Mark Morton- "Without the pain"

It is not unusual for the United States born and raised musicians when they re coming if age to make something of tribute to their musical roots. So LAMB OF GOD guitar player Mark Morton makes a solo/personal album where Southern Rock, Country  and Outlaw Country meets and raises the beer or bourbon glass depending the song. You would expect Morton to unleash some fury and anger but he chooses the opposite direction. Groove, acoustic tracks, Southern swagger, country sing along all in an album that has more guests than the Pope's funeral. 

 

Big names from the extreme metal genre to Southern Rock are participating and giving the songs some extra depth.The songs are funky, honky tonk rock n rollers, countrified ballads, country rock ballads that aim to the trackers, the rockers and the hillbillies of this world,aiming more to the heart than to the brain. Darker at "Nocturnal Sun" (feat. Troy Sanders & Jared James Nichols), more country and tearful at "Home" (feat. Travis Denning). Morton prays simplicity and honky tonk, bar room rock n roll and you can listen to "Hell & Back" (feat. Jaren Johnston) ,heart breaking "Come December" (feat. Charlie Starr & Jason Isbell) , powerful and slow burning, moody,  "Dust" (feat. Cody Jinks & Grace Bowers) or rocking "Forever In The Light" (feat. Tyler Bryant) to understand Mark knows the game and what and how he wants to pass to his listener. Outside the limits and barriers of metal music he gives us a heartwarming Southern, country rock album that has SKYNYRD and ALLMAN along with 90s country and Nashville written on it. To close the album, as a tribute to his influences he chooses a real "difficult" SKYNYRD song , "The Needle And The Spoon" (feat. Neil Fallon) to make his love for Southern rock and country understood, in a lower and more addictive tuning.The other thing that gives an extra boost to the album, is that all collaborators share Morton's vision, giving us a true pleasure for the ears. 

 

Forget distortion and extreme measures, here is a true Southern praying to the gods of music and Southern rock.

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