Clutch have released a new version of their song “Passive Restraints” as part of their “Weathermaker Vault Series.” The updated take on the track features Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe and an official video for it can be found below:
Neil Fallon commented:
“‘Passive Restraints‘ was one of the first Clutch songs I wrote lyrics to. It was a staple of Clutch sets for years, but fell by the wayside as we wrote more and more songs over the years. When we toured with Lamb Of God a few years back, Randy would often ask us to bring it back into rotation. We dragged our feet and finally we caved. And we were glad we did. Last time Clutch played ‘Copenhell‘ Randy joined us on stage to perform the song. We decided to re-record it for the WM Vault series and thought it was only fitting to have Randy join us.”
Blythe added:
“When Clutch asked if I wanted to sing an older song with them during our 2016 tour together, I knew immediately which one I wanted to do- ‘Passive Restraints.’ We performed it in Milwaukee, then again a few years later at ‘Copenhell Fest‘ in Denmark, and I had a blast both times.
I think they were a bit surprised I chose a song released in 1992, but I’ve been a fan for a long time. I’ve followed their development as a band since the early days and have enjoyed every album, but as a musician I know sometimes it’s fun to dust off something you haven’t played in many years and see how it sounds. The song holds up to this day, and I was honored to sing on its re-release.”
Joe Biden has won the 2020 election and will now become the 46th president of the United States. A number of rock/metal musicians have taken to social media to react to the good news and you can find some of their various posts below:
Amy Lee (Evanescence):
No one can silence the voice of the people. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
In the past 4 years I have not said the word President with a name after it. Not even one time. It feels glorious 😂 beautiful ✌ to say the words PRESIDENT BIDEN thank you for #hope for rocknroll! MORE THAN ANYTHING thank you @JoeBiden for my KIDS CHILDHOODS BEING RESTORED 🙏🇺🇸 https://t.co/0SBmaaONSD
Congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden, and more importantly Oakland-native Kamala Harris. A historic day for people of color and women. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/RkDYRKQAXa
Fuck yes America!! It’s time to get this shit together! Trump followers, let go of all that fear and hate you have been served for the past four years. It was all a lie! Don’t drink the cool aid and go down with that clown. Let’s celebrate and beat COVID together!
Objectively, Trump is personally in a far better position by losing than he would be by winning. He finally has the branding that he’d aspired to have (albeit in a different field than he’d intended) AND he’s now in position to ACTUALLY make all that money that he claims to have.
I’m so looking forward to coming back to an America free of harsh words and name calling and be amongst people who I know have common ground and harmony. It’s a challenge but it can be done!
Happy to see 'ol Donny relegated to the dustbin of history. Can we all agree to refer to him as "Lame Duck President Trump"? How long do we have to wait before ripping into the corporate stooge aka "President Elect" Biden? Asking for all my friends.
Just got off the phone with my grandmother and hearing her excitement from today’s news & the reality that we finally have our first female Vice President and the overwhelming hope that comes from the beginning of this new day in America brought me to tears🖤
In 2012, Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe was arrested in the Czech Republic and charged with manslaughter after a fan died from head injuries he sustained at one of the band’s shows. Blythe was ultimately acquitted, but he said he would never return to the country out of respect for the victim’s family. However, during a recent Reddit AMA, the frontman said he would be willing to play another show in the Czech Republic if it was okay with the man’s family
Blythe said the following:
“I would love to play in the Czech Republic again — I have nothing against the Czech people, and I was not mistreated there. Eventually I think we might play there again, but it will 100 percent have to be with the cooperation of the family of the young man who died, and I would want to give the money from the show to a charity they choose.
If we played there, it would be a huge news story, and I do not wish to cause the young man’s family anymore pain — they did no wrong, and were not cruel to me at all; in fact they showed me great kindness. But they have suffered enough, so it is out of respect to them we have not returned. I hope the Czech fans understand.”
As the U.S. continues to be rocked by the death of George Floyd, the unarmed black man who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, MN, a number of musicians have taken to social media to speak up about the tragedy and the ongoing riots related to it. You can find some posts from various artists below:
Ice-T (Body Count):
When a MF has his knee on your neck…. And his HANDS IN HIS POCKETS… He’s sending a message.
Yesterday some dude asked if I was Triggered.. I said NO. But then I thought about it… What part of watching another brother getting Murdered in broad daylight by the Police SHOULDN'T Trigger me??! Yes I’M Triggered AF.
The “President” of the “United” States just announced that the National Guard will execute US citizens on site if they are suspected of property theft.
“Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” -Donald Trump
Theres a lot of beauty in the world…SO much to be thankful for. I try hard to stay grateful & centered. At the same time, Im heart broken & angry. Appalled & disgusted at whats happening in my country that I LOVE so much. I wish I knew what I could do to be part of a solution.
