Adam Holzman – Zombie Apocalypse (Big Fun, 2025)
Adam Holzman’s Zombie Apocalypse transforms the sounds of the era of the “keyboard wizard” with a modern voltage boost. The album draws a crooked line between jazz, ambient electronica, and progressive rock, with piano, synthesizers, and circuitry sharing the front line with sinewy percussion. The result feels like a one-man orchestra dialing through future-shocked radio stations.
Zombie Apocalypse contains less progressive rock than previous releases. Indeed, jazz and electronica play a much more important role.
On “Affirming The Consequent” you’ll find a mesmerizing mix of jazz piano, pulsing electronics and Holzman’s fantastic signature synth melodies.
“Troll Farm” features laid back electric piano in dialogue with synths and smoky, conventional saxophone backed by bouncy electronic beats.
“Friend Or Foe” presents melodic piano, exquisite, virtuosic synth melodies and light percussion.
“How Long Has That Been There?” introduces inventive trancy electronic percussion, mesmerizing piano and synths.
On “Elm” you’ll find a superb drum kit performance with elegant, creative rhythms and a delightful piano performance with an old world flavor.
“Reptilian Survival Instinct” is the longest piece on the album. It opens with masterful solo piano. Gradually, nuanced electronic grooves and synths are added. The best moment arrives with yet another signature synth solo.
Things get very electronic on “Let’s Blow This Popsicle Stand” with a mix of speedy sequencers and a remarkable synth solo.
As you would expect, “Zombie Apocalypse” is the most unconventional composition. The opening is chaotic, with freeform sounds. It leads into a melodic piano surrounded by nightmarish sounds until the calm arrives in the form of peaceful solo piano.
Randy McStine’s turn on Peter Gabriel’s “Here Comes The Flood” supplies the album’s last track and the clearest melodic hook and most traditional song structure.
Hajo Mueller’s cover art matches the concept: quirky, emerging from an imaginary underground comic book.
Musicians: Adam Holzman on grand piano, Minimoog Voyager, Doepfer modular synth, Korg SV1 electric piano, Korg Karma, Memotron, Moog DFAM electric percussion, synth bass; Ofer Assaf on tenor and soprano sax; Arjun Bruggeman on tabla, frame drum, jembe, shaker; Randy McStine on vocals, guitar and McTronics on “Here Comes The Flood”; Jane Getter, guitar on “Here Comes The Flood” and “Popsicle Stand”; Evan Eskenazi, drums on “Elm”; and Russell Holzman, drum loop on “Reptilian Survival Instinct.”
Recorded and mixed by Adam Holzman. Recorded at Adam’s Secret Laboratory, Bronx, New York
Piano on “Reptilian Survival Instinct” and “Zombie Apocalypse” recorded by Anthony Ruotolo at Spin Studios, New York.
Mastered by Andy VanDette at Evolve Mastering.
Artwork and cover design by Hajo Mueller.
Photos by Linda Heath.
Buy Zombie Apocalypse.