Lamb of God Premiere 'Embers' Video, Mark Morton Explains Tragic Inspiration

We knew Lamb of God's standout 2015 album VII: Sturm und Drang came from a personal place for frontman Randall Blythe, who was arrested in the Czech Republic for the death of a fan and acquitted only after a hellish, drawn-out experience. Today we've learned that guitarist Mark Morton had to work through a terrible event with VII, too: the loss of his and his wife's first child, a daughter named Madalyn Grace Morton, who died of an infection the day she was born in 2009.

Mark Morton, now 43, told Noisey about writing the emotional song that led to the fiery Zev Deans– and Panaroma Programming–directed video, which is currently available exclusively on Noisey:

"Not too long ago, I sat playing guitar on a barstool in my kitchen and within about 15 minutes came up with the outline of the music that would become the song 'Embers.' ... Art was imitating life. Knowing intuitively that this would be a special piece, I once again began scribbling lyrics to my wife [as he did with 2006's 'Walk With Me Through Hell']. I described our shared pain and made references to places and events that only she would understand and recognize. I promised her that there was 'still light to find our way.' I hoped I was right."