Lamb Of God haben sich für ihren neusten Song mit Testament-Frontmann Chuck Billy zusammengetan. „Routes“ wird Teil des selbstbetitelten neuen Albums sein, das am 19. Juni auf den Markt kommt. Der Titel ist inspiriert von der Zeit, die Sänger D. Randall Blythe mit Ureinwohnern in der Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota während der No DAPL-Bewegung verbrachte.
Begonnen hatte der Protest mit nur wenigen einheimischen Frauen und Kindern, die auf dem Gelände kampiert hatten um gegen eine Pipeline, die zu nahe an ihrer eigenen Wasserversorgung auf nicht abgetretenem Vertragsland gebaut wurde, zu protestieren. Schnell wuchs diese Bewegung zu einem riesigen Lager und erhielt weltweite Aufmerksamkeit. Blythe kommentiert:
“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.”
Obgleich Blythe seiner Geschichte in den Lyrics Ausdruck verleiht war es ihm wichtig, eine noch tiefere Authentizität zu erreichen. Daher bat er Chuck Billy Teil des Projekts zu werden, der selbst Pomo indianischer Herkunft ist. Blythe erklärt:
„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.”
Chuck Billy berichtet:
“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 No DAPL movement by the indigenous people of this country was a historic event. Being able to lend my voice to represent the Native American people complimenting 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.”
Video: Lamb Of God – Routes
Tracklist
01. Memento Mori
02. Checkmate
03. Gears
04. Reality Bath
05. New Colossal Hate
06. Resurrection Man
07. Poison Dream
08. Routes
09. Bloodshot Eyes
10. On The Hook
Release: 19. Juni 2020
Label: Nuclear Blast
