Mark Morton
Anesthetic
(WPP Records/Spinefarm Records)
3.5/5
Lamb of God fans will be eager to check out lead guitarist Mark Morton’s debut solo album, Anesthetic. The record is more like acollaborative project orchestrated by Morton than it is a traditional solo album, as every song features a different vocalist, which is a refreshing take on the Lamb of God sound.
The album kicks off with “Cross Off,” featuring one of the last known recordings of Linkin Park’s late Chester Barrington; it’s a fantastic opener. The song is exactly what you would expect—both artists are well within their elements here.
After a string of songs with familiar structures, “Reveal” (with Naeemah Maddox) is the album’s monkey wrench, changing the pace with a jazzy R&B fusion that bleeds into upbeat thrash metal.
I would have liked to see Morton go farther with experimenting and melding genres outside of his previous work with Lamb of God. Regardless, this album is sure to quench the thirst of any diehard metal fan.