Mark Duane Morton (born November 25, 1972) is an American musician 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 (; , ) is a Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, title for Jesus that appears in the Gospel of John. It appears at wikisource:Bible (American Standard)/John#1:29, John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, " ...

Career

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 t ...

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

Spinefarm Records Spinefarm Records is an international record label. Founded in Finland in 1990, Spinefarm was acquired by Universal Music Group in 2002. History Spinefarm Records began as a mailorder distribution company, founded by Riku Pääkkönen. The c ...

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

bandmate

Randy Blythe David Randall Blythe (, born February 21, 1971) is an American vocalist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Lamb of God (band), Lamb of God and Burn The Priest. He has also performed guest vocals fo ...

as well as

Arch Enemy Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a Supergroup (music), supergroup from Halmstad, formed in 1995. Its members were in bands such as Carcass (band), Carcass, Armageddon (Swedish band), Armageddon, Carnage (band), Carna ...

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 music, rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn, bass ...

frontman

Chester Bennington Chester Charles Bennington (March 20, 1976 – July 20, 2017) was an American singer who was the lead vocalist of the rock band Linkin Park. He was also the lead vocalist of Grey Daze, Dead by Sunrise, and Stone Temple Pilots at various po ...

, 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. Morton's memoir, "Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir" was released on June 25, 2024, which delves into his personal and professional life, including struggles with addiction, grief, and the music industry. Morton reveals that writing the memoir was a therapeutic process, allowing him to reflect on and make sense of his experiences.

Discography

Solo

Studio albums

*''

'' (2019,

) *'' Without the Pain'' (2025)

EPs

*''Ether'' (2020,

Rise Records Rise Records is an American record label currently based in Beaverton, Oregon, mainly focusing on alternative rock, heavy metal, and punk rock music artists. History Rise was founded in 1991 by Craig Ericson in Nevada City, California. He relea ...

)

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 MP3.com was a website operated by Paramount Global publishing tabloid-style news items about digital music and artists, songs, services, and technologies. It is better known for its original incarnation as a legal, free music-sharing service, ...

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

With Lamb of God

*'' New American Gospel'' (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 Christian rite which is recognized as being particularly important and significant. There are various views on the existence, number and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol ...

'' (2006, Epic Records) *''

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 ef ...

'' (2009, Roadrunner Records/Epic Records) *'' Resolution'' (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 history, and still believed by some today, that omens bring divine messages ...

'' (2022, Nuclear Blast Records)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Morton, Mark Living people American lead guitarists Musicians from Richmond, Virginia Lamb of God (band) members Virginia Commonwealth University alumni American heavy metal guitarists American people of German descent 21st-century American guitarists 1972 births