Tag Archive: Mike Patton

Iced Earth – Dystopia

Filed Under: Reviews

Oct.20, 2011

Iced Earth

Dystopia

01. Dystopia
02. Anthem
03. Boiling Point
04. Anguish Of Youth
05. V
06. Dark City
07. Equilibrium
08. Days Of Rage
09. End Of Innocence
10. Tragedy And Triumph

[10/18/11]
[Century Media]

Iced Earth are a band with a colorful past. This due in part to the ever changing line-up of musicians and vocalists. There are no doubt many reasons behind each and every line-up shift, but one thing is certain; bringing the fans around to a new musician is a hard task to achieve. Hot off the wheels of the less than stellar Something Wicked double album, star vocalist Matt Barlow departed from the band — for a second time. Many a fan lamented this fact; we had just gotten him back after a few less than extraordinary albums with Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens at the vocal helm, but of course one’s family is more important than most everything else. Like every fan of Iced Earth, and any band where a new musician takes the place of one you know and love, I was wary that new vocalist Stu Block (Into Eternity) wouldn’t be able to live up to the standard of power and beauty that was emphasized in every song that Barlow performed on. Luckily for me, all those worries were quelled and put to bed when I listened to this record.

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Tags: Century Media Records, Devin Townsend, Dystopia, Iced Earth, Into Eternity, Matt Barlow, Mike Patton, Queen, Russell Allen, Star One, Tim "Ripper" Owens

Celebrate Christmas Early With John Zorn and Mike Patton

Filed Under: Audio, General News

Oct.20, 2011

It’s a little over two months until Christmas is here, but you can start your yuletide feelings today with the smooth and soulful stylings of the legendary John Zorn and Mike Patton and their cover of “Christmas Song.” In case you’re wondering, no, they didn’t metal the song up any. It’s a faithful cover, and highly classy.

“But why are you posting this on a site about metal?! This doesn’t make any sense!”

Because fuck you, Scrooge McGrinch. I shouldn’t have to tell you about their importance and relevance to heavy music, but here’s a hint.

John Zorn’s Christmas album A Dreamers Christmas is available now, and it’ll give you some much needed holiday music that doesn’t absolutely suck. Dat jazz.

[via ThePRP]

- JR

Tags: John Zorn, Mike Patton

From The Archive: Mr. Bungle – Mr. Bungle

Filed Under: Albums You Should Hear, From the Archive

Oct.19, 2011

From The Archive

The discovery of a new band is always exciting. Will it be something you’ve heard countless times? An experience that leaves a bad taste in your mouth? Or is it a treat from which you cannot stop consuming? I wanted to take a trip back in time to reminisce about bands/albums that not only introduced me to heavy music, but kept me coming back for more…

From The Archive: Mr. Bungle – Mr. Bungle

Mr. Bungle - Mr. Bungle

[This week on From The Archive, both Dormition and Alkahest weigh in on Mr. Bungle's self-titled debut record.]

Our love of Mike Patton is well-known around these parts, as we’ve already reflected upon his work with Faith No More, Fantômas, Peeping Tom and his one time collaboration with the equally insane The Dillinger Escape Plan. So it was only a matter of time until we covered his other band, the experimental and genre spanning Mr. Bungle. Having formed back in 1985 with all the members still attending high school and taking their name from a 1960s children’s educational film, Lunchroom Manners, Mr. Bungle released four demo tapes during the late 80s until finally being signed by Warner Bros. Records. Their debut self-titled album, Mr. Bungle, which was produced by jazz experimentalist John Zorn, was released on August 13, 1991, and upon first listen, there’s a lot to take in, as the band mixed metal, funk, ska, carnival music and jazz into one of the most unconventionally structured yet cohesive sounding albums I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening too.

