{"id":616,"date":"2019-05-03T21:27:48","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T21:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.femetaltv.com\/?p=616"},"modified":"2019-05-03T21:27:50","modified_gmt":"2019-05-03T21:27:50","slug":"dark-days-a-memoir-by-d-randall-blythe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.femetaltv.com\/?p=616","title":{"rendered":"Dark Days A Memoir by D. Randall Blythe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dark Days A Memoir by D. Randall Blythe<\/strong><\/p>\n

-review by Kat Alyst<\/p>\n

\u00a0I\u2019m a bit embarrassed to admit that before I was asked to read and review \u201cDark Days A Memoir\u201d by D. Randall Blythe, I really didn\u2019t know much about the author or his band, lamb of god (before you correct me, yes, he writes \u2018lamb of god\u2019 all lowercase).\u00a0 Once I read his spectacularly well-written book, however, you can bet I made it my business to find out!\u00a0 At any rate, the first thing I discovered as I read is that he is known to friends and fans as Randy, and his last name, Blythe, rhymes with \u201cfly,\u201d rather than being pronounced like \u201clithe\u201d.\u00a0 Randy\u2019s writing style is so smart, such beautiful and interesting prose, I began to wonder who he may have used as a ghost-writer.\u00a0 To my chagrin, a few chapters in, he dispels this idea by emphatically informing the reader that he did indeed write every word of the book, and fully intends to write more!\u00a0 At this point I was intrigued and tore through the book reading like a demon, his story and the telling of it is that<\/em>\u00a0incredible!<\/p>\n

Randy\u2019s journey begins from the road where the band was on tour and had just flown from Norway to the Czech Republic.\u00a0 He eagerly looked forward to having a rare \u201cday off\u201d in Prague.\u00a0 Mr. Blythe is a rather gifted photographer, as I later delightedly found by following him on Instagram (highly recommend it!); but at the time the book describes, he was anticipating strolling the streets of scenic Prague and catching some shots of the incredible history and ambience.\u00a0 All that dream went up in smoke when he was arrested before he was even able to deplane!\u00a0 In his confusion and fear, he was made to understand by Czech authorities that he was being charged with the assault of a fan when lamb of god played Prague a couple of years prior, and that the fan had succumbed to his injuries after being thrown or knocked off the stage \u2013 and died!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

We join Randy on his bizarre odyssey of being charged, incarcerated, and dealing with the horrifying realization that he may never be a rock musician \u2013 let alone a free man \u2013 again!\u00a0 He takes us along with him in a most courageous and personal way, as he must grapple with the uncertainty of his fate while navigating life in a Czech Republic prison, where every aspect was so foreign it\u2019s a wonder he was able to maintain his sanity.\u00a0 Fortunately his inquisitive mind and newly found sobriety helped him cope.\u00a0 As the days wore on, he was able to establish a camaraderie with his cell mates as well as privately deconstructing his situation; coming to the eventual unsettling acceptance that he may\u00a0<\/em>have had something to do with the death of the young fan since he had still been drinking at the time of that show.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 Ultimately, he is able to find strength in the love and support of his wife, family, band mates and fans.\u00a0 He is convinced that his sobriety was in no small part responsible for helping him reach a positive outcome in this excursion as well.\u00a0 You will need to draw your own conclusions as to whether you agree\u2026 but I guarantee you will be enthralled with this man\u2019s remarkable trek through hell and eventual redemption through legal and personal strength.\u00a0 By the Epilogue, you\u2019ll celebrate Randy\u2019s triumph.\u00a0 And if you\u2019re like me, you\u2019ll have fingers crossed that we soon see future tomes from D. Randall Blythe!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dark Days A Memoir by D. Randall Blythe -review by Kat Alyst \u00a0I\u2019m a bit embarrassed to admit that before I was asked to read and review \u201cDark Days A Memoir\u201d by D. Randall Blythe, I really didn\u2019t know much about the author or his band, lamb of god (before you correct me, yes, he … <\/p>\n

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