Twelve Foot Ninja

Specializing in a propulsive and hard-to-shoehorn mix of searing alternative metal and shape-shifting, experimental rock with progressive tendencies, Aussie group Twelve Foot Ninja fall somewhere between the decibel-pounding onslaught of bands like Periphery and Between the Buried and Me, and the kitchen-sink eclecticism of Mr. Bungle. They released a flurry of singles and EPs in the late 2000s before issuing their debut long-player, Silent Machine, in 2012. After years of touring, including a streak of sold-out dates in Australia, the group issued their sophomore effort, 2016's Outlier. Following a lengthy absence -- during which time they downsized to a quartet -- Twelve Foot Ninja returned with their third album, 2021's Vengeance, which was fleshed out by a graphic novel, a video game, and an epic fantasy book.