Album review: "Sol Invictus" by Faith No More

FNM's first album since 1997 was worth the wait.

FAITH NO MORE

“Sol Invictus”

(Ipecac)

For alternative music fans of a certain age, there has not been a more anticipated reunion than Faith No More’s recent one: the 10-track album “Sol Invictus” represents the band’s first recording since 1997’s “Album of the Year.”

The pioneers of alternative metal exploded on the scene with the 1989 hit “Epic,” a song that might be solely responsible for spawning bands such as Korn and Limp Bizkit. Try not to hold that against FNM, however, because the band continued to crank out refreshingly original hard rock albums, never pigeonholed into the “nu metal” movement started in the wake of the band’s early success, until they broke apart in 1998.

No matter who the band is, one wonders which effect a reunion album will have, especially after 18 years: the album will either tarnish the legacy left or add to it. Thankfully, “Sol Invictus” does the latter, and more. It’s one of the band’s best ever, vying with 1992’s definitive “Angel Dust” effort.

“Superhero” and “Separation Anxiety” are the most metal of the tracks, and perhaps the most mood-inducing. The first features a trademark FNM keyboard lick that eventually serves as a backbone to a swirling instrumental jam, all while singer Mike Patton repeats: “Leader of men/Leader of men/Leader of men/Will you be one of them?” The overall effect is quite hypnotic. “Separation Anxiety” features a maniacal vocal style and uptempo riffing arranged in such a way as to nearly produce anxiety in the listener. It’s a thrilling experience.

While “Cone of Shame” is a quirky, blusey number, “Matador” is one of the most sprawling, genre-blending track’s of FNM’s career. It starts quietly, dramatically, and builds to soaring outbursts of instrumentation, all while featuring Patton’s split-personality vocal style. Patton is at his best here and sounds as good as ever.

Catch the band on tour while you can this year: Patton and the boys will appear at Chicago’s Riot Fest the weekend of Sept. 11-13, 2015.

9/10

Link to published print version in July 2015 issue of Illinois Entertainer magazine: http://www.joomag.com/magazine/illinois-entertainer-july-2015/0925465001435759030?short
Open PDF and navigate to page 28