The Real Thing

No thank you

Day648 - sometimes all you need is one good song

Not my kind of music but not sonically bad

blustering, tiresome - it manages to be both shouty and whiny at the same time, and has that era-defining BIG drum sound. It would have been 2 stars, but the pointless, very dull instrumental that preceded the cover of War Pigs combined to take it all the way down to 1. Why cover War Pigs if all you are going to do is play it like the original ?

Interessant og kult, men rappingen får det til å gå kaldt nedover ryggen på meg.

Aww, little baby numetal. So cute.

Amazing album, although a bit of a cash grab. Hurt, first song whatever it is are the best

I quite liked this as noise

Exactly what I needed when I needed it

faith no more had already had a couple albums under their belt before they released “the real thing” in 1989. however, the addition of then new vocalist mike patton was the secret sauce that placed the band at the forefront of alternative rock. often credited with being a pioneer in the “rap metal” genre, faith no more became so much more than that. this album, while not my favourite from FNM, it is certainly a great listen. highlights: “epic” “falling to pieces” “surprise! you’re dead!”

I'm nearly 40. I don't have time for this

Never really got them and still don’t

meh, yeah, you know!? don't really get it, just a bit of nonsense really- some nice bass guitar driving it along at times but yeah, nonsense really. the end.

Really not sure what to think of this. It lays the foundations of a lot of things i like, but i just have no connection to it. I saw them live in 2009 or so and it was the same, not for me.

I don't understand Faith No More, the recordings always sound like I'm hearing it through somone elses speakers as theyre walking by. The guitar tone is bad and it's like they want they keyboard to be as loud as the drums. I don't know anything about recording but they should have fired their engineer and producer

Epic is a banger Bass lines really good in this Great album

Really solid if sonically underwhelming.

Its December, 1990. I am 10, nearly 11. I am at a sleepover with 7 other 6th grade dudes. We all drank jolt cola and saw who could stay up the latest. Those that fell asleep first got their hands savagely put in warm water. A classic hallmark of pre-pubescent late nightedness was the appearance of Saturday Night Live. This evening's host was John Goodman: Costar of Roseanne, and comic relief from that summer's blockbuster: Arachnophobia. The show is great, including the instant classic sketch, " Bad Idea Jeans". The musical guest is this weird and raucus group called Faith No More. They play a song called Epic. It was indeed. Music underscoring a perfect memory.

I first heard Faith No More when We Care A Lot came out. It was an exciting mix that you didn’t really have much of in metal at the time. An album later, and a change in singer, we had The Real Thing which propelled them in the limelight. Epic was a metal and alternate club classic - and I loved the entire album… plus live they were phenomenal. Whilst I really enjoyed The Real Thing my favourite album of theirs was the follow up to this, Angel Dust. Faith No More were pretty groundbreaking in the metal scene at the time - as the vast bulk of the scene was still rooted in the classic metal sound and FNM disrupted that and opened the path to a lot of new bands experimenting with their sound and style.

Still don't like it

Enjoyed this wyt more than I expected - so much so that I plan to listen to it again today. Can't quite give it a four but it's close

I'm trying to not be influenced solely by how damn good Epic is. I listened to this album a ton in my late teens and was massively into Faith No More. It doesn't quite do as much for me these days, but they do have a real unique sound. Mike Patton verges on being a musical genius.

Didn’t know they covered Black Sabbath.

Technically only a year out, but would have sworn this album came out in the early 90’s… “Epic” is still alright.

Well, it’s unique!

97/1001 Faith No More - The Real Thing Heard before? ❎️ Revisit? ✅ Had a great time with this on first listen. The heavier side of funk just works. It's quite clear how this influenced a lot of the rock to come in the 90s.

I am a huge Faith No More fan, but for the longest time, I wasn't the biggest fan of this album because Mike Patton had a much more nasally way of singing on this album that he doesn't on future albums. I still don't think this is as good as Angel Dust, but it I now see it as a truly great album. Every song on here is just so much fun and it is such a unique style of music. High 5!!

One of my top 5 favorite albums. That's all.

Well, it started out with a couple of absolute belting classics, and of course couldn't carry on in that style. Not to say that what followed was rubbish, it absolutely wasn't. But you can't produce a whole album of Epics (Pun intended). My problem now is how to score it. It's better than most of the 3's that I have awarded, but not up to the standard of most of the 4's. I really don't want to give it either of those scores. It's a solid 3.8 to 3.9. Oh, I can't round it down. I'll have to give it a 4

A very high 3. I like what they did with War Pigs, and ‘Epic’ is quite literally epic obviously. Not a go to album, but nice to dust it off and give it a spin.

One of the few bands associated with 'Metal' I can actually listen to and enjoy. When this came out it was like a breath of fresh air blowing away all that denim and hair. Only a couple of songs are misses but on the whole a solid debut.

Recognized one song.

Globally enjoyed it. For not knowing Faith no more material, this was pretty interesting. Surprise! You're dead!

Was ready to condemn it to a 1 star after Epic, but a few decent riffs throughout saved it.

I don’t love Faith No More, but I really cannot deny their influence on a lot of bands I do like.

Despite being the band's third album, this may as well be their debut. Anyone hardly remembers Faith No More's pre-Mike Patton days. Patton really turned Faith No More into an incredibly influential act, fusing the emergent Alternative sound with Metal and even rapping. This, of course, lead to many terrible bands that followed, trying to emulate this genre fusion, but without FNM's sophistication. And while those bands are pretty indistinguishable from what happens in this record, the band showed exactly how far ahead their peer they were with their next album, the excellent Angel Dust, from 1992. Patton also hit it big with his former high-school(!) band Mr. Bungle, who release the most daring and out there music ever out out by a major label. Key tracks: From Out of Nowhere Epic

It’s a struggle… it’s just too much - It’s like they try too hard. Epic was a massive hit when I was young, so I still kinda enjoy that. War Pigs is also kinda good because it’s War Pigs - One of the best heavy songs of all time. I’d much rather listen to Sabbath’s own version though

Have not given this band any attention before, though I knew of them. Solid 80s rock sound. Good album with a couple or three bangers, including a great true cover of War Pigs.

With all due respect to Mike Patton, this is way worse than I expected. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it. (1.5)

Not my kind of music. Mike Patton has a great voice, but his phrasing makes him sound like he's always making fun of what he's singing about. As if he was always goofing off.

This is a tough one. I really enjoy most of this record but the 80's-isms, especially the white guy rapping, ruin it for me in spots. A strong (3.5)

I was blown away by this album when I first heard it in 7th grade, about a year after it dropped. Epic was the first song I remember hearing that blended hip-hop and rock elements from a band that wasn’t actually a hip-hop group. Ever since, this record gets a few spins from me each year. Every time I revisit it, the opening track makes me question whether the album still holds up. There’s something distinctly “80s” about From Out of Nowhere that I don’t really hear elsewhere on the record. But once that song ends and Epic kicks in, I’m fully engaged and enjoying the ride. The range of sounds on Zombie Eaters in particular is fantastic. If I have any criticism, it’s that the production sometimes leans a little too hard into that classic 80s drum sound, and at times the songs feel like they don’t belong on the same album. Then again, that variety is also part of what makes this record so interesting—the shifts in tone and style turn it into a journey rather than just a collection of similar sounding tracks.

