Funk Metal

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Funk Metal is a sub-genre of metal that came to be in the mid-late 80's with bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Living Colour, and Electric Boys. The genre reached its peak of popularity in the early 90's, after Faith No More’s hit single Epic from the album The Real Thing. Primus, Fishbone, 24-7 Spyz, Infectious Grooves, and Extreme were among the best well-known players of the genre, but funk metal included many short lived bands which remained underground.

Funk metal is a genre often characterised by slap bass and funky syncopation blended with various types of metal, as well as a sense of humour. One of the first bands to mix funk and metal, along with many other genres, was Washington DC hardcore/fusion band Bad Brains, although Red Hot Chili Peppers' self-titled debut was perhaps the biggest influence on the genre, with the track "Green Heaven" the earliest combination of funk and metal riffs.

Bands mixed funk with many different metal genres. Living Colour and Mindfunk focused primarily on combining funk with heavy metal, while Extreme and Electric Boys combined it with glam metal. The heavier end of the spectrum saw Mordred, Scatterbrain and Suicidal Tendencies side-project Infectious Grooves mix funk with thrash. Many more thrash metal bands incorporated funk metal elements in some of their 90's albums without becoming primarily funk metal. Death Angel included influences of funk metal on their 1990 album Act III and Suicidal Tendencies began incorporating the style on their Lights... Camera... Revolution! album of the same year.

A sense of humour can be seen throughout the entire genre, in various forms. Often the lyrics are comedic or surreal, Primus and Scatterbrain being two prominent examples, with song titles like “My Name is Mud” and “Don't Call Me Dude”. Faith No More sometimes included mini skits, such as in “Death March” from 1987's Introduce Yourself. Some bands like Extreme and Living Colour often had a more socio-political focus to their lyrics.

The genre had lost much of its popularity by the late 90's, as other trends in the metal scene, such as Nu Metal, were reaching their height. Some Nu-Metal bands made use of funk metal elements in their earlier material such as Powerman 5000, Sugar Ray and Sick Puppies. Incubus kept the funk metal genre alive during this time with their S.C.I.E.N.C.E. album (1997), although they switched to a more heavy alternative rock style by the end of the decade.

While few bands play funk metal anymore, bands like comedy metal band Psychostick incorporate elements of it, along with many other genres.

-Written by Unitron, 2017

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funk metal top albums

Showing only albums and EPs | Based on members ratings & MMA custom algorithm | 24 hours caching

Stain
LIVING COLOUR
4.25 | 16 ratings

FAITH NO MORE The Real Thing Album Cover

The Real Thing
FAITH NO MORE
4.01 | 87 ratings

INFECTIOUS GROOVES The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move... It's the Infectious Grooves Album Cover

The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move... It's the Infectious Grooves
INFECTIOUS GROOVES
4.14 | 12 ratings

EXTREME Extreme II: Pornograffitti Album Cover

Extreme II: Pornograffitti
EXTREME
3.95 | 38 ratings

S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
INCUBUS (CA)
4.00 | 12 ratings

Fungus Amongus
INCUBUS (CA)
3.97 | 10 ratings

PRIMUS Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People Album Cover

Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People
PRIMUS
3.94 | 12 ratings

PRIMUS Sailing the Seas of Cheese Album Cover

Sailing the Seas of Cheese
PRIMUS
3.83 | 40 ratings

Time's Up
LIVING COLOUR
3.83 | 18 ratings

PRIMUS Tales From the Punchbowl Album Cover

Tales From the Punchbowl
PRIMUS
3.68 | 28 ratings

Pork Soda
PRIMUS
3.67 | 29 ratings

Antipop
PRIMUS
3.65 | 19 ratings

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funk metal online videos

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funk metal Music Reviews

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES Free Your Soul... and Save My Mind

Album · 2000 · Funk Metal

UMUR

"Free Your Soul... and Save My Mind" is the ninth full-length studio album by US, California based crossover/thrash metal act Suicidal Tendencies. The album was released through Suicidal Records in July 2000. It´s the successor to "Freedumb" from July 1999. After waiting 5 years for a new album between the release of "Suicidal for Life" (1994) and "Freedumb", the band obviously wanted to prove to the fans that they were back with a vengeance and now released a new album only a year down the line from the latter mentioned. The quintet lineup who recorded "Freedumb" is intact on "Free Your Soul... and Save My Mind".