Perhaps true….however, when an entire segment of society is being systematically attacked with no effective means of recourse or justice, “taking care” of that community will eventually involve people protecting & defending themselves…by any means necessary. https://t.co/Sly2f84R6a
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – Desmond Tutu We stand for justice and equality for all. Enough is enough. pic.twitter.com/13VcPDWToX
A tinder box could’ve been avoided by arresting the mf-er who crushed the neck of a handcuffed man face down, begging for life. No one wants this; those in charge brought it on. Listening to @RATMhttps://t.co/NFJnbN23JY “burn burn, yes you’re gonna burn” #JusticeForGeorgeFloydhttps://t.co/z2wKtwdfZl
I try to keep my tweets light hearted, positive, but sitting here on my 45th birthday watching the country burn, realizing how little real change has come in my lifetime it’s impossible not to acknowledge the darkness and realize fire might be the only way to bring back the light
This country's institutionalized racism not only runs throughs its legislation, municipal systems and perception management narratives but and also deep it the egoic blueprints of its foundation and the psychic scars of its blood soaked history.
#BlackLivesMatter don’t let the Right make this about anything else. This is about systemic racism in this country. This is the karma we have built as a nation built on the blood of black, brown, yellow and red people. If this makes you uncomfortable to confront. Good.
Several roads have brought us to this point. Only one road is going to lead us out of here. We HAVE to take the road together. Fight injustice. Fight racism. Fight oppression.
Lamb Of God have premiered a new song titled “Routes.” This track features Chuck Billy (Testament) and it will appear on the band’s new self-titled album, which is set to be released on June 19.
“Routes” was inspired by Randy Blythe’s time with the Native Americans at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota during the Dakota Access Pipeline protest. The frontman said the following about that:
“I went to Standing Rock because I had heard reports of violence committed on the peaceful protestors there by both state law enforcement and private security contractors, and this violence was not reported in mainstream media for the most part. I went to bring supplies and support these people, who were trying to protect their water, and thereby protect everyone, as everything in the natural world is protected. I was there a week, made some great friends, and learned a lot. It was a very profound experience in my life, and I knew one day I would write a song about it.”
He also said the following about recruiting Billy, who is of Pomo Native American heritage:
“My experience, although my own, was tempered and shaped by the hundreds of years of brutal oppression of Native peoples in our country. So, it was imperative for me to have a Native voice represented on the song, and Chuck Billy was happy to be that voice. At the end, there is a call and response section — Chuck calls and I respond. This is intentional. Musically, it is symbolic of my experience there. A native voice leads, bringing forth positive energy and calling to the people to unite, and I reply, providing support. That was my physical experience, and it is reflected in the song.”
Billy added:
“It was a great honor as a proud Pomo Native American to be asked by Lamb Of God to do some guest vocals on this song. The #NoDAPL movement by the indigenous people of this country was a historic event. Being able to lend my voice to represent the Native American people, complementing Randy’s storytelling and lyrics, is something really special to me. I’m glad this movement was put in a musical message, and I am extremely happy to have been a part of it.”
A trailer for the first season of “Paradise City” has been released online. The show, which is a spin-off of the 2017 film “American Satan,” features: Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides), Ben Bruce (Asking Alexandria), BooBoo Stewart, Bella Thorne, the late Cameron Boyce, Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens), Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God), Juliet Simms, Sid Wilson (Slipknot), Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper, etc.), Javier Reyes (Animals As Leaders), Jose Mangin, and more. Here’s an official synopsis:
“The lives of a rock star with ties to the occult and a young rookie kid who idolizes him collide through their broken homes built by the music business.”
Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God), and Dan Lilker (Nuclear Assault) have shared footage of themselves performing Discharge’s “Doomsday” and “The Final Blood Bath” in quarantine. You can watch that below:
Benante commented:
“The influence of @discharge.official on modern aggressive metal cannot be overstated- their speed & abrasive sound made them true sonic pioneers, helping lead to the creation of the thrash and speed metal genres. The four of us are huge fans, and wanted to pay homage to the ones who paved the way for what we do today.”
The Hear nothing see nothing say nothing Record was constantly played, my mix tapes would Have so many of their songs on it. The bass tone on those records was so Amazing, it was frightening @wainwright.roy a Big Influence on SOD. I remember @scottianthrax and I taking #jameshetfield to see #brokenbones at @cbgbofficial back in the day and being Blown away. I hope you enjoy this quarantine Jam I put together. I 💜 Discharge-thanks to @drandallblythe #danlilker and @pieromedone”
During a new interview with Kerrang!, Randy Blythe talked a bit about Lamb Of God’s new self-titled album (out May 8). According to the frontman, the “whole record is political.”
