Fantômas (band)
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Fantômas is an alternative metal band. The group is named after Fantômas, a villain featured in a series of crime novels popular in France before World War I.
The group was formed when singer Mike Patton composed a handful of spasmic, experimental metal songs after the collapse of his earlier group, Faith No More. Patton then sent the original compositions to his friends, hoping to form a performing group: guitarist Buzz Osborne (of The Melvins), Trevor Dunn (of Mr. Bungle) and drummer Igor Cavalera (of Sepultura). Cavalera declined the offer, but recommended whom he thought would be perfect for the project: Dave Lombardo of Slayer. Lombardo accepted and thus was formed Patton's own supergroup.
Though rooted in heavy metal, their music actually touches on many different musical genres, and is noted for its offbeat sense of humor; one critic has dubbed their style "dada-metal" [link] Critic Greg Prato describes their music as "completely original ... especially when compared to the blah and predictable alt-rock of the late '90s."[link] Patton rarely sings conventional lyrics with the group, preferring his own bizarre style of voice music or scat singing.
They also arrange albums around strange concepts or themes:
- Fantômas (Amenaza Al Mundo) was based on science fiction comic books, with every song simply given a page number (Page 1, Page 2 etc.).
- The Director's Cut was a series of reinterpretations of motion picture theme songs. Some versions are rather loyal to the sources (such as the eerie lullabye from The Night of the Hunter), while others offer radical takes on the music (such the theme from The Godfather tackled as a thrash metal song).
- Delìrium Còrdia was one extended song, with the concept of surgery without anesthesia.
- Suspended Animation (Recorded in the same sessions as Delìrium Còrdia) is an album of twisted cartoon music, each track named after a day in the month of April 2005. (Friday The 8th, etc.).
On May 13, 2006, Patton revealed to Billboard.com that a fifth Fantômas album has been planned. Of the album, Patton says "The next record is going to be an all-electronic affair. It's going to take some creative planning on how to record it and execute it, but there will be no acoustic instruments on it whatsoever. We're pretty much about to go into hibernation mode. I need to, once I have a little time, go back to the drawing board, and start writing the next one."[link]
Discography
- 1999 Fantômas (aka 'Amenaza Al Mundo')
- 2001 The Director's Cut
- 2002 Millennium Monsterwork 2000 Live w/The Melvins
- 2004 Delìrium Còrdia
- 2005 Suspended Animation
- 2005 Split 5" Vinyl / 3" CD with Melt-banana
External links
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