I am Randy Blythe, lead singer of Lamb Of God and author of Dark Days: A Memoir – out today. AMA.

Hey Randy, big LoG fan myself. Listening to Sacrament over and over again during my Catholic private school days was quite the frustration vent. I suppose I'd like to ask: what are your religious/nonreligious views over all? I'm very interested in knowing.

I would say someone's spirituality is a deeply personal thing. I believe in a higher power that I choose to call God for lack of a better term. However, I do not subscribe to any particular theology or dogmatic system of monotheistic religious belief.

How did Chino Moreno of Deftones and Greg Puciato of Dillinger Escape Plan made a guest appearance on Lamb of God's upcoming album VII: Sturm und Drang?

I called the bridge of the Enterprise and had them teleported into the studio against their will and threatened them with my phaser until they squeaked out the notes that satisfied me.

I have been a reddit lurker for a long time and this is my first ever post!

I wrote to you on IG a few years back. I am a therapist who, at that time, was working with adolescent females who were in a psychiatric facility. I shared your story with them, and how you were able to cope during the time you were unclear of the future. You write me back and continued a dialogue with me. I just wanted to share a heartfelt thank you from myself and the girls I worked with! You are amazing! You have no idea how you helped those girls through that time.

My question is, being that you have made it through the intensity of the unknown, what were the skills you utilized to cope and/or advice you would give for those going through "dark days?"

*I am forever indebted to you!

I remember you! My advice is try to find things that you can be grateful for in your life no matter what your situation or surroundings are. This can be difficult, but it's doable. The other thing would be to stay in the present moment as much as possible. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, make the most of today while you have it.

Hey randy, how did someone who doesnt consider themselves a metalhead but more of a punk rocker (correct me if im wrong) come to be in a metal band? How did you meet the other band memebrrs and how did burn the priest form initially? Thanks!

It was all a tragic mistake.

Hey Randy,

Congrats on your book and overcoming your addiction to alcohol. As a pretty heavy boozer and someone who is struggling to overcoming needing it to be social, what insight can you give on living a social, sober life?

That's a really good question. I have found the longer I remain sober, the less I enjoy being around intoxicated people. I don't hang out in bars unless I have a valid reason for being there. I don't find the amount of quality intellectual discourse that occurs in a bar to be very much at all.

I do not think that drinking normally is problematic or immoral. However, I cannot drink normally and I didn't hang out with people who drink normally.

Remain sober for a bit and see how that affects the quality of your social interactions - not the quantity.

Hi Randy ... Congratulations on 'Dark Days: A Memoir', and the pending release of 'VII: Sturm und Drang'. Two questions:

1. Without having read the book quite yet, can you describe the effect, if you are willing, your time in prison had on yourself, the band, and more importantly, your family?

2. What are your plans in pursuing photography? Coffee table book? Touring gallery exhibits?

Also, I was at Knotfest in Somerset, Wisconsin ... as I understand, it was the first gig LoG played after your release. Weather was ominious, lightning striking across the sky, and Lamb of God on stage in front of me. It gives me chills every time I think about it.

1. It brought a great deal of sadness to myself, my band, and my family but none of us are soft people therefore we move forward and live life to the best of our abilities.

2. Photography book = YES

What was the inspiration for the song Overlord (its very atypical of Log's past work, but awesome too), especially the vocal delivery?

The lyrical inspiration was the very disappointing yet entirely all too typical lack of accountability and responsibility for one's own life and actions that we see running through today's fast-paced ADHD society. You must be responsible for your own happiness. Too much whining these days.

As far as the singing, it's just the first song they ever wrote I could sing to.

Hi Randy,

First, I want to say that I have an incredible amount of respect for what you did by answering the summons and going back to the Czech Republic. It was a tragedy, what happened, but I, and I'm sure the vast majority of the rest of your fans, completely support the way you handled it.

What I want to ask is has it affected your songwriting and generally the way you go about performing for the band? Something of that magnitude will stay with a person for life, but is it something you've tried to move on from, or something that's molded your art style, or both?

Been a huge fan of you and your band for a while and looking forward to reading your book. Thanks for taking the time to do this!

It hasn't affected the way my band writes music at all. We've been doing this for twenty years, we've had a lot of up's and down's, and we continue to do things the same way: OUR WAY.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

Sausage, onions, mushrooms and black olives.

Hi Randy, first off, thanks for doing this AMA! My question: you’re an amazing vocalist, you’ve traveled the world, been in prison, overcome alcohol addiction and apparently crowd surfed nude covered in mayo. What’s something that’s still on your bucket list?

