When you think of Mark Morton, you automatically assume Lamb Of God, not Country, Americana and Outlaw-Country-Rock! So as we delve into Mark’s second solo album in said genre we find Mark collaborating with a plethora of artists who lead the field in their respective genres, such as Jason Isbell, Cody Jinks, Jaren Johnston (The Cadillac Three), Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke), Tyler Bryant, Travis Denning, Grace Bowers, Neil Fallon and more. The record is a significant departure from his work as lead guitarist in Lamb Of God and represents a true reinvention for Mark, embracing a more introspective and reflective phase in his career.
That is an understatement. The themes explored on the new album are a natural progression from his deeply personal autobiography, Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir, which came out last year and this is the album he has always wanted to make. In the book, Mark delves into his struggles with addiction, mental health, and the toll of his heavy metal career, offering a raw, unfiltered look at his life and the journey toward finding peace and redemption. ‘Without The Pain’ picks up where the memoir left off, providing a soundtrack to Mark’s continuing journey of growth and reconciliation.
The album just expands the horizon sonically way beyond where you could imagine Mark’s musical repertoire to reach, there is no holding back whatsoever. You get the perfect blend of Mark’s rock roots fused with gritty songwriting and dark storytelling, the things that make Country and Americana so appealing to so many. The album kicks off with ‘Hell & Back’ with Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three featuring, and it has signature TC3 all over it, these cats know how to rock and bring it in full force on the album’s opening track, a dark sultry sounding song that just has you drawn in from the off. Cody Jinks assists Mark on ‘Brother’ a heavy-hitting number that lets you know there is no let up here, this is a relentless collection of songs to tear your soul from your chest. ‘Without The Pain’ kicks in and knocks you off your feet, featuring Matt James of Blacktop Mojo whom we had the pleasure of catching in Belfast recently with their brothers-in-arms Shaman’s Harvest, Matt is a killer vocalist and his band are majestic for anyone who is unfamiliar with them and the collaboration with Mark is a match made in heaven!
‘Kite String’ finally allows us to catch our breath. Travis Denning accompanies Mark on this beautiful acoustic track with glorious harmonising vocals it is a welcome change in direction, but one that again showcases Mark’s diversity as a songwriter. Come December (Feat. Charlie Starr from Blackberry Smoke & Jason Isbell) is another fork in the road with a mesmerising melody that brings two of Country and Southern Rocks finest together to weave a story as old as time itself, before Dust (Feat. Cody Jinks & Grace Bowers) picks up the gnarly side of Marks Rock roots once again, then we have the majestic Forever In The Light (Feat. Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown) Tyler being one of the industry’s unsung heroes and one of the coolest cats out there. He has a vibe all his own that you can hear on this number, the band are monstrous, and if you ever get the chance to catch them live, do it.
The big guns Troy Sanders from Mastodon and Jared James Nichols feature on Nocturnal Su,n and it shows, that the heft that bellows out from the speakers is a gargantuan departure from the more sedate nature of the earlier part of the album, but when there’s a beast inside eventually it has to be unleashed! This one is more Soundgarden than serenity, a killer track! The Needle & the Spoon (Feat. Neil Fallon from Clutch) is our penultimate track and with Neil on the helm you know this one is going to be gnarly, those guys know how to capture the imagination and before you know it we are closing off Marks second solo album with ‘Home’ featuring Travis Denning. An easy on-the-ear number to bring us right back to the album’s melodic roots.
What an album, what an artist. It is such a shame we live in a disposable modern-day society that means undoubtedly this album will be missed by so many, underappreciated by so many and lost in the mele of releases, but this one is a beauty. A serious accomplishment by an artist that is way out of his comfort zone on so many levels, but who has delivered in spades.
‘Without The Pain’ lands April 11th courtesy of Snakefarm Records
PRE-ORDER HERE
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Without The Pain Track Listing:
- ‘Hell & Back’ feat. Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three (Mark Morton, Jaren Johnston, Josh Wilbur)
- ‘Brother’ feat. Cody Jinks (Mark Morton, Cody Jinks, Travis Denning)
- ‘Without The Pain’ feat. Matt James of Blacktop Mojo (Mark Morton, Jaren Johnston, Josh Wilbur)
- ‘Kite String’ feat. Travis Denning (Mark Morton, Travis Denning)
- ‘Come December’ feat. Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke & Jason Isbell (Mark Morton, Charlie Gray, Matt Connor)
- ‘Dust’ feat. Cody Jinks & Grace Bowers (Mark Morton, Jaren Johnston, Cody Jinks)
- ‘Forever In The Light’ feat. Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown (Mark Morton, Tyler Bryant, Caleb Crosby)
- ‘Nocturnal Sun’ feat. Troy Sanders & Jared James Nichols (Mark Morton, Josh Wilbur)
- ‘The Needle And The Spoon’ feat. Neil Fallon of Clutch (Allen Collins, Ronald W Vanzant)
- ‘Home’ feat. Travis Denning (Mark Morton, Travis Denning, Josh Wilbur)