Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition – Lamb of God Song Pack

The ‘Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition – Lamb of God Song Pack’ is downloadable content for the music-instruction game Rocksmith 2014, featuring three intense tracks from the American groove metal band Lamb of God. This pack, available across multiple platforms including Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, and Macintosh, allows players to learn and play ‘Ghost Walking’, ‘Laid to Rest’, and ‘Walk With Me in Hell’ using guitar or bass. Each song includes authentic tones modeled after the band’s signature sound, providing an immersive experience for fans seeking to master Lamb of God’s aggressive, riff-driven style.

Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition – Lamb of God Song Pack: Review

Introduction

For guitarists seeking to bridge the gap between gaming and genuine musicianship, Rocksmith 2014 emerged as a revolutionary tool, blending interactive learning with the thrill of performance. The Lamb of God Song Pack, released on July 29, 2014, represents Ubisoft’s commitment to catering to metal enthusiasts, offering a visceral plunge into the band’s groove-metal arsenal. This review argues that the pack is a defining addition for intermediate-to-advanced players, combining technical rigor with an authentic tonal showcase of one of modern metal’s most influential acts.

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Development History & Context

Studio Vision & Technological Ambitions
Developed by Ubisoft San Francisco, Rocksmith 2014 refined its predecessor’s guitar-learning mechanics, emphasizing dynamic difficulty and real-time feedback. The Lamb of God Song Pack arrived amid a wave of metal-focused DLC, reflecting Ubisoft’s strategy to diversify its library beyond classic rock and pop. At a time when rhythm games like Guitar Hero were fading, Rocksmith leaned into authenticity, licensing tracks with meticulous attention to tuning and tone.

Technical Constraints & Innovations
Adapting Lamb of God’s drop-tuned aggression posed challenges. The pack’s three tracks—Ghost Walking (Eb Drop Db), Laid to Rest (Drop D), and Walk With Me In Hell (Drop D)—required precise note-tracking for palm-muted riffs and syncopated rhythms. Ubisoft’s proprietary tone-emulation technology aimed to replicate the band’s Mesa/Boogie amplifier grit and Mark Morton/Willie Adler’s dual-guitar textures, a feat critical for preserving the band’s signature sound.

2014’s Gaming & Metal Landscape
Released during metal’s resurgence in gaming (Metal: Hellsinger and Brutal Legend were recent), the pack capitalized on Lamb of God’s peak relevance following their 2012 album Resolution. It also complemented Rocksmith 2014’s broader push into extreme genres, alongside packs from Anthrax and Mastodon.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

While Rocksmith lacks traditional narrative, Lamb of God’s lyrical themes permeate the experience:
– Laid to Rest: A staple since Guitar Hero II, its themes of mortality and catharsis mirror the song’s relentless chugging.
– Walk With Me In Hell: A sacrificial anthem from Sacrament (2006), its slow-burn intro and explosive chorus test emotional dynamics.
– Ghost Walking: From Resolution, it balances melodic phrasing with nihilistic introspection.

The pack’s lack of vocal tracks (a Rocksmith standard) shifts focus to guitar as the narrative instrument, emphasizing Lamb of God’s compositional complexity.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Mechanics
– Dynamic Difficulty: Adjusts to player skill, easing newcomers into Lamb of God’s drop-tuned riffs while challenging veterans with full solos.
– Note Detection: Tolerates minor timing errors but demands precision during fast alternate-picking sections (e.g., Laid to Rest’s bridge).
– Tuning Requirements: Forces players to retune frequently, a minor annoyance mitigated by the game’s built-in tuner.

Innovations & Flaws
– Riff Repeater: Indispensable for mastering Ghost Walking’s syncopated verse patterns.
– Tone Switching: Seamlessly transitions between clean intro tones and high-gain distortion.
– UI Limitations: The rapid downpicking in Walk With Me In Hell can overwhelm the note highway at higher speeds.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Visual Design
The pack retains Rocksmith’s minimalist aesthetic, but the eerie blue lighting during Ghost Walking’s solo subtly reflects the song’s haunting themes.

Sound Design
Ubisoft’s “authentic tones” shine:
– Laid to Rest’s tone nails the raw aggression of Ashes of the Wake (2004).
– Walk With Me In Hell’s cleans emulate John Campbell’s bass undertones.
Missing, however, is the spatial depth of Lamb of God’s live performances, a trade-off for mix clarity.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical & Commercial Reception
While formal reviews were scarce, fan reception skewed positive. The pack’s $7.99 price (or $2.99 per song) was deemed fair for its replayability.

Influence on Music Gaming
The pack reinforced Rocksmith as a viable metal-learning tool, inspiring later DLC from acts like Amon Amarth. Its inclusion of Laid to Rest—a Guitar Hero favorite—bridged nostalgia with skill development.

Enduring Legacy
Though Ubisoft ceased DLC in 2020, the pack remains a benchmark for metal in Rocksmith, preserving Lamb of God’s riffcraft for future generations.

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Conclusion

The Lamb of God Song Pack is a masterclass in metal pedagogy, balancing accessibility with unflinching technical demand. While its niche appeal limits broader relevance, it stands as a vital chapter in Rocksmith’s mission to democratize guitar mastery. For metalheads and shredders alike, this pack isn’t just DLC—it’s a rite of passage.

Final Verdict: A must-have for Lamb of God devotees and a challenging triumph for Rocksmith’s metal catalog.