The Fallen State - A Deadset Endeavour

"A Deadset Endeavour" is the debut album by Devon, UK based hard rockers The Fallen State.  I first came across The Fallen State last year when they supported Tremonti. They impressed live and after I bought two of their EPs - "View from Ruin" and "Crown Shyness". Criminally I still haven't really listened to "Crown your shadows". But the "The View from Ruin" EP I listened to a lot and as it is absolutley brilliant. So much so the anticipation for their debut album became greater. I did wonder how and if, they were going to match my ever growing expectations for their debut album.

Well 2 tracks dropped before their debut album - "Torn" and "American Made".  My intial first impressions of the tracks were that I felt slightly let down.  They were good songs but I felt they weren't quite up to the standards of the songs on the previous EP and my expectations were sky high. But on the run up to the album I gave them more of a listen and found that these tracks are real growers. Once you start learning the words and the tunes get stuck in your head I actually really like these tracks now.

When the album playback was done the night before the release I was still wondering if the album was going to be any good. As track by track went by, I am not joking when I say there was not one track on it that I would have skipped.  I could instantly see this was a very strong album and one I can see myself listening to for a long time to come.  In fact it only came out yesterday and I have already listened to it about 7 or 8 times including the album playback.

I would say the majority of the album is all out hard rock songs.  I would say my favourites out of these songs would be "American made" and "Attitude". But then you look at the likes of the amazing guitar solo in "Open Wound" and the change up in vocals in "Lovers and Psychos" also showing that there really is no let up in the quality in this album.

There are 2 tracks on the album which while still being hard rock, mix things up a bit are "Paradox" and album closer "Fragments".  They have played about a bit more with the structure of the songs on these tracks and been a bit more adventourous and in both tracks they have pulled it off magnificently. They are like the heavy rock ballads of the album showing off a bit more of the lead vocalists range.  When I was listening to "Fragments" for the first time I wasnt sure how many tracks were on the album and was praying that this was the last track. Not because I wanted the album to be over but because this was they way that the album should finish! It is an epic album closer. A long build up then just keeps on ramping up to a climax.

Overall this is an absolute classic of a debut album that the rock community need to know about.  There is not a duff track on this and moreover the quality is so high they have set the high bar for the next album. But mind you I wondered how they would better the "The view from ruin" EP and they did.

Mark Morton - Anesthetic

In March 2019 Mark Morton released his debut solo album "Anesthetic". Currently he is the guitarist with Metal act Lamb of God and formally to that guitarist in Burn the Preist.  To be quite honest I have never heard a single track by either bands.  But it is clear these bands are well established in the metal community, particularly Lamb of God whereby although I wouldn't recognise the music, they name is familiar. 

But what brought Mark Morton to the forefront of the metal fraternity and the wider music public in the last couple of years and particurly this year was the release of "Cross off" which is his collaboration with Chester Bennington.  I don't think the story of Chester Bennington needs any replay here so lets focus on the song itself.  This shows off Chester's vocals back to Linkin Park's early days with that heavier/angrier feeling.  The song itself is well crafted and shows Mark Morton not only to be a talented musician but an excellent songwriter. It's only 4 minutes and 14 seconds long but it feels like they have packed in so much into the song and it really is great.  Quite rightfully the song has seen the light of day. To me it shows what Linkin Park would have sounded like if they went in a heavier direction.

So a great start to the album but what about the rest of it?  Well Mark Morton certainly seems to have a lot of friends in high places as there are a number of big names on here.  For example Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge in "Save Defiance". This is another highlight of the album for me but probably this time down to Myles's sublime vocals rather than the guitar work.

When you say someone has a solo album out, you often think that, that person will be the main person on the album. But for me that is a difficult thing to say about this album. Sure Mark Morton was involved in writing all the songs. But Josh Wilbur the producer also gets writing credit for writing most of the songs too along with the singer who sang on each song.  Moreover there are 22 different musicians who appear on this album! Which to me is incredible.  And for me turns this from a solo album into a solo project. Now there is absolutley nothing wrong with a solo project but of course it would lead to difficulties in making this into a live show.

Although 11 different vocalists appear on the album, Mark Morton himself does take lead vocals on "Imaginary Days".  He has clearly proven himself as a guitarist through his previous bands and his guitar work on here. But I think this song is a tester whether he can truely make a successful solo career. Personally I think he has a good, solid rock voice.  While standing alongside the likes of Myles and Chester it does blend into the background a bit. But he is by no stretch of the imagination a bad vocalist and combine that with his songwriting and guitar work I think he has loads of potential to go solo properly.

I think the most interesting track on the album is saved for last and is called "The truth is dead".  There is like a war during this song with light against dark. With vocals from Randy Blythe who is the vocalist from Lamb of God and Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy.  Randy's vocals are heavy and growling which is complete contrast to Alissa's angelic like vocals. The song bounces back and forth and works well and great way to end the album.

Overall I have focused on the highlights of the album. To be honest the rest of the album is ok, not bad, but not brilliant. I feel that Mark Morton has made a very intelligent move in his career by collaborating with these artists. Although he probably did it because he wanted to rather than seeing it as a career move.  By doing this he turned the heads of fans (like myself) from bands like Linkin Park, Alter Bridge, Papa Roach, Arch Enemy etc...  And turned their heads not only towards this album but I'm sure people will look into his other bands because of this as well. Although going by Randy Blythes vocals I probably won't be investigating Lamb of God. But I do think Morton himself is a pretty good vocalist and I hope his next album focuses more on him. This album is a very good effort all the same.