Blythe said the following while discussing the band’s latest single “Checkmate“:
“It’s the most on the nose politically, but this whole record is political. There’s not a single song [on the album] about an individual. When we had [George W. Bush] during the (2004 album) ‘Ashes Of The Wake‘ era, he was a whole lot easier to write specifics about because we had the war in Iraq, the mythical weapons of mass destruction, but right now, the political world everywhere looks like Peewee Herman’s playhouse.”
He also added:
“They are two sides of the same coin. Civility and discourse is at an all time low, and that’s because people view political parties now not for their policies, but they support these different parties like sports teams. The lyrics reflect that. The system is a fucking fraud.”
Saudade (Team Sleep, Bad Brains, etc.) have premiered a new song titled “Lions” via Revolver. This track features Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God) and Lee “Scratch” Perry.
Blythe said the following about the song:
“For me, it’s a super big honor to have Scratch on the track, to be on a track with him because that’s something that, coming from my world and being in this heavy-metal band on tour with Slayer, if someone had told me, “You’re going to be on a track with Lee Scratch Perry,” I would have said, “Get the fuck outta here!”
If you read interviews with me and people ask me, “What metal are you listening to?” I’m like, “I’m not!” I’m listening to a lot of Seventies dub reggae, you know? You’ll see that again and again and again in interviews, and of course Scratch is such a huge component of that. And in music in general, like, people outside the sort of reggae world don’t understand the range of his influence he pioneered in his Black Ark studio.
I’m a huge fan. Anything that is dubbed out, like, weird, tripped-out stuff, that’s all coming from him working with analog equipment in the Sixties and Seventies. He’s a genius. I have a biography of him called People Funny Boy my wife got me that’s one of my favorite books.
If you understand what he did and him being the first guy to do this kind of stuff, really at the forefront of it, and you start looking for that influence in all forms of music, it’s there. A lot of people don’t even know that. So, for me, having him on the track, getting to be with someone who has really, truly influenced music in general, not just like our genre or reggae or whatever, but music in general — it’s a big deal.”
He also added:
“…I wrote all the lyrics, and if you read the lyrics on face value — I’ll send them to you — it’s a bit abstract at times. I use a lot of really heavy poetic imagery, but then it reads almost like a psychosexual, Natural Born Killers kind of vibe. I sing from a male voice about being with my love, and I want her to “draw her knife,” and I say, “death from above,” then the chorus is “We kill with a kiss.”
So, it kind of comes off as this whole Natural Born Killers, kind of psychotic thing. But what the song is about is an invasive species of fish called Lionfish. They’re from Asia and they have been introduced into our ecosystem here in the Caribbean and on the East Coast. They first showed up in ’85, I think, down in Florida. These are one of the most aggressively dangerous, invasive species in all of the marine world. They’re venomous — they’ll fuck you up — and they kill everything. They don’t have any natural predators here on the East Coast.
They think that Lionfish are here as a result of some bored aquarium hobbyist who let them loose in our waters because they’ve done genetic research, and the first ones they found matched stuff that came from the Philippines where most of the aquarium hobbyists came from. So, they think some aquarium people had these lionfish in their tanks, [and] instead of killing them, they just let them loose.
It’s a really big problem down in our ecosystem on the East Coast, particularly down in Florida and the Caribbean. I was in the Caribbean on a photo gig, and I was doing a lot of snorkeling and spear-fishing on the coral reef for these lionfish when I wasn’t working because one adult lionfish can reduce the juvenile fish population of a coral reef by 79 percent — all the fish. They’re killing everything.
So my wife came down to Cayman and I said, “Honey, we’re going lionfish hunting.” I had a homemade spear and took her out with me in the water hunting these lionfish. It’s pretty scary because if one stings you — they move slow, but they move aggressively so if you miss, one might rush you — but if one stings you … you should look it up. It locks you up. It’s not like a bee sting, it’s like if you got stung on your throat, your throat would swell up and you’d die in the water.
This song is about me and my wife going in the water and trying to eradicate some of this lionfish population. That’s the only way to keep them under control now, because they don’t have any fear. It was a neat image to me. It’s an environmental song, but it’s also kind of this crazy, Natural Born Killers story.”
You can read more from Blythe and Saudade leader Chuck Doom (Team Sleep, etc.) HERE.
Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe previously recorded vocals for a new Saudade (Team Sleep, Bad Brains, etc.) track and now it has been revealed that Lee “Scratch” Perry will be guesting on the song as well. The collective confirmed the news on Instagram:
