King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard infest the soul

Australian alternative rock band, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard’s newest release, Infest the Rats’ Nest, not only tells an important story but takes listeners on an intergalactic journey from Earth to outer space. The multitalented artists include, Stu McKenzie (guitar, bass, keyboards and flute), Ambrose Kenny-Smith (vocals, keyboards and harmonica), Cook Craig (guitar, bass and vocals), Joey Walker (guitar, bass, keyboards and vocals), Lucas Skinner (bass and keyboards), Michael Cavanaugh (drums and percussion) and finally Eric Moore (drums and percussion management). The ever-evolving band that is known for their lively, outrageous and unforgettable live performances, has produced nine new songs about the current state of the environment, and how humans are the cause of this self-destruction. Their new heavy metal, hard-rocking album is Infest the Rats’ Nest.

Commonly known for their psychedelic, garage rock sound, this new release takes a turn into extreme heavy metal, sending an important message to all earthlings. Not only is the band singing about where the world could be headed, but they’re also playing their music like it’s their last day on Earth. Always bringing a unique essence, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is heavy on the distorted sounds and rough, gruff vocals, producing a true heavy metal album.

King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard starts the journey with “Planet B.” The first song on the new album finds them singing “there is no planet,” which is a testament to Mother Nature and all her beauty. They speak of humans who actively destroy, and how if there is no Earth, there are no humans. The musical journey is carried along with the following song, “Mars for the Rich,” with an original electronic and heavy metal sound. The song portrays a new world where only the rich are living on Mars, and listeners can hear the passion behind the artists’ voices.

This is an extremely high-vibration, high-intensity, fast-paced album that will most definitely get the heart rate up. The album is slowed down just a bit with the fourth and longest song, “Super Bug.” “Faceless, ageless and simply outrageous,” sings the band in this apocalyptic track that tells a tale of mass extinction via an incurable illness that has taken over Earth.

The grungy energy is continued with “Venusian 1 & 2,” which infests the original King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard sounds. “Perihelion,” which is defined as the closest point of the Earth or a planet to the Sun is also the name of the heated, sixth song on the album. In the lyrics, “sun eating humans for dinner,” the band foreshadows an even more depleted ozone, leading to the burning of the world we know on Earth. Following is “Self-Immolate,” a track that showcases the self-destruction of the human race. The album, and story the band is telling, ends with the final track.

“Hell,” continues the warped guitar riffs, hardcore drumming and electrifying guitar and closing out on the iconic line, “infest the rats’ nest.” King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have always blended various types of sounds: psychedelic rock, alternative, groovy sounds—and some blues. This newest release is definitely a heavy metal album, that is undeniably rocking.