I remember at Milwaukee Metalfest, when it was held at The Rave and Eagles Ballroom, hearing about a band called Burn the Priest which I apparently missed one of the craziest shows ever. The rumor was that the singer stage dived and cut his head open and finished the show bleeding all over the place. I never saw it, but that created this mystic about them. Later I saw them on New American Gospel in the Eagles Ballroom. Randy was standing next to me during Darkest Hour's set. You could barely tell cause he was wearing a hoodie with the hood up and he's just a little guy. I'll never forget it because the Darkest Hour singer spent almost the whole set in the crowd while singing. Actually kinda sucked at the time, but I guess looking back it was different at least. I think Candiria played that night too. Anyway, they had just gotten signed to Metal Blade and changed their name and you could tell by the huge backdrop and presentation that they had big plans for this band. Soon, gone were the slow chunks and somewhat wretchedness they had (that's why I kinda dig the first track omn Resolution) and in came the Gotthenburg sounding riffs. Then gone went the Gothenburg influence and in came the "We are the new Pantera" on Sacrament. That is my perception anyway. Honestly, Ashes of the Wake was kinda the end for me. I felt they were trying to grab onto the Gothenburg trend at the time. Everything after As the Palaces Burn seemed like it was slowly drifting toward something more commercially accessible. I still have everything they have ever done and can find enjoyable tracks on every album, but I feel they stopped giving fresh sounding music on Sacrament. Ok, have at me Lamb of God worshipers!