Eclectic mix of metal and various more pop genres. I think they did it better on their next album, but this was their breakthrough. Favorite song: woodpeckers from mars

This is, in fact, The Real Thing.

Somewhat heavy rock

I enjoyed this, surprisingly!

Metal goes Off-Broadway

det här var gött. fick till en hörlurslyssning på kvällen och då var det riktigt bra. men lite för långt bara. den sista låten skull man skippat och även fast jag gillade war pigs-covern så tycker jag inte riktigt den passar in. en något svag fyra blir det nu

Not bad at all, considering my main reference points were 'they're quite annoying I think' and 'they covered Lionel Richie'. It's fairly enjoyable, if emotionally stunted rock music, and there's definitely a time and a place for that.

I love this album, but Angel Dust is better. I saw them live, and that was a totally different experience.

A bit hit and miss. Not one I’d return to.

Not really my cup of tea - the mix of genres was just not a sound I could get into.

decent, but there's no chance i will ever return to this album.

Pretty solid album

Oh Faith no More, habe ich sehr geliebt, Angel Dust, die goldenen 90er, Mike Patton, der Bass, die Orgel...perfekt! c

These guys always reminded me of Red Hot Chili Peppers but leaned more towards hard rock instead of California. Pretty good as a whole! Of course I only know Epic but the majority of the album is enjoyable too.

Like a flaming cum shot this album hit just right! Epic steals the show of course but the rest sounds like a lost Metallica album without any killer guitar solos. Pretty good time!

Mike Patton is a really talented guy. Several classic bangers on this album. It sags a bit in the middle but finishes very strong, and the whole thing still sounds pretty fresh and interesting to me

No thank you. Maybe if I’d heard them at a different time in my life I would have liked it but not now. The best part was the Black Sabbath “War Pigs” cover and even that was only good because it reminded me of the original.

Jeg har valklet meget mellem Micro 5er,og 4er, men den ender på 4 da albummets første halvdel er rigtig godt! Anden halvdel mister tråden lidt, og der mangler noget til at binde det sammen.

Det rocker hårdt. Det slapper bassen hårdere. FNM har aldrig holdt sig til en genre. Her er både funk-metal, rap-rock, trash metal og følsom ballade. Det er mere umodent i udtrykket end senere albums, men det er pisse sjovt.

Top Tip - instead of listening to this whole album, simply listen to Rock Me Amadeus by Falco and save yourself some valuable time.

I know, I know, it’s only rock n roll - but I like it! Vocals generally weak, tunes very solid.

Fun! Never listen to again.

Sounds like they were ahead of their time

Porządny rock, z pomysłem, dobrym wokalem i chwytliwymi melodiami. Nie zmieni mojego życia, nie przewrócił mojego świata i nie będę tego słuchać na zapętleniu, ale spędziłam z nim miłą godzinę i nie będę się zapierać, gdy ktoś to znowu puści. 7/10

Standouts Epic Falling to Pieces

Very cool. I love that thick punchy bass driven sound. I love that it's has a somewhat funk feel while staying hard rock.

In light of all the albums that I've heard since I first heard this one, although I like this one, it's not particularly impressive anymore.

Better than I remembered it. A pleasant surprise to listen to it again.

A heavier Red Hot Chili Peppers. I can see how this inspired many of the nu metal acts of the late 90s. The vocals are really great and the bass is chunky. Also always love a good War Pigs cover. Favorite songs were From out Of Nowhere, Epic, Falling To Pieces, Surprised! You’re Dead!, and The Real Thing.

Couldn't vibe with this one. 2.5

Really good rock album

Very good. Variety in style from Funk Rock to Heavy Metal.

If you’re after metal, this is a solid pick. From a broader view, though, it’s more of a 7/10. The second half dragged for me, and the bonus material didn’t add much ("War Pigs" is great, but it's too similar to the original, so I don't give the band credit.) It’s not a bad album, but it doesn’t measure up to stronger four-star releases. That said, it comes close, helped in part by the relative scarcity of quality hard rock and metal. 3 stars

I dislike basic metal and hard rock

Excellent.

What do you MEAN this band is from California, the singer sounds like he's Scandinavian 😭 anyways the album was decent enough, I liked the last three tracks

Enjoyed one song. Not my cup of tea, though I have seen Faith No More play live back in the day.

Solid energetic album. A good starter for Mike Patton newbies. Although, I prefer "Angel Dust" album more, and generally personally more of a "Mr. Bungle" type of guy.

Майк Пэттон – икона.

Muy bueno

я сразу была настроена скептически, поскольку знаю, что эта группа мне не нравится. но первая песня приятно удивила, даже можно сказать понравилась. но потом началась самая кринжовая песня в мире, которая убила весь вайб, который был. и по совместительству самая известная песня этой группы, что просто ужасно для них, мне жаль. ну и после нее все кажется каким-то кринжовым, и вокал абсолютно дебильный. короче беее

I'm kind of biased - I think I owned this album. I was definitely into Faith No More at that time. I still think the first 3 tracks are awesome, and the title track is also solid. The rest is decent too.

I remember "Epic" confusing me when it came out in Junior High. My brain couldn't quite figure out what it was... Metal? Rap? Funk? Listening to it 35 years later, that genre blending seems to their credit and progressive in a way most self-professed prog rock bands can't manage to be. Rounding up a little, but wanted to give credit to the fact that even if theyight not be my thing, I can understand how they could be someone elses.

This felt interesting in places - especially as a prototype for what would (sadly) become nu metal in its mix of rap and metal - but was ultimately more metal than that eclectic mix so well represented by 'Epic.' I enjoyed 'Epic' and was amused by the lyrics of 'Zombie Eaters,' but mostly came away feeling like the album was too long, his voice got a bit old after a while, and while I can mostly understand others liking this, ultimately don't feel like I'll go back to it.

Really liked the instrumentation, I would've loved this if I liked the vocals. I did start to grow tired on the second half but thought the first half was pretty good. Also points for influencing a genre a decade later, even if it is my least favorite genre. If I was even slightly a Nu Metal guy this is an easy 5 star, probably an easy 4 star if I had listened to before. Rating: 3.2

Epic is an alright, arguable, classic. The metal isn't bad, but for the most part I just don't like the vocals. A lot are too whiny. The was pigs cover didn't really do much

There were 2 good songs and the rest were ok.

1. From Out of Nowhere - I enjoyed this song, I don't know why but the vocals really reminded me of Patrick Stump and that made it really fun for me. It's also just a very pretty sounding song! 2. Epic - THIS SONG IS SO FUN!!! I LOVE IT! 3. Falling to Pieces - also just a really fun song. I'm addicted to the vocals. 4. Surprise! You're Dead! - ANOTHER BANGER. it really reminds me of emo music, I am severely enjoying this. 5. Zombie Eaters - I liked the quiet beginning and loud ending. I appreciate songs like that. 6. The Real Thing - just another good song to be honest with you. Just really liked it. 7. Underwater Love - just another fun song. Love the bass line in it!!! 8. The Morning After - another banger, absolutely loved the guitar part near the middle. 9. Woodpecker From Mars - obsessed with the introduction of this song, and when the guitar came in *chef's kiss*. 10. War Pigs - a classic!!!!! banger banger banger. 11. Edge of the World - another great song. 4/5 - Overall just loved this album. It's so good!!! Will definitely be adding a few songs from it to my playlists!

