In the absence of new Faith No More (which seemed like it might actually be a thing for a minute earlier this week), Tomahawk has always been my favorite (read: most FNM-like) of Mike Patton’s myriad side projects. If I’m being honest, the Patton-led collabo — which also includes Jesus Lizard guitarist Duane Denison, ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier and ex-Mr. Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn — kinda lost my interest with 2007′s Anonymous, a record that lacked gusto and reminded me a very mellow, spiritual version of Bungle. 2003′s Mit Gas is the record that hooked me, but 2001′s self-titled debut is a ripper too (stream it on Spotify here).

So it’s with cautious anticipation that I report that Tomahawk are working on a new album, according to their Facebook page. Hooray! Hopefully it’s more Mit Gas / self-titled and less Anonymous. Presumably we’ll find out in the first half of 2012, and presumably it’ll be issued via Patton’s own label Ipecac.

-VN

Thanks: Mykee Shaffer

We bid fuck off to 2010 tonight ,and that’s sad cuz this year contained the last days of  Type O Negative’s Peter Steele and metal’s Babe Ruth, Ronnie James Dio. We also have to prematurely turn the page on Paul Gray of Slipknot (see you in lefty heaven, dude), Bay Area legend Debbie Abono, and Makh Daniels from Early Graves. It’s like we’re leaving them behind in ’10 and will be forced to forge a path beyond 2011 without their support. What a rip-off.

Okay, this is turning into a real bummer and, worse, it’s redundant to our oft-blubbery reportage of these deaths and others. But today, let’s quickly acknowledge that outside of the MetalSucks coverage umbrella fell the passings of two friends of metal, actor Tony Curtis and filmmaker Satoshi Kon. Curtis may’ve been a marquee leading man and master of frantic comedy in the ’60s, but he first delivered the single greatest, metallist, brilliantest line of dialogue in the history of cinema in 1957′s The Sweet Smell of Success (see headline). Even Mike Patton and Tomahawk made it the refrain of their jam “Laredo” (above, at 1:40). Which is odd cuz that album also has a track named “Sweet Smell of Success.”

Then there’s Satoshi Kon, whose mind-mangling 13-part series Paranoia Agent is one of those works that metal people can love for its non-damning treatment of outsider fuck-ups and its flip, fatalist depiction of mankind’s collective narcissism. It brings to bear the desolate panic of Hitchcock, Lynch’s themes of futile struggle against unfathomable evil, and inevitable dead-end violence, as found in Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. Which is odd, cuz the star of that movie reminds me of Mike Patton.

Cheers everybody! See you back here in 2011!

-ADF

It’s true. I interviewed Mike Patton. Do I even need to do an introductory paragraph for this? You either know who Mike Patton is or you have no fucking business reading this website. Disagree? Suck it.

I will say this, though. Mr. Patton’s latest album, Mondo Cane, is a collection of Italian language cover songs, recorded with a forty-piece orchestra. And it’s fucking great. While that might not sound very metal, it makes sense to anyone who’s followed his career of making exciting, challenging, and even befuddling music with groups like Faith No More, Fantomas, and Mr. Bungle. Check out what he has to say about Mondo Cane – and much more — below.

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Let’s face it: Ministry without Paul Barker just isn’t the same. Nothing on Houses Of The Mole, Rio Grande Blood, or The Last Sucker offered the thrills and low-end chills of albums like Psalm 69 and Filth Pig. As a longtime industrial music fanatic, I am sick and fucking tired of being let down every time Al Jourgensen puts out new music. His latest outing, the positively plebeian cash-in Sex-O Olympic-O, should never have been released under the Revolting Cocks name. Enough is enough! The time has come for Hypo Luxa and Hermes Pan to hug-it-the-fuck-out!

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With the American economy in the toilet, our government is chomping at the bit ready with a dubious bailout that will flush away our tax dollars to save the greedy capitalist pigdogs down on Wall Street. Rewarding the bastards who got fat off the housing and credit bubbles at our expense makes me sick to my possibly ulcerous stomach, but at the end of the day, the American people are too stupid to grasp economic principles. Frankly, youse metalheads are an especially dumb breed, and those of you who actually consider yourselves Republicans should be out in the streets screaming bloody murder over this violation of your so-called principles. But you won’t, because freedom isn’t free. Thankfully, you’ve got excellent taste in music, so here’s your noise news.

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Happy Memorial Day to our U.S. readers, and we hope you’re enjoying your day off by stuffing yourselves silly with grilled meat and beer.

Mike Patton has done a hell of a lot of weird shit over the past decade, but as far as I’m concerned Tomahawk has been his best (read: most Faith No More-like) output since Faith No More. Tomahawk has consistently been his rockingest project to date, featuring a metal pedigee of Jesus Lizard/Hank Williams III guitarist Duane Denison, former Helmet drummer John Stanier, and Melvins bassist Kevin Rutmanis. And this song, from 2003′s Joe Barresi-produced Mit Gas, came closest to equaling the sound and ethos of latter day Faith No More.

Tomahawk – “Captain Midnight”

-VN