Mark Duane Morton (born November 25, 1972) is an American musician and digital projects manager who is the

lead guitar Lead guitar (also known as solo guitar) is a musical part for a guitar in which the guitarist plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs and chords within a song structure. The lead is the featur ...

ist and one of the founding members of the heavy metal band

Lamb of God Lamb of God ( el, Ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Amnòs toû Theoû; la, Agnus Dei, ) is a title for Jesus that appears in the Gospel of John. It appears at John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God wh ...

Early life

Morton grew up near

Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 15,425. Located on the Virginia Peninsula ...

. His first band was Axis, which was composed of other local youth, one being Ryan Lake of

Alabama Thunderpussy Alabama Thunderpussy, originally known as Alabama Thunder Pussy, is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. It was founded by Bryan Cox, Erik Larson and Asechiah Bogdan in 1996. History Bryan Cox, Erik Larson and Asechiah Bogdan f ...

fame. Morton played rhythm guitar. The band became a popular local act winning the local battle of the bands competition, known as Stockwood, in 1988. Mark Morton in Axis circa 1988

Career

Morton,

Chris Adler Christopher James Adler (born November 23, 1972) is an American musician, best known as the founder and longtime drummer of heavy metal band Lamb of God from 1994 to 2019, and of Megadeth from 2015 to 2016. Adler played drums on Megadeth's f ...

, and John Campbell met in 1990 at

Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a public research university in Richmond, Virginia. VCU was founded in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden–Sydney College, becoming the Medical College of Virginia in 1854. In 1968, the Virgini ...

where they were room mates. Several years later, they formed a band under the name "Burn the Priest". Morton soon left to pursue a master's degree, and the band added guitarist Abe Spear, and vocalist,

Randy Blythe Randy is a given name, popular in the United States and Canada. It is primarily a masculine name. It was originally derived from the names Randall, Randolf, Randolph, as well as Bertrand and Andrew, and may be a short form (hypocorism) of them ...

. After a couple years apart, Morton rejoined the group and Burn the Priest released a self titled full-length album. He was credited as "Duane" on the album "New American Gospel" Lamb of God's first major release. Morton frequently utilizes

pentatonic scale A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave, in contrast to the heptatonic scale, which has seven notes per octave (such as the major scale and minor scale). Pentatonic scales were developed independently by many ancien ...

s and

harmonic minor scale In music theory, the minor scale is three scale patterns – the natural minor scale (or Aeolian mode), the harmonic minor scale, and the melodic minor scale (ascending or descending) – rather than just two as with the major scale, which als ...

s, and it has been noted that he has a

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...

style to his music. He composes and plays almost all of Lamb of God's guitar solos and forms many of the heavy groove rhythms. Morton is known for writing some of Lamb of God's less conventional songs. These include, "Descending", "Vigil", and "Remorse is for the Dead". In the DVD documenting the making of Sacrament, he made the point that he likes to "toss in the wildcard, the oddball, 'cause for every three you toss in, one of 'em winds up being real special because it's that different." Morton has also written some of the band's more traditional metal songs, such as "Now You've Got Something to Die For", "Redneck", and "Walk with Me in Hell". In March 2012, Morton collaborated with

DevilDriver DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002, consisting of vocalist Dez Fafara, lead guitarist Mike Spreitzer, drummer Davier Pérez, bassist Jon Miller and rhythm guitarist Alex Lee. The band was ...

frontman

Dez Fafara Bradley James "Dez" Fafara (born May 12, 1966) is an American heavy metal vocalist who performs in the bands DevilDriver and Coal Chamber. Early life Fafara is of Portuguese and Sicilian descent. His father, Tiger Fafara, and his late uncle, ...

on a new project called Born of the Storm. Two songs were released, "Nowhere Fast" and "Dust". Fafara's vocals are different from his trademark DevilDriver vocals on these songs and Morton's guitar sound is more original and incorporates bluesy rock riffs, a style that Morton is making into his own. On July 19, 2012, Morton released his own song titled "To Make Sure2". He announced the release of his song through his

Facebook Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...

page. He wrote: "heres a tune i worked on with some friends the other night....sumthin different....hope you enjoy." In December 2018, Morton announced his solo debut album, ''

Anesthetic An anesthetic (American English) or anaesthetic (British English; see spelling differences) is a drug used to induce anesthesia ⁠— ⁠in other words, to result in a temporary loss of sensation or awareness. They may be divided into two ...

'' to be released on March 1, 2019, through

Spinefarm Records Spinefarm Records is a Finnish independent record label focusing mainly on heavy metal artists. It is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. History Spinefarm Records was originally founded in 1990 by Riku Pääkkönen as a mail-order distrib ...

