How King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard made me fall in love with rock again

Melbourne- based rock group King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard do not mess around. They have released some of the most critically acclaimed and adored albums over the last few years, including 2015’s Quarters and 2017’s Flying Microtonal Banana and Sketches of Brunswick East with Mile High Club. The crazy thing is that in the space of 7 years and counting, they have released over fifteen albums (!!!!), all of which come with a different and unique style. Their most recent album Infest the Rats’ Nest sees them take a turn down thrash metal, bringing intense, heavy and dark guitar-driven melodies that just hit so damn hard it’s impossible for me to sit still.

The intense drumming on the opening track of their new album “Planet B” gives way to electronic guitar thrashing and harsh vocals from lead singer, Stu Mackenzie. The dynamism of this track sets the tone for the rest of the album. The psychedelic and hard-rock influence is present throughout “Mars For The Rich,” with brilliant guitar leads and a bassline that adds tremendous groove to the record. The distorted guitars throughout the latter half of the track are intense and brilliant. “Organ Farmer” is proper hellish, with some heavy, heavy guitar riffs. “Superbug,” the longest track on the album is also the most experimental, having different tempo changes and, with powerful vocals, driving guitars, menacing drumming and a fuzzy, almost ethereal sounding atmosphere throughout. “Venusian 1” starts with harsh guitar leads that explodes into maddening riff-heavy beat. The energy remains like that on “Perihelion” and “Venusian 2,” while the distorted, hazy and harsh riffs on “Self-Immolate” and “Hell” are both psyched out and intense, ending the album with an absolute bang. Like their other releases, Infest the Rats’ Nest brings something different to the table, for a genre that has been lacking spark and innovation. Just like their other releases they have been able to reinvent themselves as an exciting, riveting band that is just at the top of their game.

Listen to King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s brand new album Infest the Rats’ Nest below via Bandcamp and don’t forget to support! Released via ATO Records.