Mortal (band)
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Mortal was a Christian industrial/dance band fronted by Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan. Both members went on to found the alternative rock group Fold Zandura, and for a time were members of both bands simultaneously. The band is known for its lyrical intelligence, incorporating advanced theology with what has been billed as "Industrial Praise and Worship."[1] According to CCM Magazine "Mortal has had a much greater influence... on industrial music than its modest output would suggest."[2]
Background
Led by the duo Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan, Mortal was one of the first Christian bands to play industrial metal.[3] While not actually the first to do so, Mortal enjoyed significant success, and, along with other early contemporaries such as Circle of Dust and Argyle Park, played a notable role in paving the way for future Christian industrial and industrial metal bands.
The group began in 1988 as Mortal Wish, and produced a six-song demo with additional members Ray Tongpo and Wilson Peralta.[4] They shortened their name, signed a record deal with Intense Records and released their first album Lusis in 1992, produced by Terry Scott Taylor[4] and Allan Aguirre of Scaterd Few.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". It was well received by the critics, with CCM Magazine dubbing Lusis the "strongest debut project to enter the Christian market in years."[5] The second album Fathom (1993) was Mortal's most guitar-driven, and became one of the band's most popular releases.[6] The song ”Rift” was rearranged later and a music video was shot for it in 1994. The video dealt with the horrors of child abuse.
Mortal later experimented with a live band,[2] and a grunge sound on 1994's Wake,[7] as well as with a dance-based meditational sound on their follow-up, Pura.[8]
During this time, the band became mired in legal issues involving their label, leading to on-again, off-again attempts to retire the name Mortal. As Jyro would report to True Tunes News in 1994: "I have peace with the fact that Mortal will permanently quit... There are legal things happening with our label that will end Mortal as a name."[9] The duo formed Fold Zandura partly to get around these issues, partly to carve out a more alternative rock sound. Fold Zandura released one album and three EPs.
The Mortal moniker was revived in order to release a self-titled album on 5 Minute Walk Records in 1996. According to the liner notes, three songs were originally Fold Zandura songs. In 1998, they released a best-of compilation called Godspeed. It featured 13 album songs and two non-album songs.
In 2000, Jerome joined Switchfoot as a session musician and later joined them full-time.
In 2002 Jyro and Jerome released a Mortal reunion album called Nu-En-Jin with Tooth & Nail Records, featuring an updated industrial sound, consisting mostly of heavily distorted looping electronics. Lyrically, the songs have a very sci-fi flare, with the liner notes detailing the various fictional alternative universes in which they are supposedly set.
Members
Last Known Lineup
- Jerome Fontamillas - Bass, vocals
- Jyro Xhan - Guitar, vocals
Former
- Ed Benrock - Drums (1994–1995), formerly of Lifesavers Underground
- Troy Yasuda - Guitar (1994–1996)
Live and session
- Jeff Bellew (The Crucified, Stavesacre) - Guitars (1993)[10][11]
- Bryan Gray (The Blamed, ex-Left Out) - Bass (1993)[10][11]
- Jim Chaffin (The Crucified, Deliverance, The Blamed) - Drums (1993)[12]
Discography
- 1992: Lusis (Intense Records, Reviews: Cross Rhythms,[13] CCM Magazine[5])
- 1993: Fathom (Intense Records, Review: Cross Rhythms[7])
- 1993: Intense Live Series Vol. 5 (Intense Records)
- 1994: Wake (Intense Records, Cross Rhythms,[7] CCM Magazine[2])
- 1995: Pura (Intense Records, Review: Cross Rhythms[8])
- 1996: Mortal (5 Minute Walk, Reviews: The Lighthouse, CCM Magazine[14])
- 1998: Godspeed (KMG Records, compilation, Review: HM Magazine[15])
- 2002: Nu-En-Jin (Tooth & Nail Records, Reviews: Cross Rhythms,[16] The Phantom Tollbooth, Allmusic, HM Magazine[17])
Charts
| Year | Album | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Fathom | Top Contemporary Christian | 32[18] |
| 1994 | Wake | Top Contemporary Christian | 21[19] |
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Further reading
- Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
External links
- Mortal/Fold Zandura discography, including the Mortal/Fold Zandura info file, the oldest Mortal/Fold Zandura fan site, by John Turpin
- The Sock Heaven BitTorrent Tracker, which provides downloads of Mortal's early work as Mortal Wish, plus demo work and a live show, via BitTorrent
- Mortal/Fold Zandura fan site that features full lyrics (including those for Mortal Wish's work) and concert photos
- Pages with script errors
- Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts
- American dance music groups
- American electronic body music groups
- Christian alternative metal groups
- Christian rock groups from California
- Musical groups established in 1992
- Musical groups from San Diego
- American industrial metal musical groups