FantA´mas - Suspended Animation

%@#$!!? Brace yourself, super group Fantomas is back with a vengeance on their fourth album SUSPENDED ANIMATION. Unlike the epic DELIRIUM CORDIA, SUSPENDED ANIMATION likens itself with Fantomas' first record (self titled) punctuated with cartoon escapades.

The special spiral-bound edition is gone but not to worry, you shan't be deprived. Packaged in a digipak with a 30 page booklet of all of the same beautiful Yoshitomo Nara original artwork. This edition will remain in print in perpetuity. Album Description

Cartoon violence revisited

Although not the best fantomas album, it's still awesome in my view. A mashup of noise, jingles and thrash metal. excellent April 12, 2007

Brilliant jump cut record.

Fantomas' "Suspended Animation" is a great record, not for everyone, certainly. Mike Patton, clearly influenced by John Zorn's Naked City project and the work of Carl Stalling, has constructed a jump cut record that is not dissimilar to much of Naked City's output-- this is one thing I've found somewhat underdocumented reading reviews of the album, but having spent a little time listening to it, this was my first impression.

Patton does, however, find his own voice as he seamlessly blends genres-- notably cartoon music in the Stalling model and endless sound effects. Like Naked City, it can be frustrating at times when you find an idea you like and its development is abandoned in exchange for something else, but the statement as a whole is what's really important. Like all Fantomas records, there's a high theatrical feels on this one as it slides between various styles, always returning to a sort of sludgey metal feel and a cartoon feel. Patton's vocals are largely wordless, though there is some lyric here and there.

One thing that I see a lot of is fans of metal seeking Fantomas material having heard its a "metal supergroup"-- if you don't like experimental music, you probably won't like this one, regardless of who's in the band-- most of these guys have been associated with Zorn's work more recently than with metal bands, and it shows. On the other hand, if you are a metal fan and you're a bit open minded, there may be enough here to latch onto to allow you to develop an appreciation for it, but Fantomas is not something that will come easy-- you sort of have to get used to hearing it before it makes sense.

If you're a fan of Patton's work with Fantomas (even if you disliked "Delerium Cordia") or for that matter with Mr. Bungle, this is a good one to check out. I'd also recommend this to John Zorn/Naked City fans, they'll find quite a bit to like on this one (ditto for "General Patton vs. the X-ecutioners"). Conversely, if you did like this, check out Zorn's Naked City band, I think you'll find it very rewarding. October 24, 2006

Thirty tracks of imagination

I don't even know where to begin. It's hard to write a review when you have "bring back that love and feeling" playing in the background...
Anyways.
As a musician, this is one of those albums that is either going to inspire you or make you want to quit because it is that good. I have yet to find a band that can match the intensity/originality of Fantomas. The fact that they can play live is amazing in itself. This is a great album for anyone who is looking for pure imagination and is tired of the same old basic song format. Suspended Animation pushes the boundries of what people label as music and opens a million doors of color, sound and emotion. Personaly, I am always quick to listen to something that has an element of originality and with Suspended Animation you get the whole package. Buy this album! Any album that will scare your grandparents and make your friends question your sanity is a good one. July 30, 2005

Suspend the "Animation"

Warning: The below album is an experience, and an intense one. It should not be listened to if your mind isn't open.

Okay, enough of that.

In early 2004, Fantômas produced the dark, mesmerizing "Delirium Cordia," a strange concept album with only one epic song... which happened to be 74 minutes long. It was a risk, and it paid off. So after something like that, what can a band do that doesn't sound like backsliding? Well, do the reverse.

Enter "Suspended Animation," an odd concept album built around the month of April. The band opts for faster, more cartoony songs this time around, but retains the mad-genius-doing-prog-metal-on-acid sound. It's the sort of music that one can't have mixed opinions on -- either you love this stuff, or you loathe it.

Frontman Mike Patton imbues "Suspended Animation with hints of blues, weird synth, jazz, metal, post-rock, strange sound effects and just about every other kind of sound, with some bombastic drums and razor-sharp riffs. The music should be a complete mess, but instead it sounds like Patton has managed to trap some rabid sound waves in a box. It's chaos, but controlled chaos -- the type that fascinates rather than repels.

And soaring over it all is the voice of Patton himself, sounding a bit demented. He's got an almost impossibly flexible voice, and the man puts it to extremely good use here. He's backed by the excellent Buzz Osbourne, guitarist for the Melvins, and nearly-as-good Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo.

Since the album is centered on the month of April there are... thirty tracks. Not one. Not ten. Thirty. Patton keeps things moving with cartoonish sounds and quick cuts from one song to the next. It's sillier than the morbid "Delirium Cordia" was, but by no means is it goofy or lightweight. Despite the closing sample, that is -- it borders on goofiness here and there, but never crosses the line.

It may not be dark and sprawling, but "Suspended Animation" is just as good as its predecessor. Mad, whirling and bursting with chaotic energies. June 14, 2005

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