The reassembled Tantric continue their respectable return with Mind Control. A dark, heavy, declarative album in nature, it’s easy to see that Tantric have no intention of going back underground. Mind Control is the sound of the band really going for it and getting it.
The album opens with the title track, plunging the listener into a frenzied, radio friendly anthem that will please any fan of great rock music. The band set the stage by offering that we all need to be careful what is fed us and maintain our own, informed, opinions. Another highlight is the haunting and powerful “Desert Me.” The gravely vocal and interesting guitar work is like descending into a rabbit hole and getting bit on the way down. The acoustic “The Past is the Past” is coupled with it, making for an excellent duo of songs that prove Tantric are one of the most versatile bands in rock music right now. The more familiar semi-acoustic, bluesy, rock sound of “What Are You Waiting For?” is another highlight and probably the song longtime Tantric fans will be most drawn to.
Overall, there really aren’t any stinkers on this album and the darker approach is more befitting the bands early works. I liked the last album but this is more along the lines of what we all knew Tantric was capable of producing. A certain Album of the Year contender, Mind Control is a dynamic rock album from start to finish.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
