Zach Adams’ debut record, Dead Man Walking, is an absolute beast of alternative and prog rock that highs the volume as the soundtrack to their own 2023 horror/fantasy novel. Yeah, you heard that right. Not background noise you throw on while doing dishes, but a full-blown ride that’ll yank you straight into Isaac Falcone’s twisted, character-packed world. Toss out what you think you know about rock albums—this one’s playing a whole different game.
The title track, “Dead Man Walking – Final MK,” sets the tone all moody and thoughtful, before erupting into a chaotic, disruptive storm of sound. What’s genius here is the perspective—this isn’t the hero’s anthem. It’s the antagonist’s voice, a twisted serenade that immediately establishes the album’s narrative depth. Adams’ vision is clear: each of the 12 tracks is a character study, and each one’s like peering into a character’s soul—their battles, their demons, all of it laid bare through sound.
The musical landscape here is as wild and untamed as Adams’ Alaskan roots. Those brutal winters and lonely stretches of wilderness creeping into every single track. Take “Drown” – man, what a ride. It whips you from furious, pissed-off riffs to these quiet, almost fragile moments that’ll catch you off guard. The vocals nail that feeling of someone barely holding it together. And then you’ve got “They Want You to Be Afraid!” – this synth-drenched monster that sounds like it beamed in from another planet. It nods to metal’s legacy while blazing its own trail. It’s loud, in-your-face, and absolutely ferocious.
Adams runs this whole show solo, doing everything through their own Farm Adams Entertainment label. As they put it, “I’m used to doing things independently, and I’m kind of a control freak.” And you know what? That obsessive attention totally works. This album’s a killer example of what happens when you produce your own stuff right. Guitar riffs, drums that hit like sledgehammers, and these atmospheric layers built with a Doctor Who-inspired delay pedal (yeah, you read that right) that creates this eerie, cosmic vibe.
The prog rock vibes really come alive with those wild song structures and time signatures – tracks like “Becoming Hollow (Am I?)” nail that classic prog feel without sounding like they’re copying anyone. “Gelatin Skeleton” and “Petrichorus” keep you headbanging, while “The House Always Wins” and “The Last Light in the Universe” show off Adams’ talent for building up that sweet tension before letting it explode. And the two-part “Apocalypsis“is a knockout punch – Pt. 1 sprawls out over 5:30 before Pt. 2 hits you with this intense, tight finish.
But it’s not all solo heroics. The closing track, “Phantom Love,” features Samantha Palisoc, adding a dynamic layer to the album’s finale. Just like “the Beatles taking antidepressants,” it’s a standout moment that highlights Adams’ ability to collaborate without compromising their vision.
The lyrics were pulled straight from the novel’s dark fantasy world. No filler, no BS – every guitar lick, every synth pulse, every cymbal crash is there for a reason. They’re all tied to the story’s emotional beats and themes. You don’t just listen to this album; you feel the desperation creeping in, the fear taking hold, that face-off with the “penultimate evil.” This is heavy stuff we’re talking about – both the sound and the feelings.
Dead Man Walking is Adams painting the legs, and they’re here to up the rock scene with a fearless blend of storytelling and sonic innovation. Strap in and turn it up loud—Zach Adams is just getting started.