LAMB OF GOD Frontman: 'We Definitely Are A Bunch Of Clowns'

Christina Fuoco of The Flint Journal recently conducted an interview with LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

On debuting in the Top 10 in the U.S. with the band's fourth album, "Sacrament", selling more than 63,000 copies in its first week of release:

"It's surprising that a band of our nature would chart that high, I suppose. But I don't care. Charts don't really mean anything to me. I'm not even excited about it. ... My friends are like, 'Oh, you're No. 8.' I'm like, 'OK, whatever.'"

On working with producer Machine (CLUTCH, KING CRIMSON, PITCHSHIFTER, EIGHTEEN VISIONS, EVERY TIME I DIE),who helped expand his vocal range:

"He wanted to see what kind of notes I could hit, how I could enunciate. He's a pretty demanding producer. ... But he comes from more of a pop sensibility background. He's not really a heavy metal producer. He finds hooks and choruses in places where I wouldn't and places them there and suggests to try that. It tends to work."

On the songwriting process:

"It is [torture]. Everybody's really meticulous. They bring in riffs and work on them and bounce ideas off each other. Everybody discusses what we like and don't like. We argue and fight for years and years and years, and eventually a song is there."

On the band members' innate senses of humor:

"We definitely are a bunch of clowns. You shouldn't take yourself too seriously, I suppose. Life is about having a good time and having fun. If I'm not having fun, I might as well go ahead and jump off a building.

"We have our tense moments and all that stuff. But we all tend to keep our eyes on the bigger picture. What's important is making music that we enjoy, and we do enjoy making music together."