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Tags: Faith No More, Fantômas, John Zorn, Mike Patton, Mr. Bungle, Peeping Tom, The Dillinger Escape Plan

These Dillinger Side-Projects Are Just Piling Up!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Sep.21, 2011

These dudes in The Dillinger Escape Plan are always up to SOMETHING. If not writing/recording/touring on Dillinger, they’re doing guest spots, remixes, collaborations, and whatever other thing that can be done as a musicians. As vocalist Greg Puciato always says, they’re on “The Rock Clock,” which gives no time for sitting around and twiddling thumbs. There’s always a face to wreck somewhere, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a band more willing and able to do that without having to ask twice.

So here’s a rundown of some stuff the dudes in Dillinger are up to which you may or may not be aware of:

Greg Puciato and Soulfly’s Max Cavalera have been working together on a project of unknown specificity. The photo above is a picture that Greg tweeted of the project’s fist demo. Who knows what it will sound like!? At any rate, it’s ~~probably~~ most definitely going to be pretty awesome. The duo have collaborated before on a Soulfly track called “Rise of the Fallen.” Check out the video for that below:

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Tags: As I Lay Dying, Ben Weinman, Greg Puciato, Ink & Dagger, Jeff Tuttle, Max Cavalera, Mike Patton, Old Gods, Red Fang, Soulfly, The Dillinger Escape Plan

From The Archive: Faith No More – Angel Dust

Filed Under: Albums You Should Hear, Bands That Made Me Heavy, From the Archive

Aug.24, 2011

From The Archive

From The Archive: Faith No More – Angel Dust

Faith No More - Angel Dust

Faith No More, a band that needs no introduction as their name is very well known in the music industry. They’ve been hailed as one of the most influential rock bands of the late 80s and early 90s, while also being a major influence for many of todays alternative rock/metal bands. Whereas their first two albums, We Care A Lot and Introduce Yourself saw the band combining elements of funk, hip hop, alternative rock, punk and even a touch of avant-garde, it wasn’t until their original vocalist, Chuck Mosley was replaced by Mike Patton that the band began to take shape and evolve their sound.

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Tags: Angel Dust, Faith No More, Mike Patton, Mr. Bungle, The Dillinger Escape Plan

Perennial Avante Garde Love Fantômas To Release Live DVD Of The Director’s Cut!

Filed Under: Upcoming releases

Jul.21, 2011

Mike Patton’s sporadic avante-garde metal supergroup Fantômas, following the rule that if you talk about someone enough there will probably be some news about them, are set to release a live DVD of their seminal 2001 album The Director’s Cut, just over a decade after its release.

I waxed lyrical about the record recently when Dan took a week’s sabbatical from From The Archive, so I won’t bore you to death again, but trust me when I say it’s fantastic – not to mention the numerous glowing live reports I’ve heard. This promises to be a must-have release – and that’s coming from me; someone who owns only one live DVD (Botch‘s 061522, if you’re interested).

It’s due to be released September 6th on Ipecac Recordings.

- CG

Tags: Fantômas, Ipecac Recordings, Mike Patton, The Director's Cut

From The Archive: Fantômas – The Director’s Cut

Filed Under: Albums You Should Hear, Bands That Made Me Heavy, From the Archive

Jun.29, 2011

From The Archive

From The Archive: Fantômas – The Director’s Cut

“Holy shit! You’re not the amazing Arena! The dashing Dormition!” I hear you cry! Fear not; Our favourite FTA author is taking the week off, so I’ve stepped up to the plate to talk about a band and an album very close to my heart.

Let’s not beat around the bush here; Fantômas are fucking weird – and not surprisingly too. Their frontman is Mike Patton, one of the most talented and genre-flitting vocalists in the history of any genre. Last year he made an Italian pop album. He was also partly responsible for catapulting Faith No More into nineties stardom, all the while creating…well, whatever the fuck Mr. Bungle are. Fitting, then that the band also includes Bungle’s bassist Trevor Dunn, as well as Dave Lombardo and the crazily-barneted King Buzz of The Melvins. Right then.

Fantômas’s discography is about as varied as Patton’s career; there’s the polarising Delìrium Còrdia, a 74+ minute, single track exploration into fuck knows what. There’s some Peruvian throat singing in there, which is all you need to know really. At the other end of the spectrum, there’s the 30-track Suspended Animation, which although awesome for the most part, it hard to stomach at times.

