Zach Adams' “Dead Man Walking”: The perfectly polished chaos one would want to listen to.

“The unpredictable tones, the experimental vibes; all contribute to make a great album.”

Zach Adams debuted with his album Dead Man Walking on August 1, 2025, through his own Splitting Adams Entertainment label. It is not just a record; it is a bold and artistic statement. made as a counterpart to Adams’ horror-fantasy novel, “Dead Man Walking.” The album blurs the line between literature and music. With its twelve tracks, Adams mixes rock, alternative grit, and cinematic textures to make an immersive listening experience that feels both experimental and deeply personal.

“The track with its unpredictable nature brings listeners of all kinds together.”

From the first track, “Dead Man Walking- Final MIX,” Adams wastes no time hinting at the album’s scope. Never heard before riffs underlying a cold theme mixed with vocals that are both urgent and defined. The track shows it's here to make a statement and is not afraid of intensity. The track is raw but neatly polished. The opening of any album creates a theme for the album in the listener's mind, and Adam has selected the best piece to start his masterwork with. The track works as a subliminal for the listener to create a feeling of anticipation in their mind, which is always needed in an album.

As we move to the next track, “…When Wishing Still Helped One,” Adam surprises us with slow, anticipatory instrumentals built to a strong climax. It sets the stage for “Drown,” where the focus turns inward. The layered guitars speak of fear. Here, Adams’ skill lies not just in technical ability, but in creating emotions to music.

He definitely has a taste for experimentation. “They Want You to Be Afraid!” combines wavy rhythms with electronic textures, creating an eerie vibe of something that lies beyond. “Gelatin Skeleton” is even stranger with its unhinged and unpredictable tones, making it the perfect chaos one would want to listen to. The spontaneous themes of songs are what make the album truly special.

“Petrichorus” envelops the listener in foggy synths and dreamy guitar lines, almost creating with its words the scenery of nature just before rain. In contrast, “Becoming Hollow (Am I?)” takes on a different path with Adam confronting themes of reality and illusion in its lyrics. This turns out to be a more vulnerable side of the artist, unveiled in a track.

The lyrics and their storytelling take Centre stage in the second half of the album. “The House Always Wins” has a groovy rhythm with lyrics hinting at resisting powers bigger than oneself. “The Last Light in the Universe” slows things down, offering the audience a slow, soft pause before bringing it to a climax. The “Apocalypsis” comes in two parts: the first part builds tension with its layering, while the second comes in full force with its melodies and relentlessness.

The closing track, “Phantom Love - Final MIX,” leaves the deepest impression. The song holds an almost artistic beauty and is indescribable. The song shifts between melancholy and hope. It feels like a calm after the whole album created themes of fear, transformation, and imagination. This song almost grasps the listener's attention in such a way that the whole album comes running back to one's mind after listening to this soothing tone.

Altogether, Dead Man Walking is a work of remarkable ambition. Instead of being just a simple tie-up to a novel, this album creates chaos and challenges the listener to explore deeper. Structure may overwhelm some. Yet that same boldness is the record’s greatest strength. It’s a narrative piece, one of a kind.