Despite the firepower up front, the stage layout put the drummer Art Cruz squarely in the spotlight with his performance.
I’ve been counting down to this tour ever since it was announced last fall for Vancouver at the PNE Forum. Lamb of God didn’t just build a lineup — they assembled a full‑on metal gauntlet. Sanguisugabogg bringing the swampy death metal, Fit for an Autopsy dropping that crushing deathcore, and Kublai Khan TX representing the hardcore/beatdown scene. These bands have been staples in my rotation for years, so seeing them all on one bill feels unreal.
One thing’s for sure: when Lamb of God comes to town, they always bring serious added value with their support acts. If you think back to their last Vancouver stop at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, they rolled in with Fit for an Autopsy, Spiritbox, and Killswitch Engage. They don’t just tour — they curate full‑scale events..
No changes in band personnel as we still have Randy Blythe (vocals), Mark Morton (guitar), Willie Adler (guitar), John Campbell (bass) and Art Cruz (drums). If you recall that show back in 2022, we didn’t see Willie on guitar as Phil Demmel was filling in for him. So it’s great to see Willie back in Vancouver.
They didn’t come to town empty handed either, as this past March they released their 12th album called Into Oblivion. Having done my homework, I have given it a few listens already and found it more aggressive than Omens was, so I am looking forward to hearing the tracks they chose for this night.
They don’t kick things off with a new track, but they make a statement the second that first riff hits. Lamb of God open with a pair of “yup, this is Lamb of God” classics — “Ruin” and “Laid to Rest.” Two absolute staples that should never disappear from a setlist. It’s a reminder of just how deep their catalog runs, and they prove they’re not afraid to dig even deeper by dropping “Blood Junkie” in the third slot.
That track, from 2003’s As the Palaces Burn, has never been played in Vancouver before, so hearing it live was a killer surprise for those of us who’ve been riding with the band since that era (myself included).
The title track “Into Oblivion” landed fourth in the set — the first new song of the night — and it hit just as devastatingly live as it does on the album. This is also the point where Art Cruz really started to stand out. Sure, the power up front is undeniable, but Art behind the kit is a whole show of his own. He’s locked‑in, explosive, and incredibly animated, and because Willie and Mark spend most of the night posted on the darker edges of the stage, Art ends up being the most visible presence onstage.
At one point, a guy next to me leaned over and said, “Are you staring at that guy all night? Because I am.” Honestly, hard to blame him — Art was impossible to ignore
We did get some guitar‑hero moments — Willie and Mark traded solos, with Mark shredding on his new Les Paul before the band tore into “Grace.” After that came Art Cruz’s drum solo leading into “Desolation,” which was a cool touch and a nice spotlight moment for him.
At this point, I’m thinking… maybe it’s time John Campbell gets a solo too?
No pyrotechnics this time around at the PNE. The PNE does not allow indoor flame pyro so we miss out on that piece in Vancouver. If you were at the 2022 show, you might of remembered that during songs like “Walk With Me in Hell”, song 9 tonight. The packed PNE forum of old and young fans reacted quite positively to that one, as the mosh pit was swirling and bodies were being carried to be sacrificed to the bouncers at the front of the stage.
“Parasocial Christ” at song 11, another super heavy one from Into the Oblivion . What is a little different on this one is a ripping little solo by Mark. Lamb is not known for alot solos and crazy shredding, so they definitely stick out when I hear them.
I also noticed Randy skipped the spoken intro to “Omerta” — the classic “Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man…” line. Hard to say whether he was pacing the show or conserving his voice, but honestly, his vocals are still remarkably strong after three decades, and tonight was no exception.
One thing that did stand out: he’s chopped off the dreads since 2022 and is now rocking a much cleaner look. Randy’s changed up his hair plenty of times over the years, but the voice? Still as angry, sharp, and powerful as ever.
“Sepsis” closed out the trio of new tracks from Into the Oblivion, a slower but crushing grinder that puts Randy into full storytelling mode. It works surprisingly well live — that tension and weight translate perfectly onstage.
The final two songs of the 15‑track set were “Memento Mori” and the inevitable crowd‑erupter “Redneck,” with that simple but ridiculously hooky opening riff. Hell yes — this was a Lamb of God show. No disco lights, no theatrics, no gimmicks. Just straight‑ahead metal delivered exactly the way we expect it.
Once we powered through the heavyweights on the undercard and finally got to the final boss — Lamb of God — it was pure metal bliss. This tour is a must‑see, and Lamb of God are still one of those bands you drop everything for when they come to town.
Lamb of God Vancouver Setlist – April 3, 2026
1.Ruin
2.Laid to Rest
3.Blood Junkie
4.Resurrection Man
5.Into Oblivion
6.Grace
7.Desolation
8.11th Hour
9.512
10.Walk With Me in Hell
11.Parasocial Christ
12.Omerta
13.Sepsis
14.Memento Mori
15.Redneck
Did you attend this tour? How did you like it?