. A single from the album titled "The Truth Is Dead" was released following the announcement and features Morton's

bandmate

as well as

Arch Enemy Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup from Halmstad, formed in 1995. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, The Agonist, Nevermore, and Eucharist. ...

frontwoman

Alissa White-Gluz Alissa White-Gluz (; born 31 July 1985) is a Canadian singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, and former lead vocalist and founding member of the Canadian metalcore band the Agonist. Her vocal ...

on vocals. The album also features a posthumous collaboration with late

Linkin Park Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. The band's current lineup comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave Farrell, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn and drummer ...

frontman

Chester Bennington Chester Charles Bennington (March 20, 1976 – July 20, 2017) was an American singer and songwriter who was best known as the lead vocalist of rock band Linkin Park. He was also the lead vocalist of the bands Grey Daze, Dead by Sunrise, a ...

, which was teased all the way back to April 2017. The song titled "Cross Off" was released as the album's second single on January 8, 2019.

Equipment

Morton's performing gear consists mostly of

Gibson Guitars Gibson may refer to: People * Gibson (surname) Businesses * Gibson Brands, Inc., an American manufacturer of guitars, other musical instruments, and audio equipment * Gibson Technology, and English automotive and motorsport company based * G ...

, using mainly the

Les Paul Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar, and his prototype ...

model. For many years he used

Jackson guitars Jackson is a manufacturer of electric guitars and electric bass guitars that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson. The company was acquired by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 2002, which manufactures Jackson-branded guitar ...

, including a Rhoads style and Swee-Tone archtop (both seen in the '' Killadelphia'' DVD) and, most often, his own signature model, the Jackson Dominion strung with GHS Boomer Strings 10-46 tuned to drop-D, loaded with a Seymour Duncan '59 in the bridge and a Duncan Jazz in the neck. He has recently developed a signature "Dominion" pickup with Dimarzio, which he used in his signature guitars and now uses in his Les Pauls. Onstage, Morton uses two Dual Mesa Boogie Mark V heads

amplifiers An amplifier, electronic amplifier or (informally) amp is an electronic device that can increase the magnitude of a signal (a time-varying voltage or current). It may increase the power significantly, or its main effect may be to boost the v ...

with Mesa 4X12 cabinets His rack gear includes a

Sennheiser Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG (, ) is a German privately held audio company specializing in the design and production of a wide range of high fidelity products, including microphones, headphones, telephone accessories and aviation headse ...

wireless system, a DBX 266XL

compressor A compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. An air compressor is a specific type of gas compressor. Compressors are similar to pumps: both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can transp ...

noise gate A noise gate or gate is an electronic device or software that is used to control the volume of an audio signal. Comparable to a compressor, which attenuates signals ''above'' a threshold, such as loud attacks from the start of musical notes, no ...

, and a splitter box. He only uses a few pedals on stage, Original Cry Baby Wah Pedal, MXR

Eddie Van Halen Edward Lodewijk Van Halen ( , ; January 26, 1955 – October 6, 2020) was an American musician and songwriter. He was the guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Van Halen, which he co-founded along ...

Phase 90 which "makes his solos sear", MXR GT-OD overdrive pedal, and a Boss tuning pedal. Recently, it has been rumored that a signature Cry Baby wah might be in production.

Guitars

Jackson Jackson may refer to: People and fictional characters * Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name Places Australia * Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region * Jackson North, Qu ...

Mark Morton Dominion * Jackson RR5 (Rarely uses it since acquiring his Signature with Jackson. Only used on "Ruin") *

Jackson King V The King V is an electric guitar made by Jackson Guitars. Origin and history The Jackson King V was originally named after Robbin Crosby of Ratt, his nickname being "King". Crosby popularized the guitar throughout the 1980s, however the guitar ...

(Only used on the ''New American Gospel'' recordings) * Jackson USA Custom Shop Swee-Tone * Jackson Warrior * Jackson Soloist SL2H (used on the recent No Fear Energy Tour) * Jackson Adrian Smith San Dimas DK (used on the recent No Fear Energy Tour) *

Gibson Les Paul The Gibson Les Paul is a solid body electric guitar that was first sold by the Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1952. The guitar was designed by factory manager John Huis and his team with input from and endorsement by guitarist Les Paul. Its typi ...

Standard Gold *

Framus Framus is a German string instrument manufacturing company, that existed from 1946 until going bankrupt in 1975. The Framus brand was revived in 1995 as part of Warwick GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG, in Markneukirchen, Germany. The company's cus ...

