Lamb Of God: Screams Of The Raven

The definition of an omen is an event which is seen to prophesise good or bad fortune. Typically, the word comes with negative connotations. Take the raven for example. Legend has it the entire Kingdom of England will fall if the ravens residing at the Tower Of London are ever removed. These birds would also gather at the gallows during public executions, earning them their symbolism of ill fate. This same moniker of harbinger of tragic news carries to many other cultures. Yet the birds represent reflection, prophecy, and act as mediums between the living and the spirit world in other ancient texts or mythologies. If our opening gambit with Randy Blythe of LAMB OF GOD is anything to go by, insights aren’t entirely bad. 

Instead of going straight into discussing the band’s upcoming ninth studio album, Randy shares the great wisdom imparted on him by Jamey Jasta [HATEBREED] on the topic of underwear. “He’s like you gotta get the boxer briefs with the support,” Randy starts with gruff impression of Jasta then explains the jumping around those of he and Jamey’s ilk do on stage have an adverse effect on one body part in particular, “I don’t want the balls of the 70-year-old man, so I have to wear the boxer briefs – the tight ones. It’s like a sports bra for my nuts.”

Our attention soon turns to the upcoming Omens. Album opener Nevermore doubles down on the ominous allegory of Odin’s birds as Randy bellows “you hear the ravens scream” over undulating groove metal riffs. Perhaps a reference Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven, Nevermore breeds Omens’ world of contempt for a society which seeks to persecute and invalidate. This distain is weaved throughout the record, a reactionary tapestry of current events. The resulting suite of Omens is aggressive, close, and oppressive from the opening chord to the closing growl.

Upon asking Randy what fans can expect from this album however, it seems interpretation is to reign supreme. “One of the greatest things about music is that yes it’s LAMB OF GOD’s music, we wrote it, but when we release it, it becomes everyone else’s,” he clarifies, diving into the topic of individual internalisation of music. Music fans will interpret things differently, much like the cultural representation of the raven. There is no distinctly correct way to take a LAMB OF GOD song as Randy goes on to say. “Someone’s interpretation of a song that I’ve written, if it means something to them, it is just as valid, perhaps more so, than what I’m writing about for myself. If I write a song about talking to you but someone else hears it and is reminded of their grandmother? That’s just as valid and just as important.”

Interpretation is fluid. Process is not, though it can change. The follow up to LAMB OF GOD’s eponymous effort (2020) sparked a new world order of sorts. Rather than having each part recorded separately and surgically, the band decided to change tack and record live. “I hate recording albums,” Randy confesses to our surprise. Much like current tour mate Jesse Leach [KILLSWITCH ENGAGE], Randy much prefers touring and the exchange of energy not only between band and audience but also through the band itself. So much so that the vocalist couldn’t hide his elation when producer Josh Wilbur broached the idea following the production of the self-titled album. “There’s an energy and a flow that happens when you’re playing together. That just doesn’t happen when you’re playing to a click track and the music is in your earphones” he divulges. “It’s very sterile to me and I’m not a sterile type of person.”

This resulting version of LAMB OF GOD comes straight out of Omens’ gates a much tighter unit. Whether it be Mark Morton’s close-knit riffs from To The Grave or the frenetic energy between John Campbell [bass] and Art Cruz [drums] which forms Denial Mechanism’s unyielding hardcore roots, this is arguably the most ferocious LAMB OF GOD have been since Sacrament (2006). The renewal of the organic connections of a band which has been together for 27 years provided the perfect storm for certain dissatisfactions of Randy’s to come to fruition. “I should still be on tour right now on the self-titled record,” comes with a slightly sad laugh. “Almost my entire adult life, the process has been write album, record album, go on tour. We wrote, recorded record, released record, and then just sat there.” The hindrance of not being able to tour an album due to a pandemic prompted Morton and Willie Adler [guitars] to suggest starting the process again. Admittedly sooner than Randy anticipated, Omens is entirely a product of its time. The album teems with exasperation and scorching hatred toward the injustices toward a world in its unprecedented period.

Throughout LAMB OF GOD’s tenure, the overarching energy has been that of ruthless aggression. With roots in punk rock, the vitriol in Randy’s delivery has been synonymous with LAMB OF GOD. We’re interested to find out how the band has maintained their relentless nature as it draws closer to its 30th year. “There’s a very clear disconnect between my music and my day-to-day life,” Randy begins as he speaks about his passion for surfing and photography. He goes on to cite LAMB OF GOD as the place to address the things in the world which disturb him but ultimately age has led to mellowing. “It’s harder to maintain it as I get older because I don’t want to be angry. I try to compartmentalise that aspect of my personality as much as possible to put that into the music.”

As the Omens tour with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and a host of opening band looms for our present company, the realisation comes that LAMB OF GOD now have two records to tour on. The idea of touring two albums in tandem may fill some with dread but the man sat across from us exudes something close to serenity in that regard. “I’m under contract for my second book and got an extension on the deadline. I very much feel pressure from that,” Randy confesses. “It’s not fair to say I don’t feel pressure at all when it comes to the band, it’s just different pressure. What we have in LAMB OF GOD is that we are extremely hard on ourselves when writing music. We just want to write music we’re happy with – that makes five dudes happy.”

What we’re reminded of during our conversation is the true depth of Randy Blythe. Not only is this a wonderful conversationalist and wholly engaging storyteller as he regales us with memories of opening for SLAYER at the Astoria in 2003, but he is also a font of wisdom. From incredible lyricism to the emotionally charged Dark Days, this is a truly insightful man. Much like the symbolic raven. “LAMB OF GOD has shown me the world and educated me about myself in ways I never thought it would,” Randy muses as our time elapses. “I’m grateful for all this band, and this life, has given me. The good and the bad.”

Omens is out now via Nuclear Blast Records.

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