Mortal

    Mortal

    Loma Linda, California11 reviews across 8 releases

    electronicindustrialindustrial metalindustrial rock
    Discogs

    Mortal was a Christian industrial band from Loma Linda, California, formed in 1988 as Mortal Wish before shortening its name for Intense Records. Jyro Xhan was its principal songwriter and singer, framing introspective Christian lyrics within sampled voices, programmed rhythms, distorted guitars and minor-key dissonance. The 1992 debut Lusis established the industrial-dance approach, while Fathom increased the speed, guitar attack and aggression, including a guest lead vocal from Mark Salomon. By Wake in 1994, the sequenced foundation had given way to a larger grunge-influenced rock sound with ballads and a Beatles cover. The group also treated serious subjects directly: the song "Rift" was paired with a 1994 video about child abuse, presented with extensive explanatory material.

    In 1995, Jyro and Jerome Fontamillas left Mortal to form Fold Zandura, partly because of legal problems surrounding the name and partly to pursue an alternative-rock direction. The Mortal name returned for the self-titled 1996 album, followed by the 1998 compilation Godspeed. Jerome joined Switchfoot as a touring musician in 2000 and later became a full member. Jyro and Jerome reunited Mortal in 2002 for Nu-En-Jin, a Tooth & Nail release that returned to electronic textures while removing guitars from the new material. Afterward, both continued separate musical work. In July 2022, they announced MorZan, a project combining the Mortal and Fold Zandura names, and played a MorZan set at the House of Blues in Anaheim on November 18, 2023.

    8 releases reviewed