Album Review: Ten Foot Wizard - Get Out Of Your Mind
Reviewed by Neil Bolton
Genres and pigeon holing of bands is often looked on as lazy and annoying. But it can be a good tool for explaining the type of music a band is aiming for. If a band endeavours to write black metal music, and the reader is a fan of said genre, the reader has an inkling the music may be for them or not. It should never be used as a blanket review, just a handy aid.
Some bands only make it easier to explain what they are not, but in that way you may alienate the reader to their music, as in some cases their music should appeal all. Ten Foot Wizard are one of those bands. The label of mere party band has been incorrectly thrown at them in the past. Yes, their astonishing live performances have humour and silliness, and those gigs might be crowned by tracks like 'Covered in Tits', but most importantly they contain talent. Indeed there is a lot of talent in this band.
Formed in 2009 as a stoner rock band Ten Foot Wizard quickly added many elements to their sound and have now arrived with 'Get Out Of Your Mind'. A release that should further their fan base and place in the music world.
Track one 'Namaste Dickhead' begins to groove and bounce with the trade mark Ten Foot Wizard smile inducing riff. Your foot begins to stomp and you sing along with the chorus, even in its unique vocal style. The smile will not have left your face as Jonny Banyard drums along with Gary and Adam adding funky guitars leading you calmly down a road some may not have traveled before in the second track 'Broken Man'. The crunchy riff then pounces; changing the smile on your face to a full blown face cringing grin. If your face has morphed as described the ending of the song will have effected you legs and feet as you will most likely be up dancing around.
Diving further into the album the title track has a teasing guitar sound that grows massive and once again retreats letting Harkin’s vocals take centre stage. The massive riff returns and so does the motion of the listeners body, back and forth with expert timing. The smile not yet lost, the joy of life still enhanced. The final track 'King Shit of Fuck Mountain' has a name that again exposes their love of the absurd. It also once again lays bare the fact this band can produce music as good as any of their peers. Its expertly mixed by Grammy Award winning producer Nic Hard, adding even more to the sex, rock, metal, punk funk and more sound I have before me.
If you already know of Ten Foot Wizard, you will be looking forward to this new album, and you will not be left wanting. If you are new to the band and enjoy flinging yourself around to great music, this band and record should appeal.
