Longtime
Faith No More guitarist
Jim Martin split from the band under less-than-amicable circumstances in 1994. Consequently, the group hired
Trey Spruance (the guitarist from
Mike Patton's other band,
Mr. Bungle) to handle six-string duties for 1995's
King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime. While it wasn't exactly the mind-bending masterpiece that 1992's
Angel Dust was, it was easily their most musically straightforward album and was another challenging, exceptional release. As on
Angel Dust,
Patton truly shines on vocals, as he tackles any genre put in front of him -- romantic love songs (the soulful smooth funk of "Evidence"), bile-spitting rants of hate ("The Gentle Art of Making Enemies"), cacophonous freak-outs ("Ugly in the Morning"), gospel (the lighthearted album closer, "Just a Man"), and breezy pop ("Caralho Voador"). But there was also plenty of
FNM's signature heavy sound to go around -- the furious opener "Get Out," "Ricochet," "Cuckoo for Caca," "Digging the Grave," "The Last to Know," and the almost progressive title track. While
Spruance did a masterful job of filling in the shoes of an integral founding member, he abruptly split from the band himself on the eve of the album's ensuing worldwide tour (replaced by roadie Dean Mentia).
King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime remains one of
Faith No More's underrated releases. ~ Greg Prato