Thursday Throwback is a weekly colour scheme inspired by an iconic album cover of yesteryear. This week’s throwback is the 2004 album “Ashes of the Wake” by Lamb of God. The colours are as follows:
| Colours | HEX | RGB | HSB | CMYK | LAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colour 1 | #167351 | 22, 115, 81 | 158, 81, 45 | 80, 0, 29, 54 | 42, -34, 11 |
| Colour 2 | #D99152 | 217, 145, 82 | 28, 62, 85 | 0, 33, 62, 14 | 66, 21, 43 |
| Colour 3 | #A60303 | 166, 3, 3 | 0, 98, 65 | 0, 98, 98, 34 | 34, 57, 47 |
| Colour 4 | #590202 | 89, 2, 2 | 0, 98, 35 | 0, 97, 97, 65 | 16, 36, 24 |
| Colour 5 | #0D0D0D | 13, 13, 13 | 0, 0, 5 | 0, 0, 0, 94 | 3, 0, 0 |
“Ashes of the Wake,” is the 4th studio album by the American heavy metal band Lamb of God. The album was released on 31st August 2004 through Epic Records.
“Ashes…” was recorded in 2004 at Sound of Music Studios in Richmond, Virginia. The album represents a pivotal moment for the band as was their major label debut with Epic Records. The album’s themes are deeply rooted in the political climate of its time, particularly focusing on the Iraq War. Many lyrics critique U.S. foreign policy and explore war’s repercussions. Notably, the title track incorporates audio clips from war veterans expressing opposition to the conflict, adding a compelling real-world dimension to its message.
The album cover was designed by K3n Adams and features apocalyptic imagery that complements the album’s themes of war and destruction. Created using digital art techniques that blend photographic elements with digital painting, it conveys an intense atmosphere. Adams conceptualised a swarm of skeletal peace doves descending towards Earth with bullets instead of olive branches in their beaks. The piece was initially hand-drawn over a month before colour was added. Adams explains that the black diagonal strip across the centre symbolises scorched earth while skeletal birds were drawn in a style combining woodcut and tattoo influences; gold overlays give them an ethereal quality. A red scene at the bottom represents hell and humanity’s relentless struggle—depicting mindless figures carrying body parts as birds descend from above—a commentary on Iraq’s ‘holy war’ mentality. Having previously designed covers for Lamb of God’s earlier works such as “New American Gospel” (2000) and “As the Palaces Burn” (2003), Adams continued his collaboration with subsequent releases including reissues like Burn The Priest (2005). However, “Ashes” remains notable due to its iconic imagery which has become synonymous with Lamb Of God—often seen tattooed among fans.
Upon release, “Ashes…” achieved both critical acclaim & commercial success debuting at No .27 on Billboard 200 chart—a remarkable feat for metal bands then—and topped charts like Top Rock Albums & Top Hard Rock Albums respectively. Certified Gold by RIAA since 2016 indicating over half-million sales within the US alone, despite lacking major awards recognition. This success cemented Lamb Of God’s position within the New Wave American Heavy Metal movement. Over years ,”Ashes Of The Wake” gained recognition as a landmark modern metal release, frequently appearing on best-of lists spanning year and decade alike. Metal Hammer magazine included it in the top metal albums of the 21st century thus far. The album’s influence extends beyond immediate peers, inspiring numerous artists through the thrash, groove and hardcore punk elements alongside politically charged content. It set new standards in technical proficiency with tracks “Laid To Rest” and “Now You’ve Got Something To Die For”.
Ultimately, “Ashes…” propelled Lamb Of God to the forefront of the metal genre, establishing them as a key act during the early-21st-century era. Their aggressive musicianship, coupled with socially conscious lyricism continues to resonate within the contemporary metal scene today .
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