“I would make music if no one listened to me because it is simply my life”
More than a quarter of a century standing as undisputed pillars of modern metal has not diminished the voracity of Lamb Of God. The Americans from Richmond (Virginia) returned to the fray a few months ago with “Into Oblivion” (Century Media/Sony, 26).
“Into Oblivion” maintains intact the usual fierceness of Lamb Of God and marks a new stage for the band on a visual and musical level. Mark Morton, founding guitarist of the quintet and responsible for a large part of the riffs and many of the lyrics, reflects on the ins and outs of this release, which he faces without any pressure or demands. The Lambs of God seem to have found the perfect musical, visual and spiritual balance to move forward. “The mentality is that we feel more comfortable than ever being ourselves”he confesses when talking about the focus of this album. “At this point in heavy metal, I think we are veterans, and we have learned that our best results come when we simply make music for ourselves.”. This statement sums up very well the aura of “Into Oblivion”an album made without concessions and born from a pure creative need of five colleagues who are already like brothers.
After twenty something years, Lamb Of God They have also presented a new logo, a decision that generated an unexpected stir. “I was the one who got excited about the idea,” He admits surprised by the controversy. “I felt like it was a new era for the band, and for some reason it occurred to me that we could present the album with a totally different look.” Far from drama, he emphasizes that “It just looked great with the album cover, so we went with it. We didn’t expect it to be so controversial.”
“I’ve found that the more time I spend with my phone off, the better my mental health is.”
Regarding the gestation of “Into Oblivion”they opted for a win-win environment, minimizing stress and splitting recording between the Total Access Recording studio in Redondo Beach—where vocalist Randy Blythe recorded solo—and Morton’s home studio. The process was very organic. “Choosing to record in my home studio made things super convenient,” points out. “We felt like we weren’t against the clock or under pressure.” Despite this, “We haven’t changed the approach in terms of composition. We always start with the riffs, and then we put together the demos”he explains.
With “Into Oblivion”the group does not seek to reinvent itself, but rather to open new horizons with the same punch as always. Morton rejects the word “experimentation”, but he recognizes that there are topics that are out of the norm. “I think there have always been examples on Lamb Of God records where we branched out a little bit, and I would cite ‘The Void’ or ‘Sepsis’ as examples of that.” “El Vacío” stands out for being one of the calmest of his career, and also hides a strong emotional charge. “That song is very much a reference to two specific people. There are very direct and intentional references to two human beings who are no longer with us.”
The lyrical component, of which Randy is in charge almost entirely, is a dark reflection of the imminent social collapse towards which we are heading (tracks like “The Killing Floor” confirm this). Faced with modern saturation and toxicity, Morton confesses: “I have found that the more time I spend with my phone off, the better my mental health is.”. Regarding the composition and theme of the album, he is also blunt: “I think it’s safe to say we’re a heavy metal band. We’re not going to write about rainbows and puppies. We’re going to write about dark, heavy imagery, because we’re a heavy metal band.” The final message of their songs, however, is entirely up to the fans. “It’s more fun when people interpret it and connect on their own instead of having it all chewed up.”
Mark is also clear about a possible tour celebrating twenty years of “Sacrament”which was a huge hit at the time and remains valid. It seems that the idea of taking him out for a walk again is not in his plans. “We did a great tour for the 20th anniversary of ‘Ashes Of The Wake’. (…) We are more focused on the new album and the tour.”
At fifty-three years old, Morton proudly assumes his role as “old dog” of metal and passes the baton of the avant-garde to the new generations, admitting to being a little disconnected from the current scene. Of course, his motivation as an artist, both as part of Lamb Of God and as a solo artist, continues as the first day. “I make music because I am a musician. (…) I would make music if no one listened to me, because it is simply my life,” he reflects spiritually, adding that “it is the way in which I feel closer to whatever that supreme and divine force of light-energy is.”
With an intense roadmap in North America and Europe ahead, it seems that the Spanish public will have to wait to hear their songs live, although the door is wide open. “I would love to go to Spain. I love Spain. It’s a beautiful country. We’ve played a lot of great concerts there.” After a kind thank you for the interview, he ends by clarifying that he is sure they will return, but that there is still no set date. Everything will come in its time.
