KEY POINTS:
If Mike Patton's Peeping Tom project from last year was his pop album, then the third Tomahawk release is the former Faith No More frontman's world music album, perhaps?
The album is inspired by, and explores, the music of Native American Indians from the late 19th century. For this reason, Patton fans may not pick this as a Tomahawk release.
However, Anonymous has the spookiness of Fantomas (another of Patton's projects with members of Slayer, the Melvins and Mr Bungle) and songs like the evil rumble of Totem have a moody discord that's reminiscent of old Tomahawk.
Then there's War Song, which sounds like a rabid bunch of Oompa Loompas off to battle; the slow-motion trance of Mescal Rite 2; and the loping Omaha Dance and Sun Dance are mantra-like until outbursts of jolting drums and demented chants punctuate the latter.
For this album, Tomahawk is a trio, made up of Patton on vocals, guitarist Duane Denison and drummer John Stanier, from noise-freaks Battles.
While Anonymous is not as dynamic and noisy as 2003's Mit Gas, which flew from the rampant Rape This Day to the wishy-washy Captain Midnight, it's more consistent in both mood and quality.
This is another unusual, challenging and ultimately rewarding offering from Patton and his cohorts who yet again travelled where no other musicians have gone before.
Label: Ipecac/Shock
Verdict: Experimental trios take on Native American Indian music