Renegade Pro (With neck pickup removed) * Framus Camarillo Custom * Jackson RR24 * JAW Custom Les Paul Style * Jackson Soloist custom (originally built for

Joe Duplantier Joseph Andrew Duplantier (born 19 October 1976) is a French-American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of heavy metal band Gojira. He is also a record producer and environmental activist. Duplantier was born ...

from Gojira. Seen in Desolation music video)

Amplifiers & Cabinets

Mesa Boogie Mesa/Boogie (also known as Mesa Engineering) is an American company in Petaluma, California, that manufactures amplifiers and other accessories for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969. Mesa was started by Randall Smith as a s ...

Mark IV Amplifier *

Royal Atlantic *

4x12 Cabinets (x9) (2 loaded, 7 unloaded) *

Marshall Amplification Marshall is a British company that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, speaker cabinets, brands personal headphones and earphones, drums and bongos. The company also owns a record label called Marshall Records. It was founded in London ...

Hot-Rodded head (Only used on ''

Wrath Anger, also known as wrath or rage, is an intense emotional state involving a strong uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat. A person experiencing anger will often experience physical effects, su ...

'') *

4x12 Cabinets (Only used on ''Wrath'') *

Orange Amplification Orange Music Electronic Company is an English amplifier manufacturing company. The amplifiers have a distinctive sound and bright orange Tolex-like covering their heads and speaker cabinets. History 1960s Orange was founded in 1968 by m ...

4x12 Cabinets (Only used on ''Wrath'') *

Mark V Amplifier *

Triple Rectifier (added to his rig in 2008)

Accessories

* Dimarzio Dominion and Breed pickups * Various

Seymour Duncan Seymour Duncan is an American company best known for manufacturing guitar and bass pickups. They also manufacture effects pedals which are designed and assembled in America. Guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and Cathy Carter Duncan foun ...

pickup models with the Duncan SH-1 '59 set prominent *

Wireless System * Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner * Boss NS-2 Noise Gate * Dunlop Crybaby Wylde Wah * Dunlop Crybaby Rack * MXR EVH Phase 90 * Dunlop Crybaby JC95 Jerry Cantrell Wah * MXR Kerry King 10 Band EQ * MXR Carbon Copy Delay * Way Huge Green Rhino Overdrive * Rocktron Hush Super C * DBX 266xl Compressor/Gate * GHS Boomer Strings 10-48 * 1.14 mm Dunlop Tortex picks

Guitar rig and signal flow

A detailed gear diagram of Morton's 2005 Lamb of God guitar rig is well-documented.Cooper, Adam (2005)
"Mark Morton's 2005 Lamb of God Guitar Rig"
GuitarGeek.Com.

Discography

Solo

Studio albums

*''

'' (2019, Spinefarm Records)

EPs

*''Ether'' (2020, Rise Records)

Singles

With Burn the Priest

* Demo Tape (1995, Independently Released) * Split with ZED (1997, Goatboy Records) * Split with Agents of Satan (1998, Deaf American Recordings) * '' Sevens and More'' (1998, mp3.com) *''

Burn the Priest ''Burn the Priest'' is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band Burn the Priest. The album was released on April 4, 1999 by Legion Records. It was the band's only release before being re-named to Lamb of God until the release of ...

'' (1999, Legion Records) *'' Legion: XX'' (2018, Epic / Nuclear Blast)

With Lamb of God

*''

New American Gospel ''New American Gospel'' is the second studio album by American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Lamb of God (band), Lamb of God, as well as their first album under that name (they were originally known as Burn the Priest). It was released in 2 ...

'' (2000, Prosthetic Records) (credited under his middle name, Duane) *'' As the Palaces Burn'' (2003, Prosthetic Records) *'' Ashes of the Wake'' (2004, Epic Records) *'' Killadelphia'' (2005, Epic Records) *''

Sacrament A sacrament is a Christianity, Christian Rite (Christianity), rite that is recognized as being particularly important and significant. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments ...

'' (2006, Epic Records) *''

'' (2009, Roadrunner Records/Epic Records) *''

Resolution Resolution(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Resolution (debate), the statement which is debated in policy debate * Resolution (law), a written motion adopted by a deliberative body * New Year's resolution, a commitment that an individual mak ...

'' (2012, Roadrunner Records/Epic Records) *'' VII: Sturm und Drang'' (2015, Epic Records/Nuclear Blast Records) *''

'' (2020, Epic Records/Nuclear Blast Records) *''

Omens An omen (also called ''portent'') is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change. It was commonly believed in ancient times, and still believed by some today, that omens bring divine messages fr ...

'' (2022, Nuclear Blast Records)

Guest Appearance

*"New Promise" - Transgression (2005) by

Fear Factory Fear Factory is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1989. Throughout the band's career, they have released ten full-length albums and have evolved through a succession of sounds, all in their main style of industrial metal. ...

(Co-

Writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...

)