Mortal (band)

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."[2] According to CCM Magazine "Mortal has had a much greater influence... on industrial music than its modest output would suggest."[3]

Mortal
Also known asMortal Wish
OriginLoma Linda, California, US
GenresIndustrial metal,[1] industrial dance, Christian rock
Years active1988–1996
2002
Associated actsFold Zandura
Past membersJerome Fontamillas
Jyro Xhan
Ed Benrock
Troy Yasuda
Strobe

Background

Led by the duo Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan, Mortal was one of the first Christian bands to play industrial metal.[4] 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.[5] They shortened their name, signed a record deal with Intense Records and released their first album Lusis in 1992, produced by Terry Scott Taylor[5] and Allan Aguirre of Scaterd Few. It was well received by the critics, with CCM Magazine dubbing Lusis the "strongest debut project to enter the Christian market in years."[6] The second album Fathom (1993) was Mortal's most guitar-driven, and became one of the band's most popular releases.[7] 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,[3] and a grunge sound on 1994's Wake,[8] as well as with a dance-based meditational sound on their follow-up, Pura.[9]

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."[10] 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 called Godspeed. It featured 13 album songs and 2 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

Former

Live and session

Discography

Charts
Year Album Chart Peak
1993 Fathom Top Contemporary Christian 32[19]
1994 Wake Top Contemporary Christian 21[20]

References
  1. Van Pelt, Doug. "a new rock and blog: HM No. 55". HM Magazine. Archived from the original on 2010-12-30. Retrieved 2010-12-18. "...we were covering more industrial metal (like Circle of Dust, Klank, Under Midnight, Mortal, etc)..."
  2. Berman, Ed. "Review: Mortal by Mortal". The Lighthouse Electronic Magazine. Archived from the original on July 12, 2000.
  3. Brown, Bruce A (January 1995). "Album Reviews / Wake". CCM Magazine. 17 (7): 54. ISSN 1524-7848.
  4. Lahtonen, Jussi (2005-10-25). "White Metal". Sue Rock Punk Metal Zine (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  5. Bush, John. "allmusic ((( Mortal > Overview )))". Allmusic.
  6. Newcomb, Brian Quincy (March 1992). "Reviews / Lusis". CCM Magazine. 14 (9): 23–33. ISSN 1524-7848.
  7. Figgis, Alex (1999-10-01). "Mortal". Cross Rhythms. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-10-13. Nothing rivals such true genre classics as 'Neplusultra", 'Rift' or the phenomenal 'Bright Wings'. Truly a musical milestone any industrial dance/rock/metal fan would appreciate.
  8. Figgis, Alex (October 1999). "Mortal - Lusis/Fathom". Cross Rhythms (53).
  9. Jonathan, Evans (June 1996). "Mortal - Pura". Cross Rhythms (33).
  10. Thompson, John J. (Spring 1994). "Too Young To Die: An Interview With Mortal". True Tunes News. 6 (11): 18.
  11. Salomon, Mark (January 31, 2015). "Mark Salomon Part 3". Urban Achiever Podcast. Interviewed by Billy Power. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  12. Gray, Bryan (June 12, 2019). "Bryan Gray of The Blamed". As The Story Grows Podcast. Interviewed by Bryan Patton. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  13. Marihugh, Josh (September 5, 1999). "The Blamed - Forever". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  14. Arkley, Ian (October 1992). "Mortal - Lusis". Cross Rhythms (12).
  15. Brown, Bruce A. (April 1996). "Reviews / Mortal Mortal". CCM Magazine. 18 (10): 71–72. ISSN 1524-7848.
  16. McGovern, Brian Vincent (January–February 1999). "Album Reviews: Mortal Godspeed". HM Magazine (75): 64. ISSN 1066-6923.
  17. Cummings, Tony (November 2003). "Mortal - Nu-En-Jin". Cross Rhythms (77).
  18. (The) Kern County Kid (September–October 2002). "Reviews: Nu-En-Jin". HM Magazine (97): 66. ISSN 1066-6923.
  19. "Fathom". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  20. "Wake". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-02-20.

Further reading
  • "Mortal". 7ball (5). March–April 1996.
  • Argyrakis, Andy (March–April 2001). "Mortal Reunion". HM Magazine (88): 51. ISSN 1066-6923.
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