New Colossal Hate

Album: Lamb Of God (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "New Colossal Hate" addresses discrimination as Randy Blythe blasts the exploitative rhetoric against marginalized people which continues to divide America.

    The song's title is a reference to American poet Emma Lazarus' 1883 sonnet The New Colossus, which is inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty. The poem, which she wrote in two days, says, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore."
  • Speaking to ABC Audio, Randy Blythe explained how the Statue of Liberty inspired the song's imagery.

    "When you think of the Statue of Liberty, that is such a symbol of America - even though it came from France and was a gift," the frontman said. "When people think about America, they think about the Statue of Liberty. It's not just this big copper thing out on a rock outside New York City in the water. It's a symbol of our highest ideals."

    Blythe added that the viewpoints of many regarding immigration betrays those ideals. "I'm not saying everyone, but we are behaving in the polar opposite of one of the physical embodiments of our national ideals," he said. "And that bums me out."
  • The pummeling song came out of Lamb of God's very first writing session for their eponymous album when guitarists Willie Adler and Mark Morton, and producer Josh Wilbur got together at the Halo studio in South Windha, Maine. "I'm pretty sure 'New Colossal Hate' grew from a few different demos I had," said Adler. "You know, like parts of car. However, as it started to take shape, it quickly became my favorite song on the record."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Song Cities

Song CitiesMusic Quiz

Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz.