A Day With The Locust

 

Mr. Bungle: Disco Volante (Warner Bros., 1995)

A diuretic for intellectually constipated metalheads. Eureka, California’s Mike Patton formed this sonically scattered band after finding stardom as Faith No More’s vocalist. Their first record was produced by downtown NYC jazzbo John Zorn, and the experience probably inspired this album’s virtuosic playing.

 

System of a Down: Toxicity (American/Sony, 2001)

Yes, this Los Angeles quartet gained renown along with the nu-metal wave, but their 2001 disc is equally admired by angsty 13-year-olds and “screamo” aficionados. Another Rick Rubin production.

 

Orthrelm: Asristir Vieldriox (Troubleman Unlimited, 2002)

You get 99 songs in 12 minutes. This prolific drum/guitar duo exists at the nexus of prog-rock, free jazz and extreme metal. Mick Barr’s guitar tangles are so dense, he makes the Locust’s Bobby Bray sound like James Taylor.

—A.H.B.