This past Friday, Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton released his solo EP entitled “Ether” via Rise Records. This EP will take the listener to another side of Mark Morton as a person and as a musician.
The EP features guest appearances by touring vocalist Mark Morales, John Carbone of Moon Tooth, Lzzy Hale of Halestorm and Howard Jones of Light The Torch(ex-Killswitch Engage). Mark Morton started to get recognition from his solo career for his smash hit of “Cross Off”, which featured the late Chester Bennington of Linkin Park.
Webster’s Dictionary defines “Ether” as a colorless but highly flammable liquid. It is used as a solvent in scientific laboratories. The title of the EP is appropriate based upon Mark Morton’s work on this EP. He’s able to use his intricate guitar work on the opening cut “All I Had To Lose” featuring Mark Morales. Morales’ powerful voice and Morton’s intricate work on the acoustic guitar makes it a powerful track in what Morton describes as his “most personal work to-date”.
In this EP, we get to see esteemed vocalists John Carbone of Moon Tooth, Lzzy Hale of Halestorm and Howard Jones of Light The Torch in a different light of sorts. We sense some soul, passion and the love for tasty arrangements with each of them in tow. Carbone showcases his vocal prowess in “The Fight” as Morton amps up the arrangements, while Hale showcases the depths of her soul in a surprisingly good cover of “She Talks To Angels” by The Black Crowes. Howard Jones showcases his sensitive and vulnerable side in the original track “Love My Enemy”. In the end, Morales leaves his soul bare on one of the most gut-wrenching covers I’ve heard in “Black” by Pearl Jam.
Mark Morton is a gifted guitarist. Primarily, he’s known for shredding on the guitar for Lamb of God, but we get to see a bluesy, somewhat vulnerable side to Morton. Don’t take the vulnerability lightly because Morton is that sleeping giant on the guitar that shreds when he’s awakened, and he provides the right amount of ether to keep the fire burning on this scorching EP. Madness To Creation rates this blistering a solid 8.5/10 stars, I just wish it was longer. Here is the track listing:
- All I Had To Lose featuring Mark Morales
- The Fight featuring John Carbone of Moon Tooth
- She Talks To Angels featuring Lzzy Hale of Halestorm (The Black Crowes cover)
- Love My Enemy featuring Howard Jones of Light The Torch
- Black featuring Mark Morales (Pearl Jam cover)
Lamb Of God with special guests Kreator and Powertrip will embark on a European tour while Lamb of God have two American festival dates this spring. Check out the dates below:
Fri. 3/27 Fryshuset in Stockholm, Sweden
Sat. 3/28- Forum Black Box in Copenhagen, Denmark
Mon. 3/30- Club Teatria in Oulu, Finland
Tue. 3/31- Ice Hall Black Box in Helsinki, Finland
Thu. 4/2- Tauran Arena in Krakow, Poland
Fri. 4/3- Columbiahalle in Berlin, Germany
Sat. 4/4- Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen, Germany
Sun. 4/5- Kulturzentrum Schlachthof in Wiesbaden, Germany
Tue. 4/7- Samsung Hall in Zurich, Switzerland
Wed. 4/8- Zenith in Munich, Germany
Thu. 4/9-Mhp Arena in Ludwigsburg, Germany
Sat. 4/11- Sporthalle Hamburg in Hamburg, Germany
Sun. 4/12- Festivalterrein Paaspop in Schijndel, Netherlands
Tue. 4/14- Razzmatazz in Barcelona, Spain
Wed. 4/15- Sala Riviera in Madrid, Spain
Fri. 4/17- L’Olympia Bruno Coquatrix in Paris, France
Sat. 4/18- Saarlandhalle in Saarbrucken, Germany
Sun. 4/19- Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium
Tue. 4/21- O2 Academy in Bristol, United Kingdom
Wed. 4/22- Manchester Academy in Manchester, United Kingdom
Thu. 4/23- O2 Academy in Glasgow, United Kingdom
Fri. 4/24- O2 Academy in Birmingham, United Kingdom
Sat. 4/25- O2 Academy in London, United Kingdom
Fri. 5/8- Sat. 5/9- Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida
For tickets and further information on any of the gigs listed above, click here.
Fans can find Mark Morton at the following locations:
www.facebook.com/markmortonmusic
www.instagram.com/mark.duane.morton
www.twitter.com/markduanemorton
