No rock band is more divisive than Northern California's Mr. Bungle. Formed by high school friends and named after a 1950s children's educational film regarding bad habits, the band's music traverses genres in unexpected ways usually at the drop of a hat. You're either gonna love them or you're gonna hate them, there does not seem to be much middle ground with Mr. Bungle. Known mainly as a side project for then Faith No More front man Mike Patton, Mr. Bungle was made up of largely pseudonymous members. And while their 1991 debut may have been categorized as funk metal like Faith No More, Disco Volante is far more experimental than its predecessor. The music is challenging and obscene, often compared to the films of David Lynch. You definitely get a sense that Patton is using the band to exercise all of the demons he was not able to with Faith No More. Metal bumps up against carnival music, accordions fall over themselves while turning techno on its head, and lounge music heads into the pit at your favorite thrash show. It's all there and so much more, much, much more.

• translucent light blue colored double vinyl pressing
• includes bonus track 'Mind Emissions'
• remastered audio
• gatefold sleeve
• limited edition
• original release year: 1995
• music label: Warner Records 2026

reviewed by Halal Guy 07/2015