Home / Newsletters

Sleightly Unhinged's Review - 24/08/2025

Sleightly Unhinged
# Greeting  
Dear Fellow Illusionists and Card-Slinging Companions,  

Ah, another week of magic tutorials, deck reviews, and mind-bending shenanigans. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when rock ‘n’ roll collides with cardistry, or how to force a card without breaking a sweat, you’re in for a treat. Let’s dive in—no rabbits were harmed, but a few £10 notes might’ve been.  

---

## TL;DR  
This week’s magic digest:  
- A Guns N’ Roses-themed Bicycle deck that’s *bloody loud* but plays nice.  
- A live psychic survival stream with mind-readers who might’ve peeked at your diary.  
- A magician with Tourette’s turning quirks into storytelling gold.  
- A behind-the-back card trick that’ll make you feel like a sleight-of-hand ninja.  
- And a mentalist wallet so slick, it’ll make your EDC look like a Tesco bag.  

---

## Videos Reviewed  

### 🎩 Deck Review - Bicycle Guns N' Roses Playing Cards | TheCardists  
Ashley from TheCardists unboxes a deck that marries rock ‘n’ roll rebellion with classic cardistry. Think Slash’s top hat meets Bicycle stock—custom courts inspired by Axl Rose, a skull-and-roses tuck case, and USPCC reliability. It’s not limited edition, but it’ll make your poker night feel like a stadium gig.  

**The Unhinged Take:**  
This deck’s louder than a Marshall stack at full volume. Perfect for magicians who want to channel Appetite for Destruction vibes without sacrificing grip for a fan. Just don’t spill beer on it—unless you’re aiming for a *truly* authentic rock ‘n’ roll disaster.  

Details here → [Deck Review - Bicycle Guns N' Roses Playing Cards](/video/LBuzinhs36o)  

---

### 🎤 Join @Thatmindreader and @PigCake right now in the Psychic Survival Kit live stream | magicorthodoxy  
Two mentalism heavyweights, Thatmindreader and PigCake, host a live stream dissecting the Psychic Survival Kit. Expect unscripted banter, real-time Q&A, and tips on how to fake telepathy without a gimmick (or a therapist).  

**The Unhinged Take:**  
If you’ve ever wanted to peek into a psychic’s group chat, here’s your chance. Just don’t be surprised if they guess your Wi-Fi password mid-stream.  

Details here → [Join @Thatmindreader and @PigCake right now in the Psychic Survival Kit live stream](/video/rhP2unMsOGk)  

---

### 🎭 Jason Michaels - Vice President of the Largest Magic Club in the World | penguinmagicshop  
Jason Michaels, VP of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, spills secrets about performing for troops, leveraging Tourette’s as a storytelling tool, and why magic clubs are the real *Avengers* HQ.  

**The Unhinged Take:**  
Michaels proves that magic isn’t just about tricks—it’s about turning life’s curveballs into a standing ovation. Also, he’s basically the Dumbledore of military base gigs.  

Details here → [Jason Michaels - Vice President of the Largest Magic Club in the World](/video/tKSZzfGYNZ0)  

---

### 🃏 How to find any card from a deck behind your back!! | MurphysMagicSupplies  
Javier Fuenmayor teaches a math-based miracle: locate any card behind your back without sleight of hand. It’s like cheating at poker, but legal and *far* more impressive.  

**The Unhinged Take:**  
This trick’s so easy, even your spine could do it. Just don’t blame your back if you fumble the reveal—unless you’re channeling a chiropractor routine.  

Details here → [How to find any card from a deck behind your back!!](/video/jD6ZkMrMxMw)  

---

### 🤯 This Hands-Off Self Working Card Trick BLOWS MINDS! | AMillionCardTricks  
A spectator-driven trick where four volunteers align cards in a way that defies logic. The magician? Merely a bemused bystander.  

**The Unhinged Take:**  
It’s like letting the audience do your job, but somehow still getting the applause. Aka. The ultimate magic hustle.  

Details here → [This Hands-Off Self Working Card Trick BLOWS MINDS!](/video/xEWuV0LET20)  

---

### 📈 Magic Card Trick Tutorial - Any Card Up | BestMagic  
A beginner-friendly “any card, any number” effect with zero gimmicks. Name a card, count the deck, and—voilà—your audience thinks you’ve got x-ray fingers.  

**The Unhinged Take:**  
The only thing faster than this trick is the look on your spectator’s face when they realize they’ve been outsmarted by a deck of cards.  

Details here → [Magic Card Trick Tutorial - Any Card Up](/video/07dKaUiTGNA)  

---

### 📦 MindSpy 2 Wallet by Peter Nardi Review | ChrisEdwardsMagic  
The MindSpy II—a sleek, notepad-style wallet for mentalists—is back in a limited run. It’s posh enough for the stage but wouldn’t survive your back pocket.  

**The Unhinged Take:**  
If your current wallet’s been moonlighting as a cheese grater, upgrade. Just don’t use it to pay for drinks unless you want to accidentally reveal someone’s PIN.  

Details here → [MindSpy 2 Wallet by Peter Nardi Review](/video/2k2XrmFGaY8)  

---

### 🎯 Beyond Reform by Matthew Wright & Eliott Gerard | ChampionMagic  
A torn-and-restored card trick with a twist so cheeky, it’ll make Houdini blush. Reviewed by JS Magic, who’s clearly smitten.  

**The Unhinged Take:**  
Tear a card, fix it, and watch jaws drop. The only thing more dramatic is your ex explaining why they left.  

Details here → [Beyond Reform by Matthew Wright & Eliott Gerard](/video/PvA_V4CgM-U)  

---

### 📚 My Magic Book Collection! | ChampionMagic  
JS Magic flaunts his library of magical tomes, proving that physical books are still the OGs of knowledge (sorry, Kindle).  

**The Unhinged Take:**  
If you’ve ever wondered what a magician’s “Desert Island Discs” would look like, wonder no more. Spoiler: It’s all about the *method*, darling.  

Details here → [My Magic Book Collection!](/video/oBVi1B6T3-0)  

---

### 🃞 How to Force a Card | magicorthodoxy  
A tutorial on the classic force—a foundational skill for card trickery. Because nothing says “free choice” like being gently railroaded by a smug magician.  

**The Unhinged Take:**  
Master this, and you’ll be the puppeteer of free will itself. Just don’t use it to manipulate your mates into buying the next round.  

Details here → [How to Force a Card](/video/x3EqSdHuE44)  

---

## Other videos I didn't have space for  
- [Bicycle Guns N' Roses Playing Cards](/video/eYN6oMAgfEM)  
- [Super IMPRESSIVE move you can learn now!](/video/JNpJG9Zk38M)  
- [Deck Review - Bicycle Fighter Ace Cards](/video/6QerUDnFWg0)  
- [Crazy Magician hut shows insane Magic Trick for £10](/video/E0sX-_Lqz3g)  

---

## Farewell  
Before you shuffle off to practice your forces, here’s a thought: Magic isn’t about the trick—it’s about the *story* you weave around it. Also, pro tip: If you ever perform for a military audience, skip the grenade jokes. Trust me.  

---

**Parting Spell:**  
*“Magic is the art of making the impossible appear inevitable.” – Unknown (probably someone in a cape).*  

**Sleightly Unhinged**