Twelve Foot NinjaDebut albums can be a jittery, nervous proposition. Therefore, it's striking how assured Melbourne's Twelve Foot Ninja are on their initial full-length, despite its versatility. Perhaps it's their hard-working touring ethic and two previous EPs that provided them with this unwavering self-belief.
If there's a type of modern music these bipolar prog-rockers don't incorporate, it probably hasn't been created yet. King For A Day…-era Faith No More is an appropriate ground zero, and not merely because of Kin's Patton-esque vocal acrobatics. This is apparent in coherent, natural stylistic melding; after hearing the effortless mix of hard rock riffage, electronica, bossa nova and lounge-like crooning on opener, Coming For You, you'll be pondering why nobody combined them previously. Somewhere, Ill Niño will be wiping tears from their dreadlock-covered eyes. Kingdom's smooth vocal melodies continue the Patton theme, while also infusing Eastern elements. As a game show announcer once bellowed – 'And there's still more!' Polyrhythm-driven madness will pique the interest of Meshuggah-worshipping djent hordes. Throw in liberal doses of funk, classic rock and metallic riffs and that's still not entirely encapsulating the scope. Mother Sky balances prog tendencies with reggae and irresistible hooks, while the groove-laden Shuriken, Vanguard and title track are also winners. Selected heavier riffs feel a tad too similar, but they rarely get bogged down in one idea for long, so it's of little consequence.
Australia's proggy hard rock scene is crowded, what with Karnivool, Sydonia, Floating Me and Dead Letter Circus leading the pack. Twelve Foot Ninja are an even more wide-reaching proposition. These giant-sized warriors won't be lurking unnoticed in the shadows for much longer.
