Everyone knows that heavy metal music has the most loyal and most rabid fans in the world and Lamb of God’s fans are no exception. In 2012, the band decided to document their world tour in a unique way, by turning the focus away from the band and putting the emphasis on their fans. What started out as a fan documentary ended up more like an episode of “Law and Order” as the band experienced the arrest and subsequent trial of lead singer Randy Blythe. The entire ordeal and the aftermath was captured on film in their recently released movie, “As The Palaces Burn.”
The film opens with Randy along the banks of a river in Richmond, VA, as he explains how music got him through the rough times and in a sense saved him. This is followed by some clips of the other band members preparing for the tour and results in some humorous moments where guitarist Mark Morton describes their music as “unlistenable” and drummer Chris Adler proclaims that “real metalheads drive a Prius.”
As the tour kicks off, the film shifts focus to the fans, following a cabdriver in Medellin, Colombia, and a female metal vocalist in Mumbai, India, as they prepare to attend a Lamb of God concert. The fan footage is incredibly raw and really captures the excitement of the fans and the sense of community and being as one that they experience at the show.
From here, the film takes a more serious turn as their plane lands in Prague and they are surrounded by armed police and rounded up for questioning. The band describes the feelings of shock and horror as they realize that Randy has been arrested for manslaughter due to the death of a fan who was allegedly shoved at a 2010 show. Everything then becomes about getting Randy out of jail as the band assembles a legal team and auctions off their most prized instruments to help with expenses. Fans and fellow musicians around the world show their support to “Free Randy Blythe” and after what I can only imagine are 38 days in hell, Randy is released and is able to return home.
After an emotional homecoming with family and friends, Lamb of God is off to perform at the Slipknot Festivals but the looming court date is all they can think about. While some may have not gone back for the trial, Blythe returned to the Czech Republic to face charges. The footage captures the emotions and intensity of the trial experience and after days of testimony a panel of judges declares “total exoneration” for Randy and he is a free man.
“As The Palaces Burn” is more than just a movie about a rock band. It’s the story of a man’s journey as he suffers through a seemingly insurmountable crisis, a tale of perseverance as Lamb of God comes together and ends up stronger than ever, and a moral lesson in doing the right thing. Most importantly, the movie is proof that music does mean something, that it can get you through the toughest of times and make you feel like you are not alone.
We would like to thank Natalie Camillo from Adrenaline PR for the credential to review the movie.