New York Times Bestseller List.

Hi Randy -

Before my question, a quick anecdote. I've seen LoG probably at least a dozen times, and one of the first times was at Ozzfest 2004 in Holmdel, New Jersey. After the second stage was done and we were waiting for the main stage artists to start, I noticed you walking around lawn behind the seated area, and no one seemed to recognize you. I said hi and you were super cool, so thanks for that!

Anynway, you mentioned on the Metal Injection podcast recently that you quit drinking (and smoking!) in Brisbane, Australia. When did you know it was time to put down the bottle for good? Also, congrats on your continued sobriety!

I knew in 2010 when I woke up in Brisbane one morning and didn't feel like living anymore. The complete story of my last night of drinking is in my book Dark Days.

Randy Blythe, holy shit. First of all, I'm a huge fan! As a traveler, I am insanely jealous of all the photos on your Instagram. Where are your favorite places to go either with LoG or personally?

Australia. New Zealand. Japan.

Hey Randy, my friends and I have been seriously debating this question for a long time. Are your screams inward or outward? They're fucking brutal regardless, we just have to know.

Outward. He was taught by Melissa Cross and uses the 'death' or 'cookie monster' scream.

Nailed it.

I lived in Richmond, VA from 2003-2005. I remember reading alot about Lamb of God in the local music papers, etc. What are/were your favorite Richmond hangouts?

I'm not telling you that! Stop trying to blow up my spot!

BUT - I will be at Urban Farmhouse at 7pm this Friday, July 17th in Scott's Edition to read and sign copies of Dark Days.

Randy!! What has been your favorite band to tour with and what band would you like to tour with?

My favorite band to tour with was The Pet Shop Boys.

Who would I like to tour with? Marvin Gaye.

Hi Randy, thanks for doing this AMA! Do you still have Jeff the Warthog skull from the show in South Africa? Something tells me they would've seized it at the airport or something.

I just want to say from all the metalheads in South Africa, you guys are fucking kickass for coming down here! We rarely get international acts to play shows here, so it was amazing to see you guys play.

Rock on!

Jeff was supposed to be mailed to me but he hasn't shown up yet.

Hey Randy, it was amazing seeing you for the first time with Lamb of God at Download, truly lived up to and exceeded my expectations.

My question: With your upcoming UK tour with Megadeth is it likely to have more dates added if the presale sells out? Any chance of a show in Newcastle?

No, get it now!

Randy, your band's music has helped me through some tough stuff, and it will always mean a lot to me. I have lost track of how many times I have seen LOG play.

One of my most memorable experiences was at the Free Ozzfest in 2007 at the Post Gazette Pavillion in Pittsburgh. The circle pit covered the whole side of the lawn, and people were coming down in waves so fast that the whole crowd at the bottom was getting pushed back and forth like 20 feet. That, along with the tons of fires going up everywhere was an experience I will never forget.

You said that that circle pit was the biggest you've ever seen. Was that and is that still true?

Also, As the Palaces Burn and Ashes of the Wake both are, IMO, very lyrically deep, with some very strong political statements. You are very critical of the government and I agree with a lot of what you say.

I want to know if you stand behind those lyrics, and actually believe in what you're saying? Because to me, you are spreading the gospel, but that doesn't mean anything if the preacher doesn't believe it.

I also think it is incredibly clever how a lot of your lyrics can be interpreted as either political or religious in nature.

Absolutely. I believe 100% in every single thing I've ever written. Keep in mind that Mark Morton did write lyrics for both of those records as well, though.

Hey Randy!

My girlfriend and I won a backstage meet and greet at Soundwave in Sydney a few years ago. We met the rest of the band but you weren't there! A friend of mine said he saw you in the Slipknot moshpit. Where were you?

I was crowd surfing nude, covered in mayo that day, in the Slipknot mosh pit. You may, in fact, see me repeating that very greasy experience starting in West Palm Beach, FL on July 24th during the Summer's Last Stand Tour.

Hey, man. Just wondering what you did before you became a super famous rock-star? Profession wise, that is. Also, what were you like in high school?

A. Am I really a super famous rock-star? I think not. But, I was a restaurant cook / slave and a roofer.

In high school, I was a very nerdy, angry punk rock young man and I still am (except for the young part).

Hey Randy! Congrats on Dark Days I’m excited to read it, and I’m diggin’ the new music released so far.

I’ve enjoyed your blogging and commentary on Tumblr & Instagram which leads me to my question: I’m wondering what the future holds as far as your writing career. What other genres of writing are you interested in pursuing (if any)?

