Fold Zandura

    Fold Zandura

    Loma Linda, California8 reviews across 4 releases

    alternative rockdream popindustrial rocksynth pop
    DiscogsInstagram

    Fold Zandura was formed in California in 1995 by Jyro Xhan and Jerome Fontamillas after Mortal moved in a different direction. Jyro's songwriting and voice gave the group an urgent center, while drummer Frank Lenz made the early recordings more propulsive than Mortal's programmed industrial work. The self-titled debut drew on shoegaze and noise pop, using dense guitars beside biological-sounding samples. Return, released in 1997, kept the pop-rock structures but relied more heavily on synthesizers, sequencers and samples. On Ultraforever, the guitar receded further into layered electronic textures, piano-based writing and elaborate arrangements. Its distinctive siren-like synth harmonies could make a single song feel overloaded with separate ideas, yet the records retained strong hooks and a devotional lyricism. The music moved constantly, but never toward a settled genre.

    Frank Lenz left after the Ultraforever period to be closer to his family, although he continued to appear at nearby concerts. By 1999, Fold Zandura had returned to an independent setup with King Planet, a seven-track Nowhere Music EP credited to Jyro and Jerome; its louder guitars and closer resemblance to Mortal suggested another turn toward their earlier sound. Jerome Fontamillas joined Switchfoot as a session musician in 2000 and later became a full-time member. Jyro released the Juggernautz side project in 2002, then led LCNA under the initials JFM until 2009. Fold Zandura's activity paused as both musicians pursued other work. In 2022, they announced MorZan, a new group combining elements of Mortal and Fold Zandura.

    4 releases reviewed