Rating: 9/10
By Kieran Webber
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are arguably one of the most exciting, unique and bizzare bands around at the moment. As each album comes out we explore a new idea, a new barrage of sounds and a new set of tracks to obsess over and dissect. Although the band float within the psychedelic/prog rock genre they mould and bend their sound through a large mixing pot. However, ‘Infest The Rats’ Nest’ is the most surprising album they’ve released to date. They move into the realm of thrash metal and hard rock from the late 80’s. Across the album you are treated to a barrage of neck breaking riffs and sludgy guitar lines all backed by the gruff vocals of Stu Mackenzie. Surprisingly King Gizzard pull this out the bag and really make it work.
It’s the last thing that you’d expect from the band and that is why it’s so brilliant. Especially as their first release of 2019 ‘Fishing For Fishies’ is a psychedelic bounce that is reminiscent of The Grateful Dead. They truly are a band that keeps you on your toes.
The album kicks off with immense style with the soon to be extinction rebellion theme song ‘Planet B’. A relentless attack on the senses that carries hard, fast and powerful riffs to the forefront. The whole album follows suit with this momentum apart from ‘Superbug’, which see’s the pace take a step back, it is here where Stu’s newfound James Hetfield vocals take precedence.
The album comes to an intense end with the final track ‘Hell’ which accumulates all of the former sounds of the album into one behemoth of a track. The final chord of the album comes to an end you are left jaw agape, unsure of what you’ve heard. The album is a relic of the past, a throwback to bands such as Metallica and Motorhead. Yet through the rock n roll juice there is a level of depth to the album, especially within the songwriting. It tackles the social problems of today, financial cruelty, elitism and climate change. It’s a superb body of music that keeps giving with every listen and further solidifies King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard as one of the world’s most prolific rock bands.
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