Thanks for doing this AMA, can’t wait to see you and the boys next month at Pain in the Grass in Washington State.

My next long form piece of published prose will more than likely be fiction. A novel. Ideas are percolating in the ramen noodle helmet now.

Well hello there good sir! :D I've been a huge fan for a few years now, ever since I picked up "Ashes of the Wake." You have one of my favorite voices in metal music because your pronunciation is beautiful! I'm super excited for your next album and I have already paid for the Amazon signed limited edition (:

My questions are brief...

1. Could you please verify that you will be physically signing all of those copies sold by Amazon?

2. Would you return to play at Rock on the Range in Columbus Ohio again? I saw you in 2013 and it was majestic!

3. Do you have a book signing tour planned?

Thank you very much for taking the time to do this! I hope to see you with Slipknot in Indiana here in about a month!! :D ( Please play Overlord (: )

1. Yes, we signed each and every one of the copies on our tour bus in Europe.

2. I hope so.

3. Scheduled dates here. More to come.

Hi Randy, big fan!

Saw you guys in June at Rock am Ring! What was your most memorable gig you've ever played?

First gig at CBGB 1998 or 1999.

Hey Randy. Thanks for doing this. Been a huge fan for ages and I've seen you guys play about 4-5 times going back to Bangalore (India, 2010) with the Palladium (L.A, 2013) being the last one. Two questions- 1. Which is your personal favorite album within LoG's discography and why? 2. Realistically, would you ever go back and play in the Czech Rep?

P.S your instagram posts as dope af. Please come to L.A soon!

Personal favorite album is the first Bad Brains album because it is the greatest record ever made.

No we will not play the Czech Republic but I will be in Los Angeles at 4pm - Sunday, July 19th at Book Soup with my friend Corey Taylor. We will both be speaking and signing copies of our new books: Dark Days and You're Making Me Hate You. Go Team Dacapo.

Whats up Randy! Thanks for the AMA. Real quick story, my mom never cared for metal and never liked LOG. (this was many years ago) Asked her if I could get a LOG Tee, of course she said no, but luckily I had my own money. Sprinted to Hot Topic without her, didn't tell her until we were in the car and was boasting about it haha.

anyway, my question..Was it difficult completing the book or did it just flow and you knew exactly what you wanted to say?

I knew exactly what I wanted to say and the structure of the book was provided by the real life events I experienced. However, expressing those artfully was quite difficult. It was a long and hard journey to today - the publication day of my first book.

Hey Randy! It's awesome you're doing this. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of your book. I might just buy two. One for me and one to loan to all my friends who had to put up with me blabbering about how amazing the As the Palaces Burn documentary is. My question for you is, what's next in the progression of Randy Blythe as a human being?

I am scheduled to open my third eye at 1:38pm tomorrow and grow three extra fingers.

On a more serious note, I hope to learn how to be a more compassionate human being.

Randy! Congrats on the book man! Can't wait to read it through! I have never gone surfing before but would totally be up for it, I live in Virginia. Any suggestions for a newbie? - would you ever care to go surfin sometime? Haha

Are you a girl? If you're a hot chick - YES!

No seriously, as far as suggestions - get a fun board or long board for your first session. Otherwise, you will leave the water frustrated. Have someone who knows how to surf teach you the basics. A lot of surf shops will offer rentals and lessons.

Hey Randy, you've had some awesome book recommendations in the past, anything new lately you've read to recommend?

Huge fan of your work in LoG (lost track of the amount of times I've seen you guys! and each show gets better!) I'm really looking forward to reading your book!

The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi and The Death of Santini by Pat Conroy.

Hi Randy, this is your biggest fan from Slovakia! We met in Vienna 2014, where I told you I've been to your trial in Prague and how huge impact your closing speech had on me. I wanted to ask you, if you didn't sober up, what would be the outcome of trial? Would the judge be harsher, if he would know, that you are raging alcoholic? BTW, congrats on Dark Days, can't wait to read it :)

The judge did know I was an alcoholic. I was quite honest about that. However, the question you asked is hypothetical. I do not deal in hypotheticals.

Hi Randy! Firstly, thank you for taking the time to do an AMA. You seem to be thriving this year between the photography exhibit, your book, Lamb of God, and looks like you have your fingers in other music projects too. Where do you find time to breathe!? But my legitimate question is will you be doing any book signings while on tour for Sturm und Drang?

Breathing is becoming difficult...

Working on book signings... check here soon for in-store appearances.

Stoked about buying your book here in a few hours. Even more stoked about the new music. Huge fan! Thank you for your music. How was the food in prison?

It was magnificent. Next question.