This is without a question the weirdest band that I’ve ever seen. With a monster like Dave Lombardo (Slayer) playing drums and percussion, two weirdo’s that listen to the name of Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle) who plays bass and Buzz Osborne (Melvins) who plays guitar and master-composer Mike Patton (Fatih No More) doing vocals, keys and samples, Fantômas was already legendary to me before I even entered the venue.

The opening act was at least just as weird. We walked into Paradiso, which was pretty packed by the way, and saw The Flat Earth Society on stage. It was a jazz-fusion band that consisted out of fourteen members who all played one or more instruments in structures that were somewhere in the sky to my ears. Some parts I could listen to, but some parts were to weird to comprehend. Definitely something Mike Patton can appreciate.

After that the true chaos started. I have no idea how to properly introduce Fantômas to people who haven’t heard of them yet (shame on you!!!) so I’ve taken a little part from the website of their label: 

“Fantômas is the brainchild of Mike Patton. The name comes from a series of pre World War 1 French crime thriller novels. The character Fantômas is an anti-hero who commits the most appalling crimes. Fantômas is anyone and no one, everywhere and nowhere, waging an implacable war against the bourgeois society in which he moves. The Lord of Terror!

The music can only be described as unique. From subtle and precise to brutal and explosive. It is influenced equally by hardcore/death metal, cartoon music and film soundtracks. It is made up of tiny cells of music that move like frames in a comic strip. It is certainly an amalgamation of the bands from which the members come without sounding very much like any one of them.” 

I was amazed. On the left side of the stage stood a drumkit that has no equal. Percussion thingies that I have never seen before were neatly lined up all around the drumthrone of drum-legend Dave Lombardo. The kit was faced towards the right side of the stage. On the right side of the stage was this kind of cubicle that had al kinds of sampling devices and keyboards. Behind al that equipment stood one of the most impressing vocalists ever, Mike Patton. Between those two there was a man called Buzz Osborne molesting a guitar with weird curly hair straight up on his head and a mohawked Trevor Dunn playing bass.

Tracks from all albums were played, from the last album that consist of only one song, small parts were played. Never before have I seen a man hit the drums so hard and so fast, while on the other hand doing incredible melodic things with a string bow and extremely weird Paiste crash rubbish. He even hit on a metal bucket with glass or something inside, and squeezed in an empty water bottle. Doing all that while looking at Mike Patton, just to know WHAT to do.

Since Mike writes all the music for Fantômas, he is the only one who knows when certain things need to happen. He is like a conductor when playing in this band. His hand is constantly showing what needs to be played. When the music gets rougher he raises his arm only to let it down real fast to let the explosion occur. That’s one thing he does.

Then there are the samples and keys. From spacey background noises to incredibly loud beeps, he does it all. At exactly the right moment. While singing. Clearer than 99 percent of all vocalist on his planet. And high, very high. So high, that my ear started to hurt. Doing weird noises that I have to describe like; tiketiketoew poka hehe blablegaospka constantly while making the most idiot faces you’ve ever seen. And he only had laugh once due to his own idiot things. Pure brilliance is what I call the phenomenon Mike Patton. I can’t even begin to explain my respect to this man, and I’m not going to.
He didn’t say one word to the crowd during the entire concert…

The show contained everything. Brutal bashing and relaxed spacing. Looney tunes and ear tortures. It was a highly energetic performance that I will never forget and can’t describe into details, simply because there are too many details! I you want to have a good laugh and see some extremely experimental stuff, visit one of their shows sometimes. It would even be better if you went without listening to them before you go. I am very serious when I say that people who are into music should have seen this band perform at least once in their lives. So, just wait until the next tour!!!! See y’all there!