Really good! It was unique and I thought it was kinda funny. Not a super serious from what I gathered. It seemed just like they were having fun the whole time

Some bands have early albums that almost don't count. I still can't really imagine Faith No More without Mike Patton. He took over lead vocals for this album and started the band's most successful period. Their style of metal seemed to feature hints of influence from bands like Queen. Whether I'm just imagining that or not, Faith No More were definitely huge in defining the sound of the late 80s, as hair metal and synth pop gave way to grunge and indie rock. "The Real Thing" features three incredible singles which kick the album off. Epic indeed. The remainder of the album is sadly not as good but still keeps to the style. As hard as I try, Faith No More always seemed better suited to greatest hits compilations than actual albums. This is probably not the best work but there's enough on there that's worth hearing. And as the first album with Patton, I can't argue the decision to include it here.

Музыка: 6/10 Разнообразие: 6/10 Тематика и вайб: 7/10 Цепляемость (отдельные песни зашли): 5/10 Реиграбельность (можно ли рандомно врубить на фон): 6/10 Итог: 6.0

Great album with its own unique sound.

Solid 7.5/10 not my genre

This was awesome. I'd heard Epic before, but never delved into other songs. Faith Now More is a kickass band, it turns out. The opening track, From Out of Nowhere, is an electric song that pumps you up for the whole album, and there's so many more awesome songs to go with it. Falling to Pieces, their cover of War Pigs, and the aforementioned Epic, it all rocks hard.

Wow, 2 banger albums in a row. Yesterday it was Appetite for Destruction, today it's The Real Thing by Bay Area local band, Faith No More. Like many, I thought this was their debut album, but I quickly learned they had 2 albums previous to this, but they pale in comparison. "Epic" was the song that introduced these guys to the world, and what a great song it is. The whole album draws on a ton of influences and overall is a great listen. Mike Patton has such a quirky voice and Mr. Bungle aside, he's not a bad singer, just all over the place. Coke is a helluva drug. Their cover of War Pigs is top notch. Love it. Bangers: Epic From Out of Nowhere Surprise! You're Dead Woodpecker From Mars War Pigs 5/5

I couldn't. so bad. One catchy riff, and the rest just not my style. Like 90s metal and hip hop, but not this admixture.

Epic is great but the rest sounds like Guitar Hero nonsense

An album very much of its time. Rap metal and funk with some pop elements as well. Despite its dated qualities and pointless War Pigs cover (literally a note for note copy) this album is an interesting, creative and unconventional showcase for Faith No More. Apparently their next album after this one is a much better overall experience.

This was way better than I expected. I knew epic and always thought it was a great song, but hearing other FNM tracks out of context, I never got it. This album as a cohesive punch was amazing. Awesome sounding production, great songs, just great.

8/28/25. Epic is a song I’ve heard a bunch, but the rest of the album was very good! Explored more of the funk metal sound I love outside of my favorite band RHCP.

was isch daaaaaas. aso ich chan nöd zueordne, es isch bitz sochli dunkel aber au glam aber au stadium rock. AHA SIE RAPPED. bass poppt mega funny da isch rap rock ahaa? falling into pieces sehr poppig sehr prince irgendwie. bin bi underwater love und mengmol packts mi bitz aber finds recht dünn alles, meeega visionär für 1989 da gsehni. etz isch instrumental und langwilig alles? aha war pigs okay sabbath time. aha isch en bonus track haha. ähm sorry? zwei? tut mer leid aber has würkli würkli nöd so spannend gfunde. hahaha war pigs isch sooooo viel besser als alli ihri songs (besser als die meiste songs zum fair sii) aber maaann hey.

mami du hesch doch amigs d cd mitem pelikan gha! sini stimm isch ener speziell aber na cool hahah find d lieder chli komisch aber de refrain isch immer so komisch catchy, I like OHH bi sueprise you're dead ghöri LIECHT de metalihfluss hä zombie eaters tönt iwie völlig dünn, wie wenns nanig ganz fertig wär the morning after isch wiedermal recht cool, s hetmi chli verlore dezwüsche woodpeckers from mars het na cooli teil (bass!) aber au chli weirds züg hahaha sini stimm passt na cool zu war pigs hahahah joo isch jz aber schlussendlich au nüt speziells und das fasst vlt s ganze album chli zemme. hii und daa di verschiedeni ihflüss z ghöre isch na spannend aber ussert die erste paar lieder hani nöd megaa spass gha

pleasantly surprised but not as good as what would come after

6/10

A good one time listen, but I will not be revisiting this. For a metal/hard rock album some solid instrumentation and expectedly some rough vocals in parts.

It was just fine. 2.5/5 stars.

alright album

tidy rock album, not bad like

No está mal, me gustó la d woodpecker from mars y el piano d la última o penúltima canción ns no me acuerdo. Un poco olvidable el album tbh pero no es malo

Not my type of music, makes sense for the time- felt very teen angsty

Liked it a bit, just speaks of the early 90s. Kinda like what the chili peppers were doing around the same time, but a bit heavier

Faith No More is Red Hot Chili Peppers if RHCP hired a heavy metal guitarist and only liked California as a friend. FNM laid the groundwork for the 'nu-metal' acts of the (very) late 90's and early 00's, which comprised a large portion of my CD case during that time. At that time I only knew "Epic" and didn't fully appreciate how metal the rest of the FNM catalog was. The whole playbook, including the vocal shift from grunting verses to whiney choruses, is present here. But to their credit, this doesn't feel like a band that got together and agreed to just chunk out a bunch of same-y rap metal songs and call it a day. Songs like "Woodpecker From Mars" make a convincing argument that they know how to play their instruments and have some interest in exploring their musical space. To the extent that an album track can be broadly influential, I would argue that this track is one of the earliest examples of post-rock and may have contributed to creating that genre. With several tracks in the 5-8min range, they weren't recording this to be potential radio fodder, and probably could have had more hits if they edited themselves a little more. I won't call this an easy listen, but it was intriguing and worth my time.

Not really my jam, didn’t like his voice

This is noise. His voice is grating. Epic is the only good thing on this album...

Surprise! You're Dead! Well this is fun. A nice album, but not something I'll come back to, so a 3.

I have faith no more in this 1001 albums list, this album is just vocal garbage. The drummer and guitarist were trying their hearts out, but the best track is just a shitty Black Sabbath cover. As a metal fan I’m stunned by the reviews this album is getting — I will not return to anything presented here.

So bad. One guy pressing a note on a synthesizer for whole songs, random "white guy rap" breaking out, heavy metal blast beats, whiney singing, 10k treble spike and hollowed out mids at 250hz, 0 bass under 100hz... nearly unlistenable. Woodpecker From Mars is cool (without lyrics, I'll point out), if the bass weren't playing all the way up at 2khz that'd be great. War Pigs is probably the best effort here, but - it's just a worse version of the Black Sabbath song it's covering (which is excellent). Last song is a whiney hard rock snarl about a pedophile played over jazzy piano? oooooook It could be good (or at least "better") if they could settle on one style and get a decent sound engineer.