But what I want to talk about is their opus: The Director’s Cut.

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Tags: Fantômas, Mike Patton, Mr. Bungle, The Director's Cut, The Melvins

Polkadot Cadaver – Sex Offender

Filed Under: Reviews

May.12, 2011

Polkadot Cadaver

Sex Offender

01. Opus Dei
02. Seagrave
03. Bloodsucker
04. Starlight Requiem
05. Stronger Than Weak
06. Slaughterhouse Striptease
07. Sex Offender
08. Cake & Eat It Too
09. Mongoloid
10. Forever and a Day

[05/10/11]
[Rotten Records]

Formed from the ashes of the now defunct band Dog Fashion Disco, singer/guitarist Todd Smith, drummer John Ensminger and guitarist/keyboardist Jasan Stepp hooked up again to form another screwed up (but in a good way) band in both the musical and lyrical senses. At times coming off like some deranged love child of Slayer and Mr. Bungle, their newest project, Polkadot Cadaver, strolls along the thin line of themes dealing with serial killing, sexual perversion and anti-religious sentiments. Their debut album Purgatory Dance Party, being musically similar to Dog Fashion Disco and offering more of their odd antics, was a twisted album that satisfied the fans. Now with the release of their newest full-length, Sex Offender, Polkadot Cadaver look to continue down the crooked road they’ve paved with limbs, vomit and other bodily fluids…

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Tags: Dog Fashion Disco, Mike Patton, Mr. Bungle, Polkadot Cadaver, Purgatory Dance Party, Sex Offender, Slayer

Anaal Nathrakh – Passion

Filed Under: Reviews

May.03, 2011

Anaal Nathrakh

Passion

01. Volenti Non Fit Iniuria
02. Drug-Fucking Abomination
03. Post Traumatic Stress Euphoria
04. Le Diabolique Est L’ami Du Simple
05. Locus of Damnation
06. Tod Huetet Uebel
07. Paragon Pariah
08. Who Thinks of the Executioner
09. Ashes Screaming Silence
10. Portrait of the Artist

[Candlelight Records]
[05/28/11]

When it comes to converting non-believers, there’s some bands that I use as a prime example of why metal is worth their time, and others as a hilariously shocking example of what sort of seedy record metal can offer. For every Devin Townsend Project or Periphery out there that carries a pop appeal, there’s a band that embodies the definition of inaccessibility. Case in point, for Anaal Nathrakh‘s eighth release Passion, their patented blend of the most extreme music genres is as dehumanizing and chaotic as ever. You’d think grindcore, black metal, and power metal were made for each other. Huge riffs and contorting vocal passages compliment the soaring choruses quite strangely, and are off-putting at first if you’ve never heard of the British duo before. The intense and confrontational atmosphere on display here is somewhat enthralling in the way a train wreck is impossible to look away from.

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Tags: Anaal Nathrakh, Mike Patton

In Case We Don’t Tell You Enough, You Should Look Into Circles

Filed Under: Upcoming releases, Video

Apr.22, 2011

Chris has called upon you guys to check out newer Basick Records signees Circles once before, but I felt it appropriate to remind you that their debut EP is coming down the pike this spring. Here’s a brilliant description straight from the PR blurbs:

Set for release via BASICK in Spring 2011, the band’s debut 6-track EP ‘The Compass’, combines musical influences from technically minded bands such as Periphery and Textures, whilst simultaneously drawing lyrical and vocal comparisons to the early works of Incubus and Faith No More.

They aren’t just blowing smoke up the asses of music enthusiasts—this is actually probably the most accurate official description of sound I’ve seen for quite some time. Come to think of it, the vocal work in Circles does seem to draw a subdued Mike Patton influence, which I can dig immensely.

Be on the lookout for Circles’ upcoming EP The Compass, which hits stores May 16th via Basick Records.

- JR

Tags: Circles, Faith No More, Incubus, Mike Patton, Periphery, Textures