While "Freedumb" almost exlusively featured a "back to the roots" hardcore punk sound (albeit with funky elements and the rare nod towards crossover thrash), "Free Your Soul... and Save My Mind" is generally a more eclectic sounding album. Hardcore punk elements are still a dominant part of the soundscape (as heard on tracks like "Pop Songs", "Start Your Brain", and "Animal"), but funk and thrash/groove metal elements are now also a more integral part of the band´s sound. Just listen to the heavy grooves on songs like "Su casa es mi casa", "Bullenium", "Public Dissension", and "No More No Less". There was nothing like that on "Freedumb". The funky sounds of the title track are also really effectful and work well within the context of the album. The album closes with the power ballad "Home", which unfortunately feels a bit overlong and uneventful with its 7:30 minutes long playing time. "Free Your Soul... and Save My Mind" is in many ways Suicidal Tendencies displaying all the different stylistic elements of the last 10 years of releases (including their side-project Infectious Grooves).

"Free Your Soul... and Save My Mind" is a self-produced affair and features a powerful, detailed, and delightfully heavy sound production perfectly suiting the material. Featuring 15 tracks and a total playing time of 56:26 minutes "Free Your Soul... and Save My Mind" is slightly on the long side, and although most tracks on the album are quality tracks, a few could have been removed for a shorter and more effectful release, and the album would only have prospered from it and possibly have made an even more profound impact. Abundance of quantity is a minor issue though, and there is still enough high quality compositions here to warrant a 3.5 star (70%) rating.

24 days ago
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Report #882925

MORDRED The Next Room

Album · 1994 · Funk Metal

UMUR

"The Next Room" is the third full-length studio album by US, California based thrash/alternative/funk metal act Mordred. The album was released through Noise Records in June 1994. It was Mordred´s final release before their initial breakup in 1995. There´s been one lineup change since "In This Life (1991)" as lead vocalist Scott Holderby has been replaced by Paul Kimball (who had performed with the thrash/crossover act A.M.Q.A. in the 1980s). While three years between albums were a long time in those days, Mordred released no less than four EPs and a live video in the years 1992-1994, so there were plenty of releases to fill the gap between the two full-length studio albums.

While Scott Holderby was a pretty unique singer, the change on the lead vocalist spot has actually been good for the band as Kimball is an overall better and more versatile frontman. He is able to deliver both raw and powerful vocals, but also bluesy/soul influenced warmer parts, alternative rock vocals (not too far removed from vocalists like Layne Stayley and Scott Weiland), and talking/singing funky type vocals. Mordred were always a very creative act, combining many different music styles (initially predominantly thrash metal and funk metal), and the material on "The Next Room" are as diverse as ever.

The album is not only varied though, it´s also memorable and generally of a high quality. Although not all tracks feature riffs which can be classified as heavy metal riffs, all tracks still pack a punch. It´s one of the great assets of the album how much power and attitude the band are able to deliver. The drumming is quite technical and the drummer plays one infectious groove after another, while the two guitarists play sharp heavy riffs and just as many non-distorted funky riffs. The bass is clearly audible in the mix and add the right groovy and funky bottom to the music, while keyboard player/sample & turntable man Aaron Vaughn adds atmosphere and something unique to the music. No better experienced than on the instrumental "The Next Room Over".

