With “Dead Man Walking”, Zach Adams makes a striking entrance onto the modern rock landscape. Released August 1st, 2025, on their own Splitting Adams Entertainment label, the self-produced debut doesn’t just introduce an artist — it unveils an entire world. Adams pairs their horror/fantasy novel Dead Man Walking: Narrator’s Cut with a companion album, creating a multi-sensory experience where narrative and sound feed off one another. The record leans into alternative and progressive rock, but what sets it apart is the way it channels atmosphere: intricate guitar work, layered arrangements, and shadowy textures that feel cinematic in scope.
For those who might not know you yet, how would you introduce yourself?
Verbally, as in ‘Hello I’m Zach’, but I could also try an interpretive dance or a riddle to break the ice.
If you had to bottle up your sound into just three words, which ones would you choose?
“Severe Mental Illness”
Which artists (not only music-related) or moments have left the biggest mark on your music?
The Beatles, Sparks, Nirvana, System of a Down, Floater, Andy Kaufman, Douglas Adams, too many others. I spend anywhere from 1-12 hours a day listening to some kind of audio, and my main playlist on Spotify is 358.5 hours long. Seeing Paul McCartney in 2017 & Sparks in 2022 were among the most impactful experiences of my life.
When you hit play on your songs, what kind of feeling takes over?
Mostly an overwhelming urge to go back and redo it all, but make it better.
Can you walk us through the story or emotion behind Dead Man Walking? Talk to us about the track.
The title track of the album, I have probably put the most conscious thought into. Musically, it began with a (so far, pre-successful) attempt to learn the 1989 Batman movie theme on guitar and getting sidetracked. Lyrically, it took shape the same way as the book – I envisioned a fairly hopeless and depressed lead character, I found relatable at the time and wrote as if I was the villain of the story, sending him a message, causing all of the misery and hopelessness he feels/sees around him. Lines like “bored out of your ******* mind, never surprised, devoid of meaning” and “with bad times in sight, wouldn’t you say reality owes you all of this?” were pretty fair summaries of how I and the fictional Isaac felt at the time.
If you could team up with anyone in the world—no limits—who would be that dream collaborator?
The difficult part of this question is narrowing it down to just one. Paul McCartney, Elton John, either Ronald or Russell Mael, Robert Wynia, Steven Wilson, Jack White, Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian… My dream list is almost as long as my Spotify playlists.
Outside of music, what brings you joy or keeps you grounded?
I’m also a fantasy writer (the album is loosely based on my 2023 novel Dead Man Walking: Narrator’s Cut, book #1 in the Ivyverse), and I spend a possibly unhealthy amount of time playing video games (currently on my 2nd run of Kingdom Come: Deliverance) and enjoying superhero content (thank you, Kevin Feige & James Gunn among all the other creatives at Marvel & DC). That is, of course, when my cat Gamora gets off of my lap and gives me time to do things like play games, answer these questions, and generally anything else that isn’t petting her.
Do you have a favourite quote or mantra that keeps you motivated on tough days?
A few.
Until such a time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.” – Nick Fury, The Avengers (2012)
“Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind.” – 12th Doctor, Doctor Who (2017)
“Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.” – Steven Wright (I’m not sure the year)