Knew a couple of songs but that was it. A band I was never into so this is a first. Sort of refreshing mix of sounds. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? No Owned: No, 7/1001, 7/26 (26%) Will I get? No Recommend: Sure

Decent quasi metal band but not something I would be a repeat listener of. Much prefer Pearl Jam and other similar types of bands who fit into this genre.

Everyone knew this album and a few of the popular tracks at the time of release. "Epic" led the charge and I swear, if you listen to FM or XM radio for even a few hours a day, you will hear that song at some point, even today. 250M listens, it's a hit song. I think the reason this one stands out was that it was unique at the time, they created a sound of their own, odd but attractive. It fit in with grunge, it fit in with metal/hard rock, it had a pop quality, it includes elements of hip hop, it was truly a conglomeration of what was hot at the time. "What IS It"! "Epic" was huge but they had a minor hit with "Falling To Pieces" and their rendition of "War Pigs". I forgot about, but enjoyed, "Edge Of The World" & "The Morning After". Problem with the album is that too many of the songs sound like the song before it or after it. 3 stars for delivering a GIANT 90's hit song that everyone still knows - longevity is factored in, unique sound at the time, impact at the time, etc.

Hells YEA! Great album and great artist.

I recognize there’s some major influential songs in this album, but it was hard for me to listen to a song fully. So I give it a 4 being trailblazing, but it’s not my type. The track “Surprise you’re dead” was one that was easier to listen through. They have some heavy riffs that I see influencing metal that I enjoyed as the album went on. A lot of unique sounds for the time. “Woodpecker from mars” is something I wouldn’t have expected.

Not my thing

Funky, thrashy, arty, irreverent, all things I like. Slap Mike Patton’s voice on top and you’ve got something good.

It was okay nothing special really :p

I like alternative metal, but this particular type not that much. It's not bad, but not great. I didn't like Patton's vocals much here, I feel like they work better in songs like "Evidence". Here, the rap-ish delivery doesn't do much for me, it feels a bit awkward and exaggerated. The basslines and guitars are interesting, but don't carry the record much. I particularly disliked the synths, they feel a bit too thin and canned. There are some heavy moments and some catchy choruses, but most of it was pretty average. "Epic" is pretty good, it's one of their most popular songs for a reason. "Surprise! You're Dead!" is also pretty good, they go pretty hard. I disliked their cover of "War Pigs", it doesn't go anywhere near the original and it was a huge risk to even try it. The other songs I didn't care much for. It's all a bit too rap-rock for me. It's around 2.5 stars.

Pretty darn fire

So nice I listened twice

Pretty down with it, but not so all the way down.

It’s a shame this was one of those bands that I knew the name but not the songs but I was decisively underwhelmed 3/5

Love it.

Not so bad

The surprising thing about this album to me is that it came out in 1989. I mean I had heard songs from this album over the years and always thought it was one of the mid 90s grunge/funk/metal mashups that sort of led to the nu-metal genre. Going back now and listening to it knowing when it was released, I should have known better. There are some elements of this that sound exactly like the early Chili Peppers which would have been around the same time I think. It's a decent album, not one I would go back to. The cover of War Pigs was kind of a nice surprise. My favorite thing about it is the bass - great tone, great playing throughout. Least favorite thing about it - the vocals absolutely suck. 2.5/5 and rounding down

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Not too bad

The vocals grabbed me right away with a huge range and a lot of personality. The songs keep switching up their energy, with unexpected mood and tempo changes that made me want to keep listening. One track, “Surprise! You’re Dead!,” hit so hard I saved it instantly. The production feels layered and tight, with a lot more going on than just a rock band setup. Even though this style isn’t something I normally go for, there were plenty of moments that pulled me in and made it worth the listen.

Man, even though this is nowhere near my favorite Faith No More album, this album overall still really kicks ass. I'd take Angel Dust, King for a Day, or Album of the Year over this given the choice, but I still enjoy the hell out of Real Thing. 4.5/5

Damn, this was really good. I've never cared too much for Faith No More, but maybe I was listening to the wrong albums before. I liked a lot of the interesting time-change things, the thrashy things, kinda all of it. It's the full package. 4.25/5

Genre: Alternative Metal Oh yeah, this thing fucks. I wish the production had a little more low end and wasn’t so tinny, because oh man this thing fucks. Really great alt-metal/funk-metal grooves all over this thing, really interesting vocals from Mike Patton that make each song pop even more, and some solid songwriting make this a very enjoyable listen. Epic is awesome, From Out of Nowhere is awesome, and some of the deep cuts hit nice and hard. Solid record. 4/5

Still killer after all these years.

Meh Normie-Metal.

not my vibe

Thought they were alright at the time and it still is. With the rhythm section the best part. Though this is the album that I lost interest in them, know he’s a better vocalist than chuck and this is a more coherent album, but think they went down a more mainstream route, both in the metal and the soft rock elements and ?rap here, and not that wired more individual sound and energy they previously had and when saw then in 88. 3 Star

Hard Rock, es gibt auch einige ruhige Passagen, nicht mein Fall

Album #17 of my 1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list Faith No More - The Real Thing Not only have I heard this album before, I bought the CD after seeing the vidoe for Epic on MTV about 1,000 times. That song was a phenomenon. FNM sold 4 million albums worldwide & without that song, I’m not sure it would have gotten to 1 million. Singer Mike Patton just joined the band & he was the catalyst it seemed. FNM is weird, just looking at the band members, they didn’t look like they matched and the songs were eclectic, though mostly metal/hard rock based. Patton liked to rap a bit, but it only occurs in 2 of the 13 songs on the album. There seems to be a running theme throughout the album & that is vampirism/death, which can be the same thing, I guess. Supposedly, 3 of the songs were overtly about murder & Patton was asked to be a bit more subtle with the lyrics. At the time I bought this CD I was 15 or 16, and I didn’t get it immediately. It was too eclectic for my developing brain, I guess. But as I revisit it, this really is a fun and unique album. The highlights for me are Epic, Surprise! You’re Dead, Zombie Eaters (babies are the zombies in this case), Underwater Love (about drowning a lover), and Woodpecker From Mars. If you’ve never heard this album and love metal or weird music, this is a must listen.

thoughts: i’ve been familiar with “epic” since i was a kid (and it is still, uh…epic) but yeah, this is a very solid record. the first few songs are the highlights but there are some treats at the back half, particularly the instrumental “woodpecker from mars” songs: “from out of nowhere”, “epic”, “woodpecker from mars” rating: 7.2/10

Frontloaded with the three best songs. War Pigs cover slaps, as the kids would say.

\m/

Forgot how good this band is, even with the somewhat annoying vocals and subpar rapping. The instrumentals are fantastic with hints of everything from Exhorder-like grooves to Dream Theater-esque melodies. 4.5/5.0: Excellent

interesting album. not really a great album, but entertaining at least. really enjoyed the instrumental and the war pigs cover

Not my cuppa.

