LAMB OF GOD's MARK MORTON Says Heavy Metal Scene Is 'Alive And Well'

LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton spoke to Sara of the 93.3 WMMR radio station about the current state of the heavy metal scene, particularly at a time when some of the genre’s elder statesmen, like SLAYER, are calling it quits.

“Well, I think it’s evolving,” Mark said (hear audio below). “I think you can’t help but for the genre… the culture of metal to evolve.

“It’s funny, because LAMB‘s been around long enough now where we are sort of one of those veteran bands, and it’s interesting to look back. I still remember when we were the next big thing, the big new thing.

“It’s cool to see young bands coming up and reinterpreting the stuff and putting different combinations of influences together,” he continued. “So I think [the scene is] alive and well. I think there’s a lot of great music out there.

“I was talking about this with someone earlier today,” Morton added. “There’s so many new bands coming up and it’s such a new environment and new climate for them to be coming up in. So it’s exciting to watch and it’s exciting to see young bands starting to… I’m thinking about CODE ORANGE right now — great band that’s starting to blow up, and it’s exciting to see that fire in their eyes. And it’s cool, man — it’s cool to watch from my perspective.”

Morton‘s debut solo album, “Anesthetic”, is due out on March 1. Guests on the LP include late LINKIN PARK frontman Chester Bennington, singer Jacoby Shaddix of PAPA ROACH, ALTER BRIDGE‘s Myles Kennedy, STONE SOUR drummer Roy Mayorga, KORN drummer Ray Luzier and ALICE IN CHAINS bassist Mike Inez.

The disc’s first single, “Cross Off”, was recorded in April 2017 and written by Morton, Bennington, Jake Oni and producer Josh Wilbur. Morton recorded all guitars with Paolo Gregoletto and Alex Bent (TRIVIUM) handling bass and drums. The composition of the song began between Morton, Wilbur and Oni before the three approached Bennington about singing vocals. Bennington loved the song and came to the studio with additional ideas and lyrics that, together with his unique and incredible vocal style, shaped the song to be what it is today.