Let's be honest, heavy metal music can sometimes be quite one-dimensional and predictable. And the same can certainly be said about heavy metal bands' live DVDs. But then again, there are bands such as
Fantômas, who blow these theories to smithereens, especially on their 2011 DVD The Director's Cut: A New Year's Revolution. As its title states, the performance includes a complete on-stage reading of the group's 2001 release, The Director's Cut, which was comprised of covers of popular themes from movies. And for this special performance,
the Melvins'
Dave Crover subbed for usual
Fantômas drummer Dave Lombardo. Filmed on New Year's Eve, 2009 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, California, director Vincent Forcier has done a dandy job mixing up visuals and whacked effects throughout. So while sonically you get
Fantômas in all their expected, unpredictable, yet heavy glory, you have no idea what's going to happen next visually (without coming off over the top or taking away from the music). And as far as the performances, they're all stellar, including fine renditions of "The Godfather," "Rosemary's Baby" (which singer
Mike Patton dedicates to "Little Baby New Year"), "The Omen," and "Spider Baby." Also included are a pair of non-film covers tacked on at the end (
Al Green's "Simply Beautiful" and
T. Rex's "Chariot Choogle"), plus a bonus commentary by everyone's favorite anti-comedian,
Neil Hamburger (shot in a sleazy hotel room,
Hamburger shows the viewer how to check for bed bugs, among other colorful bits).
Fantômas is one of the best and most versatile live hard rock bands, and The Director's Cut: A New Year's Revolution offers plenty of proof. ~ Greg Prato