The Real Thing by Faith No More wasn’t for me. Well made, but just not my style of music.

Okayish

Eh

I am embarrassed to say I don’t think I’ve ever listened to this whole album, and it is a certified banger that I def will revisit. It’s got touches of 80s synth cheese, but the slapping of the bass makes it worth it.

Banger

10 inferior versions of that one song everyone knows.

The backing band is REALLY good. I do NOT like this vocalist. Sometimes it works, but most times...it is bad. God does he ruin "War Pigs".....MAYBEEE this album is a 2.5. It is just the singer. He sounds like he is whining...."Epic" is ICONIC tho! Liked Songs: "From Out of Nowhere" , "Epic" , "Zombie Eaters" , "The Real Thing" , "The Morning After" , "Woodpecker From Mars"

Liked songs: Epic, Falling to Pieces, The Real Thing, Woodpecker From Mars, War Pigs Excellent 4.25

A cross between rage against the machine, RHCP and Metallica. Would defo listen again

Maybe I’m feeling cynical atm. I think it was probably something I’d enjoy at a better time

This is some proper ass water. I hated the bass sound, the vocalist sounded like he had an annoying accent. I was like woah finally a good song? Nah its just a cover of an amazing song.

4/10 not for me

Not really on the same level with Angel Dust, but still pretty fun and catchy. Can’t really say I’m into this band. There hasn’t been a song from them that was memorable for me, but overall this album is still pretty good. I like the guitar tone, I like the riffs, but nothing strikes me as all that special. It follows a formula, and the formula is pretty decent. It’s like nu metal but with less obnoxious vocals and lyrics. 7/10

pretty dope fun metal

ok so the first thing i noticed was that reallyyy strong guitar intro, and then came the almost squeaky voice (😭). it'll prob take me a while to get used to that, but i dont hate it. oooh i really like song 3.

I've never liked the main single from this album (Epic). I find the vocal can be hard to listen to at times and sometimes the music is ... silly? However, there were some songs that I really liked, especially towards the end of the album. Woodpecker from Mars I really enjoyed as an instrumental, middle Eastern influenced metal piece. The War Pigs cover is very competent and Edge of the World had a chill vibe.

Great in places

It's fine, felt like very standard late 90s rock wich makes its impressive that it came out in 89.

you know, Ozzy Osbourne passed away today, and i got this album. it has a War Pigs cover! how fitting. rest in peace to a legend though, wouldn't be shocked if we all got Black Sabbath albums tomorrow to commemorate. either way this album has gotta be the most normal thing Mike Patton was involved with. not a knock, per se, though. Epic is awesome for a hit in 1990 and the rest of it has a very forward thinking alt metal sound. some banger deep cuts too. Woodpecker From Mars goes dummy deserves to be one of the 1001? probably not over Angel Dust but it's good to have Mike Patton on here in some form. a Mr Bungle album should be on here I reckon too :eyes:

When I was a little kid, MTV was still relatively new and music videos were must see TV. The video for epic will forever live in my mind with the piano blowing up and the goldfish flopping around. The album is a genre bending and blending masterpiece. I love Patton's vocals which i realize can be an acquired taste.

I thought I hated Faith No More, it turns out I think they’re okay! Ain’t life crazy?

Bit boring 😴

The most all over the shop, eclectic mix of genres since Houmous & Chutneys 49th studio album ‘Throw Enough (Sh*t) At The Wall’ they had to withdraw the album after pink Floyd thought it was a dig at them. They are so unbelievably self obsessed. 2.5 6/11 The Real Thing

# Album Name: The real thing # Artist: Faith no more # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Wow, this was a snore fest. One hit wonder with epic and thats it. # Top Tunes: Epic # Would I listen to it again? No

iconic brilliance. an all-time favorite.

Hey, this is proof that Faith No More has more than one song. "Epic" is the song everyone familiar with rock music knows, and has probably heard hundreds of times... but exposure/airplay for other tracks was virtually nil. They do blend styles into what is essentially a funk-rock sound. "Epic" is the standout track for a reason, but the rest of the album holds together decent enough as well.

My only prior exposure to FNM was the song Epic which I have known since I was around 10 and I have never known quite where the song sits with me. On one hand I find it a bit of a mishmash of multiple cringey parts. On the other, the performances and writing are so good that it works surprisingly well. I was also until today under the impression it was two different people singing, and upon watching the video before I started the album gained an immense amount of respect for Mike Patton as a vocalist and performer. The verses sound like a muscley hype man, the choruses sound like Jaret from Bowling For Soup, its wild to me that he can pull of that call and response so flawlessly. I actually really enjoyed this. The genre blending is excellent, the performances are great. I particularly loved a lot of the guitar work on this, some fucking ace riffs. Mike Patton is an incredible vocalist and yeah this whole thing just came together really well. I was prepared to find it cringey and irritating but I am pleasantly surprised. Favourites - From Out of Nowhere, Epic, Surprise! You’re Dead!, Underwater Love

Thought this was going to be ass, always found Epic to be one of the corniest songs ever written despite secretly enjoying it. But the absolute riff-fest that comes in the middle of the album made it a pretty fun listen overall. Quite mad that I got baited into listening to the bonus tracks though (the War Pigs cover is an almost note for note rendition so pretty pointless but fuck it it’s a great song). From Out of Nowhere (8/10) Epic (8/10) Falling to Pieces (6/10) Surprise! You’re Dead! (9/10) Zombie Eaters (9/10) The Real Thing (7/10) Underwater Love (7/10) The Morning After (7/10) Woodpecker from Mars (7/10) 7.6/10

Together with the Chili Peppers, Faith No More helped popularize the crossover genre, and from hearing this record for the first time, the latter leaned more into the metal side of things. It's certainly not bad, but I can't shake the feeling that I've grown out of this particular style. In my late teenage years I'd probably been all over this, but now it's merely "OK" to me, without leaving much of an lasting impression behind. It doesn't help that this record sounds like it's trying very hard to convey an attitude, to come of as cool and, in the end, achieving the opposite by trying too hard.

This is such a great album. Heavy, fast and loud. More funk in their pinky fingernail than the entire Chili Pepper's catalog combined. Mike Patton has a unique vocal quality - is he being squeezed? Is he one of the smaller Muppets? No one knows for sure. In all seriousness, this kicks ass from beginning to end. I've heard Epic a million times, but the rest of this is even better. High energy weirdness. Aged really well. A new favorite. The more I listen the more I want to give it my highest rating.

I hate the “hair metal” sound of some of their songs. It’s like nails on a chalkboard

Actually enjoyed this which probably means metal fans don’t consider it real metal. Love tbe basslines though

Pretty good but didn't like, really strike me or whatever

No more please.

I confess to having a soft spot for this album. I think I owned a copy 35 or so years ago. It certainly sounds familiar. But it never really stuck. I moved on... Some of the songs came back to me whilst listening this morning. Epic is indeed, a little epic. The usual metal fuck filter was bypassed with a little funk added here and there. But funk metal is still something to be frowned upon. War Pigs actually gave me a headache.

