Search - Mordred :: Fool's Game

The First To Mix Funk With Metal

Melkor | Orlando, Florida United States | 04/13/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Contrary to popular belief, funk mixed with metal and rap was not invented by Rage Against The Machine, Limp Bizkit, or House of Pain. A little known Bay Area Thrash band has that dubious honor which put them way ahead of their time. Mordred's debut was the first metal band (and thrash at that!) to employ funk elements into a thrash setting by covering Rick James' "Superfreak" and also their own original "Every Day's A Holiday". Despite this mix of genres Fool's Game is a thrash album and a good one. "State of Mind" kicks things off with a great opening riff and driving thrash rhythyms while incorporating subtle melodies, something often devoid from standard thrash bands. "Every Day's A Holiday" is unique and simply brilliant with its perfect blend of thrash and funk and probably the only song that incorporates these two diametrically opposed generes into a masterpiece of musical creativity and humorous views of the working world. "Superfreak" is an infectious cover of the Rick James original with heavy muted guitar rhythyms mixed with subtle keyboards and surprisingly appropriate vocals.The rest of the album consists of competent but not groundbreaking thrash. Mordred never acheives the hyper-pace of Slayer or Sepultura but is more of a mid-paced thrash band similar to Metal Church in many tempo aspects. "Spellbound" and "The Artist" feature Anthrax-like backing choruses but with some unique vocals from Scott Holderby. Holderby's vocals are among the most discernible in thrash and the guitar work is impressive despite drawbacks in tone. The album suffers from subpar production and drums that just don't stand out in the mix.The main reason this album deserves a place in your collection is for historical perspectives since it was the precursor to much of the music that today's generation takes for granted. Mordered etched a place in history with this album and went onto combine rap, thrash, and funk on a greater level on their next album. 3 1/2 stars."