Band:	Mordred
Album:	Fool's Game
Style:	Funk rock, Thrash metal
Release date:	1989

01. State Of Mind
02. Spectacle Of Fear
03. Every Day's A Holiday
04. Spellbound
05. Sever And Splice
06. The Artist
07. Shatter
08. Reckless Abandon
09. Super Freak [Rick James cover]
10. Numb

Proto-funk thrash anyone? Yes, Mordred were certainly an oddity in the thrash scene, a band pushing boundaries in a scene nearing critical mass. On their debut album, the band make a compelling case that given the right mix of musicians, thrash could incorporate sounds and move with the times.

Where Mordred are successful is where they seemingly approach a song by creating a solid thrash foundation, and then add funk elements onto it, adding a flair to an already good song rather than trying to meld both sounds equally. Where the latter is attempted (like in "Everyday Is A Holiday"), you end up with a song that is neither heavy nor catchy, coming off as a third-rate Mosley-era Faith No More knock off. In contrast, take tracks like "Spectacle Of Fear" and "Sever And Splice", songs that are made in the thrash mould before having a bassline dropped on them that gives it a funk element, as well as a drum pattern that connects the bass with the guitars.

The band draws most of its funk sound from utilising drum syncopations that are oft heard in hard metal (especially in the '80s) and from the bass guitar. These end up being the secret weapons of the band in their merging of styles. Big credit must be given to the playing of Liboon and Hall, who are behind the bass and drums respectively; they play the perfect mix of thrash and funk that gives this album its identity. That is not to say the rest of the band do not deserve any merit; the guitars are strong throughout and Holderby is a very capable vocalist, but for once it is the rhythm section that are the strong suit of an album.

That is not to say the album is flawless; while "Everyday Is A Holiday" is a worthwhile experiment, "Super Freak" is better in concept than in practice. A wise song choice that you would imagine fitting Mordred's sound, it comes off as a track where little effort was put into it and served more an afterthought than a genuine attempt from the band.

State Of Mind is an album well worth a listen, a strong record with a unique sound; if you are looking for a strong thrash album with a twist, the band have you more than covered.