Not too shabby, really

Arguably their best/most accessible record. Most unique sounding record in their discography. Pattons first with the band. His voice changed after this album and during Angel Dust…so it’s a 5/5 for me. My favorite band and the album that started it all for me.

Class!

not a huge fan of vocal, but overraly enjoyed it

Suburban Tribe tyyppistä melodista, joskus syntikka rokkia jossa hevin vivahteet. Kuunneltavaa.

The Real Thing - Faith No More ⭐️⭐️ I don't much like this band, but I'll give them TWO STARS because Brujeria's Billy Gould is a member, and I like wearing my Matando Güeros t shirt even though I'm blonde PLUS Taco truck workers call me "Güerita" and give me extra guacamole. "¡Viva La Raza!" Matando Güeros - Brujeria ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Que Puta super banda es Brujeria, escuchandolos desde niña, saludos desde El Napa Valley, que desmadre!

Solid rock, punk-rock.

I recognized a couple songs, like Epic, which has an early Red Hot Chili Peppers feel to it, though it's a little more metal. As for the rest, I like this a lot better than the one Faith No More Album I think I had back in the 90s--King for a Day.

Metal rock you dont want to listen

it sucks, but it sucks in weird and creative ways

Nope

For my money, Mike Patton is probably the greatest vocalist of all time, and easily top 10 singer of all time. The things he does with his voice are insane, and he's no slouch on this record. From his very Prince-like nasal delivery, to all his inflections and sound effects, dude is the GOAT. This album is fantastic as well. From the Prince-influenced funk metal tracks (From Out of Nowhere and Falling to Pieces), to the Coroner-esque thrash metal (Surprise! You're Dead!, Zombie Eaters), it's all great. I mention the apparent influences though not to say its derivative because they definitely add their own take on it all, and no other band has ever sounded like this before or after. The title track being a great example of Patton going all out with his voice. I will say, I'm not the hugest on the Prince-like funk metal stuff, but it's still great. Some could argue this album helped, unfortunately popularize rap metal/nu metal, and sure, but creatively this album stands heads an tails above pretty much anyone. Even still, we wouldn't have bands like Dillinger Escape Plan (top 5 bands all time for me) in their current form were it not for albums like this.

I mean. It was good. Other than the vocals getting agitating.

Gode låter hele veien. Smakfull bruk av keyboard. Vokalen tim Patton er bra, men kan bli litt mye av den nasale greia.

8/10

its alright

It’s definitely a classic, but I much prefer hearing tracks in random order as opposed to the full album

Really fun, takes me right back to MTv days. It was cool to hear some newer songs, didn’t really appreciate their skills back then. War Pigs was a pleasant surprise, didn’t add much to the original, but I played it more than once anyway. 7.5

The synth got pretty annoying pretty quick, but overall this is more my jam than most of what I’ve received in the past couple weeks. At its core I still expect an album to demonstrate to me why it’s a “must-hear”, and I’m just not getting that from this one.

Have the Faith

I really hated this band because I thought Mike Patton was ripping off Anthony Keids. That sentence is true and embarrassing. Love and hate are to illogical emotions that don’t need to be justified. Also Epic was on MTV every 3 seconds. This does sound like early RHCP however. That rap in falling to pieces is straight up Funky Styly. One of those bands that the music and singer never meshed well to my ears. Very important band building the bridge from metal to alternative rock.

They get better - bit hokey but very fun

This is fun and it feels original. Not at all predictable, but almost always for the better. The “War Pigs” cover felt unnecessary as they didn’t really do anything interesting with it and it made the album just a tad longer than it should have been. Otherwise, great stuff, I enjoy it a lot. 4/5

Fantastic album! Bonus points for the title track

Good mixing, like a lot of the songs, good musicality and variety

Pretty fun listen. I can definitely hear how it influenced sounds that followed it in the 90s. Not sure I'll return to it but glad to have heard this.

Some 80s rock with the synthesizer. Mike Patton is in a higher vocal range, more tenor. Kind of reminds me of primus. Love the instrumentals

This is awful. Whiney Kid Rock/Limp Bizkit with very few redeeming qualities. The instruments sound like pretty generic rock (some cool bass though) with awful vocals on top. Turned off after 3 songs. 2/10 (1/5)

Cover of War Pigs and the song "Epic" are solid!

It's definitely surprising that an album in which the vocalist sings with a Sponge Bob voice can be this well done. The album is full of good tracks, going from a more pop sound to a full metal with "Surprise! You're Dead!". Very interesting work from the late 1980's, one that truly captures the essence of its time.

What the hell is this? That's what I said when I was 17 and I heard this the first time. I must have listened to this literally hundreds of times since then. Oh my god. Versatile vocals. Superlative musicianship. Unique and interesting composition. I know you've heard Epic a THOUSAND times maybe, but it's far from the best song on this album. Falling to Pieces of a banner. Zombie Eaters is under appreciated. War Pigs was already good, and was a gateway drug for a young me to get into Sabbath. And we close out with Edge of the World, foreshadowing Mike's playful, loungey side he would let loose on later albums. Not their first album, but their first in the settled long time lineup that would yield good for a decade. Forget all the nu-metal rap-rock imitators, this is the real thing. Five Stars.

I saw a Faith No More tribute band (Zombie Eaters) who nailed the sound just the night before I got this album. A real mix here. Epic - it really is epic and Falling to Pieces is great. Filler tracks are just a bit poorer - I think Angel Dust is a better all round album.

Lo escuché hace algunas semanas pero no lograba aterrizar bien a bien qué era lo que me había gustado pero que no había logrado que lo amara. Decidí darle algunas semanas de reposo y escucharlo de nuevo, y ya fue mucho más claro: la música es genial, poderosa y metalera que da gusto, pero lo que en la mayoría de las canciones me resultó algo molesto fue la voz. A mi parecer, no hacen buena pareja la música poderosa con la voz de Patton. Un gran ejemplo es el cover que hacen a War Pigs de Ozzy, que tiene unos arreglos espectaculares, pero todo se va un poco al demonio en cuanto entra la voz. Pero bueno, no un disco con el que me la haya pasado mal, de hecho lo disfruté más esta segunda vuelta.

2,5

Their worst song is the most popular? Best Song: Zombie Eaters Rating: 6.5/10 (Good) Stars: 3/5

Not as ambitious as Angel Dust, pretty corny at times. Some solid metal music, liked what they were going for with the title track.

This album is very average. Some good tracks are cancelled out by some bad tracks, and you can see how Faith No More influenced Limp Bizkit, and the other one that was around at the same time. I think the album is pretty front loaded. Out of Nowhere and Epic are the big hitters, and the next two tracks are fine. The second half of the album is not so fine, although The Morning After is decent. The War Pigs cover is pretty much a carbon copy of the original, so what was the point? And the last track is too jazzy. It’s an average album and gets a bang average score.

Saw them in concert once. That was plenty. The Real Thing is a decent album, these guys should have been bigger than “epic” and the suffocating goldfish.

