Mark Morton
Total Guitar|March 2020
THE GUITARIST WITH THRASH METALLERS LAMB OF GOD CHANGES DIRECTION WITH A NEW ACOUSTIC EP. WE JUST HAD TO KNOW MORE…
Stuart Williams
Mark Morton

“Last year, I put out the Anesthetic album and did a full live band tour, but after that, I got the opportunity to do some abbreviated acoustic sets – one at the South Temple Festival, in Columbus, Ohio, and one at Download last summer. That was really the first time I’d got to do something like that...” the Lamb Of God lead guitarist enthuses. Anesthetic is Morton’s debut solo release; hard rock and metal record – perhaps what you’d expect the metal maestro to do. The acoustic gigs? Well, that was more of a change of direction...

“It went really well, and I was kinda thrilled with the feedback I got from it. For me, it was time to stretch out, get out of my comfort zone a little bit, and do something different. Those first couple of acoustic shows were definitely an opportunity, and I really enjoyed it. So we started this campaign – an EP of acoustic songs, and some cool covers too.” The result? This year’s Ether EP, a five-track offering featuring guest vocals from Lzzy Hale, Killswitch Engage’s Howard Jones, John Carbone (Moon Tooth) and Mark Morales (Sons Of Texas). A contemporary line-up, then, but Mark traces his influences back to the 90s on Ether, as revealed in cover versions of Black Crowes and Pearl Jam songs.

This story is from the March 2020 edition of Total Guitar.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 2020 edition of Total Guitar.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TOTAL GUITARView All
"THERE WILL BE A LOT OF GREAT GUITAR PLAYING AT THESE SHOWS!"
Total Guitar

"THERE WILL BE A LOT OF GREAT GUITAR PLAYING AT THESE SHOWS!"

Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram is a huge fan of Slash- and the feeling is mutual

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2024
"THE WHOLE LINE-UP IS STELLAR!"
Total Guitar

"THE WHOLE LINE-UP IS STELLAR!"

Samantha Fish is thrilled to be joining Slash's blues festival - with a new band and as many guitars as she can handle

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2024
"WHEN YOU HEAR THAT TONE, YOU KNOW IT'S HIM"
Total Guitar

"WHEN YOU HEAR THAT TONE, YOU KNOW IT'S HIM"

Mike Clink is the producer who first worked with Slash on Guns N' Roses' debut album. Now, having reunited with the guitarist for Orgy Of The Damned, he reveals how this new album was created - and recalls those magical sessions with Slash in the '80s

time-read
10 mins  |
June 2024
“IT'S ALL THE SAME CHORD CHANGES.MORE OR LESS THE SAME NOTES.BUT IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT THE INDIVIDUAL CHOOSES HOW pos a im TO PLAY THEM.THAT IS WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT BLUES GUITAR...”
Total Guitar

“IT'S ALL THE SAME CHORD CHANGES.MORE OR LESS THE SAME NOTES.BUT IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT THE INDIVIDUAL CHOOSES HOW pos a im TO PLAY THEM.THAT IS WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT BLUES GUITAR...”

The rock icon finding new inspiration in deathless blues standards. The guitarist synonymous with the Les Paul now mixing up his Gibsons with a Strat and a Tele. This is Slash as you've never heard him before...

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2024
"I VIEW A GUITAR AS A WEAPON!"
Total Guitar

"I VIEW A GUITAR AS A WEAPON!"

As a cult hero of underground American rock, Buzz Osborne describes his band Melvins as \"an avant-garde, weird thing”. And as a guitarist, he's all about heaviness and spontaneity...

time-read
6 mins  |
June 2024
"I'M VERY GOOD AT NOT FOLLOWING RULES!!!
Total Guitar

"I'M VERY GOOD AT NOT FOLLOWING RULES!!!

As one half of Slayer's fearsome guitar attack, Kerry King shaped the sound of extreme metal. With a new album and a new sparring partner, he hasn't mellowed...

time-read
9 mins  |
June 2024
"PEDALS CAN AFFECT YOUR PLAYING SO MUCH"
Total Guitar

"PEDALS CAN AFFECT YOUR PLAYING SO MUCH"

Shoegaze stars DIIV have abandoned their roots as a live band to redraw their sonic landscapes - with a vast array of effects at the heart of their songwriting

time-read
6 mins  |
June 2024
"PEOPLE SAID, "WOMEN AREN'T REALLY SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.SO WE WERE VERY LOUD!"
Total Guitar

"PEOPLE SAID, "WOMEN AREN'T REALLY SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.SO WE WERE VERY LOUD!"

Flying in the face of sexism in the '70s, Heart made it big with some of the most powerful and beautiful rock songs of that era. In turn, Nancy Wilson became one of the most inspirational female guitarists of all time. Now, on the eve of a UK tour, she tells TG: “You have to feel proud of your gnarly hands!\"

time-read
8 mins  |
June 2024
"IS THIS PERSON VIRTUOSIC OR DO THEY TOTALLY SUCK? THAT'S KIND OF WHERE ILIVE!"
Total Guitar

"IS THIS PERSON VIRTUOSIC OR DO THEY TOTALLY SUCK? THAT'S KIND OF WHERE ILIVE!"

St. Vincent's new album sees her teaming up with two Foo Fighters, stealing Josh Homme's secret weapon, using Prince's favourite pedal and embarking on a prog odyssey. It also sees her return to real amps played real loud...

time-read
7 mins  |
June 2024
"THERE'S SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT THREE-PART HARMONIES"
Total Guitar

"THERE'S SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT THREE-PART HARMONIES"

BATTLESNAKE ARE PUTTING THREE CLASSIC GUITAR RIGS INTO ONE CRAZY HEAVY METAL MELTING POT

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2024