(experimental) Fantomas-Amenaza Al Mundo

[Kaden]

Fantomas is:
Vocals: Mike Patton
Bass: Trevor Dunn
Guitar: Buzz Osborne
Drums/percussion: Dave Lombardo

Every once in a while, I’m listening to music and there’s this one moment that sends shivers down my spine. Fantomas bases this whole album around those moments, rather than complete, well-structured songs. The whole idea of Amenaza Al Mundo is a soundtrack to a French graphic novel that was released before WW1. There’s 30 pages, and each song is a page. There’s no lyrics on the album, but Mike Patton sings amazing parts that I can’t even describe. He has parts verging on beatboxing (page 3) as well as beautiful melody parts (page18). There’s weird ambience parts (page 4) and fast, energetic, almost punk parts (page 25). Throughout all the amazing guitar riffs and Patton’s incredible, weird vocals, I think the highlight of this album is really Dave Lombardo’s drumming. He uses all kinds of tribal beats to set the mad groove (my personal favorite track for drums is Page 9). The whole thing is really amazing, there’s not much more I can say about it.
5/5

I know this review sucks, but give me a break, it was a really hard one to review.

[Tangy zizzle]

I thought it was just called Fantomas?

[Theleftside2]

It is considered to be a self-titled album because it is officially labeled to be self-titled when you buy it from a store or anywhere...but on the cover of the CD it says "Amenaza Al Mundo" Which is actually the title of the "Fantomas" comic book.

I hope that made sense. :confused:


Oh and Kaden...your review didn't suck.
You just reviewed the CD as a whole, rather than going at it one track at a time, which is kind of hard to do when the tracks on this CD aren't really songs.
I like it. :thumb:


And this album; what can I say...it's a masterpiece.

It's the first album I bought from them; and as unusual as it was to me when I first bought it, with each listen I seem to enjoy it more and more.

:p

[Bartender]

Its a good review of a very hard album to review.

This is the only Fantomas album I actually own, and my favourite Page is 29. I think "Amenaza al Mundo" means "threat to the world", unless anyone can correct me.

[Tomahawk]

Ah sweet, thanks for reviewing this. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna buy this now, but I'll probably have to order it off the internet. From what I know of the album it'd be hard to review, and you did a pretty good job.

And I agree about Lombardo's drumming, at least on the albums that I have heard. He does so much more than keep the beat, he's really talented.

[Theleftside2]

I think "Amenaza al Mundo" means "threat to the world", unless anyone can correct me.

It could mean "Threatens the world" (as in Fantomas Threatens the world) , or "Threat to the world."

:)

[Bartender]

Ah sweet, thanks for reviewing this. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna buy this now, but I'll probably have to order it off the internet.

If you live in Britain, I've definitely seen it recently in either HMV or Virgin, so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

[OrbDragon]

Great review of a great record. I've been so into Delirium Cordia lately that I somewhat neglected this one. Pag 28 is my favorite, they actually played it live when I saw Fantômas :evil:

They're coming to holland May 26th...I'm so there!

[manuscriptreplica]

wow never knew ex-slayer drummer dave lombardo played for fantomas!!! i should check em out.

[br3ad_man]

I just dug this one up, 'twas a good review Kaden. I have to buy this some day, the whole album is sitting on my harddrive.

[wheelz]

i've only heard a couple pages, but from what i've heard i plan on buying it as well.

i think fantomas is now my favorite patton project.

[br3ad_man]

^^^^
IMO it pwns anything Patton has ever done.

[OrbDragon]

I think Bungle is just a tad better than Fantômas.

Fantômas is like a shapeshifter...the music takes a different form each album (from avantgarde, to soundtrack music to ambient music), but you can always tell it's Fantômas.

Mr Bungle sounded like a different band with each album they have done...it was almost as if they started from scratch with each album. They were three different bands, almost.

That said, I think Fantômas, does have some of the best Patton written material...but Bungle was way more consistant...despite the drastic u-turns they made in their music.

Violenza Domestica is probably the most brilliant piece of music Patton has been a part of in my opinion...what a gem that track is. Nothing Fantômas has done so far comes close to that song...not even Delirium Cordia, which I regard as Pattons overall best material.

[Distorted Vision]

From what I've heard (about half of it) I like, but it doesn't strike me as much as TDC.

[Zappa]

Next to "California," this is the most solid album that Mike Patton has been a part of. Recommended to fans of previous Patton material, and also might be of interest to fans of grindcore. It's almost a shame that Fantomas released this album as their debut, as it's quite an act to follow. They haven't matched it yet, but here's hoping.

4.5/5