In the land of Industrial Mustaches I believe that former Haex member and Mortal Realm founder Adam Jones has a damned good chance of claiming that title. The well-groomed gentleman takes obvious pride in it and I don’t blame him; he looks fantastic. But do you know what else he takes pride in? His musical solo act that blends EBM and classic industrial sounds into a hard dance party package with elements of cinematic soundtrack bewilderment. Mr. Jones goes over his project’s roots, what his latest album is all about, as well as what the future has in store for him in this edition of INTRODUCING.
Give us a brief about your band. Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Adam V. Jones, and Mortal Realm is my evolving Industrial project. I’m probably best known for my work in Haex as a co-founder, co-writer, and vocalist. Mortal Realm allows me to push further into mixing high-energy EBM, classic Industrial, Industrial-metal, and more cinematic sound design, with influences pulled from a wide range of sources. The music moves between high aggression and sulking dread, naturally drawing from the spirit of classic Industrial and EBM while still exploring new ground.
When did you first launch the project and how has it come along since?
I started Mortal Realm after Haex disbanded shortly after I moved from Los Angeles to the Seattle, Washington area. I released my debut album ‘Stab in the Dark’ on Negative Gain Records in the summer of 2024 and have performed on a festival stage at Mechanismus. Since then, I’ve also released two other singles, “With a Heavy Heart” and “ROT (And Decompose).” Each release and every show has pushed me to tighten up the sound and explore new sonic territory without losing that visceral punch.
What bands and artists influenced you the most and why?
I naturally gravitate toward writing Industrial and other heavy genres. Most of my influence has probably come from early Nine Inch Nails, Leæther Strip, and Hocico. But I also pull influence from video game music and other material far outside the Industrial genre like Enya, Aphex Twin, The Prodigy, and Dimmu Borgir.
If you could pick a single song from your discography to explain your music, which song would you pick and why?
I do my best to keep a fair balance of uniformity and originality in my work, but it’s hard to pick a single track because the production style range is pretty wide. I might pick ‘ROT (And Decompose)’ because it blends Industrial and Metal, with a heavy yet (dare I say) hauntingly beautiful section where I do high clean singing alongside choirs, layered with clangs and mechanical sounds throughout.
What is your most recent release and what is it about?
The most recent release is ‘ROT (And Decompose),’ which is a critique of the current administration and a challenge to those who supported it in the past or present to confront the greed and malice hidden beneath its promises. It’s about what happens when blind confidence replaces empathy and awareness. The production draws heavily from Nine Inch Nails, Bile, Ministry, and the general sense of unease I feel about where things are.
Take us through your creative process. How do you compose a song from start to finish? Where do the ideas come from?
Ideas usually come out of nowhere in my head, almost like an auditory hallucination. Sometimes it’s a fully formed segment of a song that does not exist yet, playing in my mind, and other times it’s just a vocal line or a strange synth sound that I have to create to get it out. I’ve even heard sounds and melodies in other people’s music that aren’t actually there. Lyrics usually come after the music, shaped by whatever I’m processing or working through emotionally.
What’s your current favorite song, band, or album within your scene? And vice versa, what do you enjoy the most that’s completely opposite of what you make?
Within the scene, my favorite newer track is “Thorn” by Inva//id, an LA-based Industrial act. Outside of the scene, I’ve been playing the track “Murder” by Susumu Hirasawa off the Berserk anime soundtrack (on repeat), as well as Barber’s “AGNUS DEI (arr. Adagio for Strings)” performed by Laurens Symfonisch Choir.
What is on the horizon for your project? Upcoming gigs, tours, merch, videos, etc. Name it, link it, show it off.
I’m happy to say that I’m about halfway through a second album. The new stuff is really weird and cool. I am also refining the live show and its light show, which has been tedious at times but honestly fun. Mortal Realm is confirmed for Sinth : PNW Dark Elektro Music Fest in early February 2026 at The Coffin Club for a proper kickoff to 2026. There’s more merch in the works too.