Tällaista nuoren miehen uhoa. Oli kyllä hauskasti otettu sanoituksissa rooleja. Pätevää soittamista myös, ja lauluhan kulkee hyvin. Biisitkin kuulostaa biiseiltä eikä tilutukselta. En kyllästynyt kuin hetkittäin, vaikka en hihkunut innosta. Vahva kaks.

Vaihtoehto teineille, joille Gunnarit ja Metallica eivät kelpaa. Paikoin viihdyttävääkin, mutta epätyydyttävän tarkkaa ja painavaa. Auttaa, jos tykkää sarjakuvista.

When I was a teenager I bought the set of Faith No More's albums from The Real Thing to Album of the Year. This is brining me back to summers driving around while blasting Epic and singing along to it. It's a shame with the ease of Spotify and streaming that it's so easy to avoid digging into a catalogue but there is no better way than a CD and many car journeys! I think I first found out about FNM after hearing midlife crisis on a Dad Rock compilation that had Midlife Crisis on it (which is an incredible pick for a Dad Rock album). I think it's hard to pick a more Gen X band than these guys. To call them Dad Rock is an offhand comment nowadays but it does them a huge disservice to how much they went away from the norm on many levels. They're weird. Maybe not Primus weird, and definitely not quite Mr Bungle weird (gonna get to that) but still weird nonetheless. It's interesting to have an album of a band that's on the precepice of finding its sound and it still sounds great! The biggest thing this album is lacking is variety. They're trying to find their sound and you hear some of their future peaking through but by and large this is the progression of Introduce Yourself's FNM with Patton now at the helm. I do wish we could've had an album between this and Angel Dust. For one thing there is a large jump in styles between the two albums that something inbetween could be interesting, albeit perhaps impossible. There was so much left to explore with that lineup that it's a shame we couldn't get more before Jim Martin left. There's low points to the album for certain! 'Suprise! You're Dead!' is bit half baked (that riff on the guitar is sick though) and Woodpecker From Mars runs a bit too long I reckon. Despite that, this album has a special place in my heart. It's fairly straightforward but it hides a weirder streak amongst itself. The growl of the bass that often comes alive halfway through songs, the drums that do anything but play a basic 4/4 rock beat, the weird midi keyboard strings that come in to disarm, some sicks guitar solos and weird riffs, and obviously Patton being one of the more unique singers in the rock world. This is one of those albums that formed a pillar of my music taste. I was hovering about 4 for this for a bit but that's me being more critical of an album because I love it enough to view all of its flaws. Highlight: Underwater Love Bonus Highlight: Cowboy Song from Live at Brixton Academy as an Outtake from the album (Also Patton is one of those singers I find myself identifying myself as a guy who loves singing in weird voices)

Really enjoyed this album. Did not realise that War Pigs was the opening sample on All Day.

Pretty good. Not for me tho

I hope so. I'm sick of A.I.

Wasn't bad but got bored of it fast. Reminded me of Smashing Pumpkins at times. High 2.

Didn’t enjoy

6/10 - It was like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and some other bands thrown together. It kind of worked but not amazing

This was pretty bad

War Pigs is fire

This one goes back and forth for me between hard rock and metal. For those I consider more hard rock songs (Epic, War Pigs, From Out of Nowhere) I am a big fan. I don't love it everyday but I do like to rock out from time to time. For those that are more Metal (Surprise! Your Dead!) I am not as much of a fan, more because its not my music, not necessarily because they did it poorly). I would really like a 3.5 but since that isn't a choice...

I know of Mike Patton (lead singer) because of Mr. Bungle which is a band that I like. So I've tried to listen to Faith No More before and I didn't especially like it. After giving this album a listen, I would say that I liked it more than I expected to. It has it's moments but not so much my thing. Also, cool cover but I still like the Black Sabbath original version of War Pigs better.

Epic lives up to its name. I consider this to be above average 80’s metal, but I’m also not really a huge metal fan. I imagine it would grow on me. 3.5 stars.

When their best song on here is a cover, an album can feel pretty average. Which this one did. Nothing I hated about it, it was just rock music that never really reached a level that made me want to rock out.

Listened to before: No I did not expect to like this album as much as I did. I'm not a big fan of metal, and rap-rock has a thing to age poorly. But this album has energy and good melodies. Sadly, I am not a fan of Pattons voice, which blocks this from getting a higher rating. My highlights are the first three tracks and Woodpecker from Mars.

4/5

Really expected to not like this

Apparently these guys are kinda the godfathers of Numetal? I can certainly hear that and I hate it. Numetal is not for me and these guys didn’t do much for me. Woodpecker from Mars was good though and I didn’t mind the cover of War Pigs. Didn’t really care for the rest though.

- sehr moody und einige echt geile Songs dabei - zwischendurch hat es einen kleinen Hänger, aber das ist meckern auf hohem Niveau - War Pigs einfach absoulter Banger

Are they ashamed of being metal? This album buries the lede, like they need to ease you into it. It has a few good moments, but I never felt inspired. I think I'm a bit harsher on this than I should be because I partially blame this album for Limp Bizkit.

Good album. Like the energy and the playing is good enough. Feel like this is in the list, solely due to “Epic”. 3/5 Might listen again

eh, they should be ashamed by the war pigs cover

Good record. Feels like a warm up for future albums that are wilder and more interesting.

Not my favorite FNM but some great individual tracks.

basically the opposite of my thing but I respect how hard they're going for it

good hard rock album. def wish i ran to this instead of leonard cohen

Baselines were pretty mint War pigs cover was alreyt

Funky 90s rock with a hopeless, or should I say faithless, singing vocal and a hip hop vocal that is just slightly better. The music itself is cool, but I can’t handle the vocals. The War Pigs cover is great.

About halfway through this album, I was thinking my review would be along the lines of "what if the Red Hot Chilli Peppers were bad?" But it really grew on me in the second half. The fusion of metal and funk is really cool, but I really dislike the singer's voice, so it's very hard to give this an overall rating.

Kind of like the Weimar Republic, Faith No More is often discussed in the context of what followed on from them, and it's a total disservice to pigeonhole them as Mike Patton's funk metal band which gave us nu metal. This album draws from a lot of different musical and creative sources, vomiting them back up in a cascade of idiomatic and intelligent degeneracy - aggression, melody, groove, riffs, solos, synths, proggy shit, thrashy shit, backed up/propelled/lead by by one of the all time great bass sounds. Favourite tracks: Woodpecker From Mars, Zombie Eaters, From Out Of Nowhere, War Pigs

I enjoyed this album when I was a kid but damn it has aged like a fine wine. Love it now.

Only really knew Epic before this. The album, is fine, it's just very forgettable.

In surprised this came out in 1990, because it's rare to get something that sounds this much like a specific decade before the decade even really started. Good funky almost- metal rock, a thumbs up from me

I’ve been developing into a Pattonhead over the last few years. So far, I haven’t put that much attention on Faith No More. That is obviously a mistake. This thing rules. It’s as weird and scattered as any other Patton thing, and the rest of the band is sick. I’ve never liked slap bass in rock, but I like it here! Hard to go any lower than 5 here, I was grinning like an idiot half the time I was listening.

