Japan

The first play of Sol Invictus track Cone of Shame in Tokyo today has attracted almost frenzied media interest.

Spin call the song “guttural” and a “growly-turned-screechy cut”.

Rolling Stone give the track a full-on review: “The tune, which frontman Mike Patton sang partially from behind a red bandanna, begins with a sparse, Spaghetti Western guitar line. After military drums kick in, Patton sings about wanting to blow his head off and lost love, leading to the “cone of shame” metaphor. The song eventually kicks into heavy, high gear with Patton alternating vocals between snarling about stripping bones over thrash riffing. The song is like one big crescendo with jangling guitars, crushing rhythms and Patton exclaiming, “You’re only happy when you’re pissing me off.”

And Consequence of Sound are equally enthusiastic: “The song is a tour de force of the band’s talents, with Mike Patton demonstrating all aspects of his vocal range: intimidating growl, operatic metal belting, and straight up hardcore screaming. ”

Stereogum went for “oceanic” in their description, adding: “Mike Patton’s vocal shifts from deranged croon to black metal rasp to hardcore beatdown to full-bodied operatic roar, shrinking and growing with the music behind him. When the band cuts loose, the thing gets pretty nuts. I’m excited to hear the studio version of this one, as well as the rest of Sol Invictus.”

And Loudwire say: “As can be heard in the fan-shot video of the song’s live debut above, the track opens with an ominously dark guitar line from Jon Hudson, while drummer Mike Bordin pushes the beat forward. But eventually the dark and spooky delivery from frontman Mike Patton turns intense as the song builds to a heavier finish.”

And Diffuser also give a positive spin: “A couple of minutes in, though, cool and collected go out the window as Patton sounds like he’s possessed by a demon, culminating in an earth-shattering performance that is
reminiscent of the much, much heavier side of things in Faith No More’s celebrated history.”

And Exclaim call the track “sinister”: “The song starts off with an unsettling western motif, with Mike Patton’s vocals taking on hushed, haunted tones. Soon enough, the track explodes into a metallic assault of crushed drums, big licks, and Patton’s assemblage of grizzly monster howls and soul-searching croons.”