Lamb of God released their fourth single from their upcoming studio album this Friday, the 29th. The song features a special guest appearance by Chuck Billy, vocalist of Testament.
According to the band, "Routes" was inspired by the fight against the installation of the oil pipeline in Dakota, in the United States, a cause in which vocalist Randy Blythe is actively involved. The project raises concerns among the American population due to environmental issues and potential problems it may cause to occupied lands, especially those owned by indigenous tribes.
Speaking about the project, Blythe revealed that he went to the site to protest the violence that officials were inflicting on the residents. “I went there to bring supplies to the people and to support them, as they are trying to protect their water, and consequently, protect all of us.” He went on to say that the experience was profound and that he felt he needed to write about it someday.
Billy's participation is no coincidence. The Testament vocalist has Native American ancestry, and Blythe wanted him to represent the voice of the tribes suffering from the project. “It was a great honor as a Native American to be invited by Lamb of God to do vocals on this song (…) Being able to lend my voice to represent Native Americans and complement Randy's storytelling and lyrics is something truly special to me.”
Lamb of God's self-titled album will be released on June 19th. Listen to "Routes" below, then check out the album cover and tracklist.
Lamb of God: Lamb of God
1. “Memento Mori”
2. “Checkmate”
3. “Gears”
4. “Reality Bath”
5. “New Colossal Hate”
6. “Resurrection Man”
7. “Poison Dream” (feat. Jamey Jasta)
8. “Routes” (feat. Chuck Billy)
9. “Bloodshot Eyes”
10. “On the Hook”