As if that wasn´t enough "The Next Room" features an exceptionally well sounding production job, suiting the music perfectly. Upon conclusion "The Next Room" certainly was a great (at the time) swansong for Mordred (they´ve since reunited and have released further material), and to my ears it´s the release where all their different influences and styles most successfully came together. The dark melodic alternative rock/metal touches suits the music well, and paired with the heavy riffs, groovy rhythms, and funky guitars/bass, it´s overall a high quality release by Mordred. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

53 days ago
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Report #882556

MORDRED Vision

EP · 1992 · Funk Metal

UMUR

"Vision" is an EP release by US, California based thrash/funk metal act Mordred. The EP was released through Noise Records in August 1992. The EP (and a few other minor releases) bridges the gap between the band´s second and third full-length studio albums "In This Life (1991)" and "The Next Room (1994)".

Stylistically the material on "Vision" is a natural continuation of the funk/alternative metal style of "In This Life (1991)". Funky guitar riffs, slap bass and energetic funky drumming, turntable scratching, occassionally heavy riffs (not many thrashy parts on this EP), and lead vocalist Scott Holderby singing/semi-rapping his way through the songs. Contemporary artists like Infectious Grooves/Suicidal Tendencies and Faith No More are valid references, but Mordred had a sound of their own and aren´t a clone act by any means.

"Vision" features a powerful, clear, and detailed sound production, which suits the material well. The 6 tracks on the 24:08 minutes long EP are well composed too, and the musical performances are also on a high level, so upon conclusion it´s a high quality EP filled to the brim with funky alternative rock/metal. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

58 days ago
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Report #882431

FAITH NO MORE Introduce Yourself

Album · 1987 · Funk Metal

martindavey87

Released in 1987, ‘Introduce Yourself’ is the second album by alternative metal outfit Faith No More. It follows on closely to the sound and style of its predecessor, only a slightly better production sets them apart.

I wasn’t overly keen on 1985’s ‘We Care a Lot’, and honestly, I kind of struggled with this one too! The band were certainly something different and unique at the time, and their song-writing is becoming more confident, but, like many later fans, I guess I just tend to dismiss these early, Chuck Mosley releases.

Chuck Mosley, of course, is the vocalist who would be replaced after this album by powerhouse front man Mike Patton of the band Mr. Bungle. Mosley’s rap-like style worked fine, but, I guess it kind of put a limit on what the band could do, and if any band were to thrive without any limitations, it would be Faith No More.

Clutching at straws, but if I had to pick out any notable songs, there’s ‘Chinese Arithmetic’, ‘Anne’s Song’, ‘Blood’, and in particular, a re-recorded version of ‘We Care a Lot’, which is probably the only song I really care to come back to, if ever. It’s a shame, and I certainly don’t mean any disrespect to Chuck Mosley, but with this album out of the way, Faith No More can really move on to becoming the metal heavyweights that they are, while ‘Introduce…’ and ‘We Care…’ can both slip away into obscurity, at least for me, anyway.

5 months ago
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Report #880810

MORDRED In This Life

Album · 1991 · Funk Metal

UMUR

"In This Life" is the second full-length studio album by US, California based thrash/funk metal act Mordred. The album was released through Noise Records February 1991. It´s the successor to "Fool's Game" from 1989 and features one lineup change since the debut album as guitarist J. Taffer has been replaced by James Sanguinetti.

Mordred continue the rather distinct sounding funk/alternative metal tinged thrash metal style of the debut album, but add even more funky slap bass parts, talking/rapping type vocals, funky beats, and scratch/turntable sounds to their music. There are still thrash metal guitar riffs and rhythms featured on the album, but they aren´t always a dominant part of the band´s sound. One of the greatest assets of the music are the many well played, powerful, and melodic guitar solos. They are in a similar style to what Rocky George produced on contemporary releases by Suicidal Tendencies. The most alternative output by the latter mentioned is actually a valid reference point when describing the music on "In This Life" as well as the Infectious Grooves side-project.

"In This Life" features a decent sounding production, and the musicianship is also strong, although lead vocalist Scott Holderby is probably a bit of an aquired taste. He doesn´t often sing raw but instead delivers a vocal style which sounds like a combination of Mike Muir (Suicidal Tendencies) and early Mike Patton (Faith No More), but without possessing as distinct sounding a voice or as powerful a delivery as any of those two. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.