Bang out of the gate. But then it stumbled. Rap-cheese metal voiced and guitar-funk just hasn't realized what it should do and what it should avoid. I find myself skipping out of tunes. Enjoyed Underwater Love finally--it seems to have avoided the banal metal limitations. Maybe I was into Woodprcket because it had no vocals. Do not try to imitate War Pigs. Listen to War Pigs.

When I first saw this come up, I misread it as Faithless. And got really excited. And then realised it wasn’t what I wanted it to be. I’ve never been into Faith No More. I remember when Epic was everywhere and seeped into our subconscious. I don’t mind it and actually really liked Woodpeckers from Mars - that put a smile on my face. But I could happily ditch the rest.

Man, this brought me back. I listened to this a lot when it was released. It's great, though it gets a little tedious toward the end. It's just a lot to take in in one listen and the material gets a bit weaker on side two. So many ideas, Mike Patton is a force as a front man, it's just a little thin in production. This is another band (Sheryl Crowe comes to mind) where the second album is the real genius release but we're being served the debut instead. It's a worthy choice, this band came out of the gate with something eternally different than anything around it, but they were still figuring out where they were going. Angel Dust, the second album, is something special. Not any easier to get through, it's another dense affair, but I think it stands as the band's high water mark (they released a bunch of great material in addition to the two mentioned). For my money, Zombie Eaters is the track that stands out as my fave on this one — though the entire first side of the record is stellar.

not a fan

I'll say I am fond of this album but not because of the sound of this music. It's a level of rock that is harder than my ears can tolerate and it is super masculine music, which I struggle to connect with. Yet there was something familiar (beyond the one song I actually knew--Epic), something that felt comforting, something je ne sais quoi and gemütlich. It sounded like my husband. I could, would, and have listened to and appreciated this style of music having shared life for the past 27 years. So if only for the nostalgia of having a sound personify the man I love, I dig it (but not quite to 4!).

This is my favorite band (or one of them - Mike Patton is my favorite artist). This was the album that got me into FNM to begin with, and it ended up being only the tip of the iceberg.

Nix für mich, würde ich nicht nochmal hören aber interessante Ansätze, nerviger Sänger, 2/5

Thoughts before listening: Faith No More is one of those bands that I should know really well, but I just never really tried. I know "Epic" which is a great song (that spawned a mostly cringey set of rap rock imitators) but I have never done a deep dive. Looking forward to hearing this album. Review: This album is a pretty varied mix of styles and sounds. FNM are definitely a hard rock/metal band, but they mix in funk, rap, ballads, Middle Eastern music, and other styles you don't typically expect from the genre. I especially like that Mike Patton has a solid voice that you can understand. Its been an enjoyable day listening to this album and I'll give it 4-stars.

WHINY VOICE

The best song in the album is one they didn't write. Woodpecker from Mars probably takes second. The rest of it wasn't particularly enjoyable to my tastes.

It was decent, I liked the mix of genres with the heavy metal, softer rock and hip hop, although the guys vocals maybe weren’t the best for hip hop but he does sound very metally like the dude from Helloween or something, although my favourite song was definitely the one without any vocals as heavy metal instrumentals are always good it seems (nothing against his vocals). The War pigs cover was also good although I prefer Ozzy’s vocals personally, falling to pieces and the morning after were my other favourites. Overall 6/10.

metal rock, 1989 -> 2

Prøver st være metal uden rigtig at være det

I enjoyed this. Could definitely see the influence of their sound in the 90s after them.

Fantastic! Wonderful harbinger of what was to come from this amazingly talented and woefully underrated band. I look forward to listening to the next (at least) 2 FNM albums.

It's fine. Epic is an obvious jam. A bit silly. More range than I was expecting. Solid cover of War Pigs. Some cool riffage. I respect it but won't likely be coming back to it any time soon.

My word, this slaps.

The first three songs are some of my fave songs of all time, especially Epic and Falling to Pieces, but it just gets boring after the third song 💔 Could have been one of the best albums of all time imo :(

skemmtileg blanda af ýmsum stefnum og þungarokki. eru svipaðir pipurunum, bassaleikur, en útsetningar og tónsmíðarnar skrítnari. gef þessu aðra. 3,5.

Faith No More with Mike Patton? Easy 5, no reason to go into details. I just hope I'm going to see Fantomas on this list as well, his every band deserves to be included.

Not feeling it

Didn't click at first. Thought the vocals were awful. Then I watched a few music videos and something clicked once I could see there style. A bit unhinged, but made it more entertaining.

Not even my favorite FNM album, but still a masterpiece with Patton's budding genius and one of 90s alternative rock's best rhythm sections.

The release of The Real Thing by Faith No More is the moment most people became aware of RapCore. Is that a good thing? That depends on how much you like RapCore. Faith No More is definitely more palatable than what came later (I'm looking at you Linkin Park) and was more unique at the time. The only song on the album to become a real hit was Epic which is, well, epic. It helps that their songs have a real chorus, as opposed to only rapping, making it more palatable to a general audience. At the end of the day, Faith No More is like Rage Against the Machine with a lot less rage. It's more Angst About the Machine. Their subsequent albums never did achieve the same level of popularity as The Real Thing; They did, however, continue to have a loyal fan base for whom they produced albums into the 2020s. The Real Thing was their only real brush with widespread fame.

Bof

This is just so musically interesting! The styles on the tracks have great diversity.

Really unfair that I was born too late to mosh in the pit at a FNM show

Yes!!! One of the best rock bands ever! Too bad I can't say the same about all the bands they influenced. Lol! Faith No More is truly an interesting band with a wide range of sound and style. Every single album from them is in a world of its own. For any true fan of Faith No More, the standout album would be "Angel Dust." Another interesting fact is that Courtney Love was one of their lead singers for a short period before Chuck Mosley, which eventually led to them replacing Chuck with Mike Patton. If you would rate this album a three or higher, I highly recommend checking out "Angel Dust" from 1992.

Heck yeah. This album was part of the soundtrack. I had a roommate that wore this tape out. I saw them open for Metallica on this tour. They were kicking ass and then James came out and played War Pigs with them. This whole album is strong. Extra stars for the nostalgia trip.

Le tengo mucho cariño a este disco, era más de lo mismo en esa época, pero se salía bastante del patrón. Tenía algunas en favorito como Epic y Falling to pieces y he añadido un par más: The real thing y Woodpecker from Mars. Creo que se merece más de 3 estrellas, pero esa nota refleja más la opinión general que puedo compartir de este álbum.

I wasn’t sure what I was in for having only heard the band’s “Epic” (and realizing later that "We Care a Lot" was also theirs from a different album). But I thought this was really good. Their cover of “War Pigs” is spot on. Great guitar work and the bassist just kills it.

How embarrassing

Just a lot of noise in the early tracks. Grew on me a bit in the later ones. "Woodpecker From Mars" is fun.

Not that fussed really

"Epic" is decent, but not as good as I remembered it. Didn't know there was a black sabbath "War pigs" bonus track. 2,4/5

Decent album, probably won't go into my rotation, but it was enjoyable.

I enjoyed it a lot more than I was expecting.

This is not my thing so I’ll reserve judgement. Decent cover of War Pigs.

This one was certainly influential for a handful of bands. His voice kind of annoys me, but good listen.