Review Summary: A New Dawn indeed, and a bright one it is.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Australian music scene is a force to be reckoned with. What was once a diluted Progressive crowd has now been divided and glorified, but in a good way. Bands such as Cog, Karnivool and The Butterfly Effect stand noticeably triumphant as the country's best, along with newcomers Dead Letter Circus. They are, without a doubt, Australia's version of the Seattle Big Four.
What listeners fail to notice, however, that amongst this often referenceate and forcefully brilliant heavy rock bands, such as Mammal, Sydonia and Full Scale, the former and latter of which are both fronted by frantic frontman and persistent persistor Ezekiel Ox. The latest of these go by the name of Twelve Foot Ninja. Having just released their second EP, a short retrospective seems needed, so now we glance easily back on this energetic, promising, heavy and downright amazing debut from the band.
Twelve Foot Ninja, as some readers may know, play a brand of experimental, genre-shifting hard rock in the vein of Faith No More and Shaolin Death Squad. While influence from such bands is clear, TFN still stand confidently on their own platform of creativity. Where other bands would fall apart miserably, TFN succeed triumphantly with their flawlessly risky songwriting to provide an unmatchedly exciting listening experience.
The EP opens up with frantic first single Molotov Brother, which is known alongside other record highlight, Dark Passenger, for being subjected to heavy airplay on youth radio station, Triple J. It quickly introduces the listener to everything that Twelve Foot Ninja encompass with its Reggae-styled verses and Alternative Rock choruses. Portrait1 and FEAR also bring to the table some intruiging sectional contrasts. The asian-esque verses of Portrait1 serve as almost binary opposites to its choruses - a quick mix of crunchy, sludgy riffs and dissonant lead parts. FEAR's combination of indie guitar and bludgeoning metal is yet another album highlight, which conjures images of Jason Mraz playing his guitar on record against his will, before being struck over the head and beaten to a bloody, guitar-bludgeoned pulp.
Dark Passenger, undoubtedly the heaviest track of the record, shines through with its spastic vocals, ridiculous riffs and lyrical genius, with lines such as "I will attack where there is no defence/to secure my defence/I will defend where there is no attack," that sends welcome shivers up the listener's spine. Lead Vocalist, Kin, displays his most creative vocal style here, amongst a library of others that he seems to have at his envied disposal.
With its surprising longevity, uniquely genre-transcending structure and excitingly schizophrenic delivery, Twelve Foot Ninja look to be one of the most promising bands of the next decade. Despite their daringly different style, they fit right in with the current scene and are a welcome edition. Having released their second EP, a quick improvement over the debut, there is no doubt in the world that Twelve Foot Ninja are, indeed, a bloodletting sucker-punch to the musically stale groin of the 21st century.
EP is streaming here: http://www.myspace.com/twelvefootninja
