27. April 2025
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Media Review

Mark Morton – Without The Pain

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Max Morton - Without The Pain

Max Morton - Without The Pain
4.6

Rating

 4.6/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Nice blending of Americana and (hard) rock influences
  • Wide range of songs
  • Excellent guitars

Even though the artist Mark Morgan is rather linked to hard rock and metal, his new album Without The Pain has a lot of country music flavor as well. The root for that is not only the very interesting and illustrious list of guest musicians. The US-American guitarist released his sophomore solo album on 11th April 2025.

 

Max Morton – About The Artist

Max Morton was born on 25th November 1972 in Williamsburg in Virginia. He co-founded the band Lamb of God in 1994. After a three year hiatus, he came back to the band and is a member since then. With that band, Morton released eleven studio albums. In 2019, Morton had his debut record as a solo artist. Anesthetic contained guest musicians like Chester Bennington or Myles Kennedy. The album made it into the Top 10 of the British Rock and Metal Charts.

 

Max Morton – Without The Pain – Track by Track

The ten track album lasts 37 minutes.

1. Hell & Back (feat. Jaren Johnston)

Already the opener of Without The Pain features an artist, which has been quite present on Flyctory.com already. Jaren Johnston is a member of The Cadillac Three. Combining these two US-American artists simply has to lead to a very rocking sound. And so does Hell & Back. The song also impresses with a cool bass groove.

2. Brother (feat. Cody Jinks)

Brother brother, where you been?
What was my unforgiven sin?
Keep spitting nails, tell me how I’ve failed,
If we’re ever going to speak again
Brother brother, where you been?
Brother brother, why you hide?
Can you look your mother in the eye?
Do you feel ashamed when you speak her name,
Or are you high on your petty pride?
Brother brother, why you hide?

The second track of the album starts with a rather melancholic touch, but quickly turns into an angry and energetic listen. Some of the parts of Brother are really fast, breaking down into a slow passage right thereafter. The guest musician on this one is Cody Jinks – one of the big names on the guest list of this record.

3. Without the Pain (feat. Matt James)

Matt James of Blacktop Mojo has the honor to collaborate with Morton for the title track. The first previously unreleased track on the record comes with stomping beats and a hard rocking chorus. Overall, the song feels very modern. The country and Americana vibes are relatively limited, so that this one could be a treat for straight rock music fans as well.

4. Kite String (feat. Travis Denning)

Travis Denning pops up in the credits of three songs of What The Pain. For two of those songs, he is also part of the lineup. After the very rocking Without the Pain, Kite Strings goes into a very different direction. The song is very gentle and could even work out on an intimate campfire evening. The song majorly works with the guitar and Travis’ voice.

5. Come December (feat. Charlie Starr & Jason Isbell)

In my 21st March 2025 Songs of the Week, I included this song – and thus also somehow decided that this track is not country music enough for my playlists on that genre’s side. Nonetheless, I really loved listening to the slower track with progressive and Americana rock vibes. Finally, having Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr and Jason Isbell in the studio for this song is already some sort of proof of quality. A hymnic, very intense song – which is finally also the longest track on Without The Pain.

6. Dust (feat. Cody Jinks & Grace Bowers)

Dust features another appearance of Cody Jinks. However, this track also features another guest musician, the young guitarist Grace Bowers. A lovely song for guitar lovers, which also adds a nice bluesy groove to the album.

7. Forever In The Light (feat. Tyler Bryant)

The guest musician of the seventh track Forever In The Light is Texas guitarist and singer Tyler Bryant. The song adds another very different touch to the album. On the one hand, there is a flavor of blues in it – on the other hand, the guitar sounds also add some psychedelic feelings.

Hanging stars in a melting sky
Open eyes, still running blind
Following the signal smoke
Reaching for what you can’t hold
Forever in the light you find

8. Nocturnal Sun (feat. Troy Sanders & Jared James Nichols)

Troy Sanders from Mastodon is definitely known for metal sounds, while Jared James Nichols is rather known as a blues rock guitarist. How does that work out? In Nocturnal Sun, both feel to define the sound of the song. Sometimes, it is a treat for hard rockers, before Nichols is also the blues touch. Overall, this leads to a very mature and complete listen.

9. The Needle And The Spoon (feat. Neil Fallon)

While all other songs on the album are originals, The Needle And The Spoon might sound familiar to you. For the Lynyrd Skynyrd cover, Morton works with hard rock singer and guitarist Neil Fallon, who is known best as a member of Clutch. Nonetheless, the song is not drifting too much into the hard rock direction and keeps the Americana vibes of the album.

10. Home (feat. Travis Denning)

Travis Denning is closing the album with Max Morton. Thereby, Home is one of the finer and more gentle songs. The song comes with a beautiful melody and a very heartwarming style. Needless to say that it is another song with excellent guitar place.

So baby help me back home
Because I ain’t ever going to find it on my own
I’m sick snd tired of just living out somebody else’s dream
Getting further away from where I’m supposed to be, yeah
Home, so baby come find me

 

Max Morton – Without The Pain – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Max Morton – Without The Pain – My View

Fine rock melodies and hard country rock smashers – Without The Pain got it all. Max Morton took a very wise selection of guest musicians, who co-define the style of the record. This finally turns these ten songs into a treat.

Favorite Song: Forever In The Light

 

Media Reviews – Country Rock

Here are all my Media Reviews, which are related to country music and rock music:

 

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