The Norwegian Folk Metal Band Wardruna
31st October 2024Artist Profile – Daniel Caesar
1st November 2024Infest the Rats’ Nest (2019) builds upon their signature brand of thrash metal with double kick drumming style that first captured fans’ imagination, as well as offering more structured albums than ever recorded by this band.
King Gizzard’s discography is wide-ranging, including lo-fi garage jams, free jazz, metal, prog, non-Western microtonal instrument tunings and modular synth loops – among many others.
Psychedelic Rock
King Gizzard have perfected the art of psychedelic rock by weaving elements of progressive and jazz music into their albums, as well as microtonal tunings into their sound. Many songs explore inner journeys like taking psychedelic drugs while others focus on environmental concerns or address a fictional universe called The Gizzverse.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is one of Melbourne’s defining bands, transcending genre with each album released. Born of its music scene, these experimental artists dare to go where rock music doesn’t go – exploring beyond rock’s confines into the depths of psychedelia and microtonal guitars, which utilize notes outside of Western A-G scale scale. If you want a good place to start listening out for them try Howls From the Hills which features slow-paced fuzz-out guitars which work perfectly against Simon’s vocals mumbled and hazy vocals.
Alternative Rock
Alternative rock is a genre associated with independent and underground scenes. This form of music blends elements of pop, punk, and psychedelic rock to form its unique sound that defies categorization.
The genre has seen several artists reach mainstream status with their songs – most notably, REM and Nirvana are two artists that have become household names through this music genre, with rebellious sounding music that appeals to younger listeners.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is an improvisational rock band known for rapidly shifting styles on stage, from garage-y prog rock song to electronic jam or acoustic ditte in an instant. Each of their members plays multiple instruments – drums, bass flute and tambourine being among them – including lead singer Stu Mackenzie (reminiscent of modern-day Angus Young). Furthermore, instead of following traditional jam band format of two sets they play one continuous block of music lasting over three hours without intermission!
Metal
King Gizzard recently released their thrash metal album Infest the Rats Nest to much surprise, although many might be disinclined by an album from an non-metal band like themselves. Not to worry: King Gizzard didn’t care at all!
Though not their best-selling album, this record showcases true metal spirit with its booming drums, whammy bar mania and shred-happy guitar riffage. Additionally, its progressive rock influences are similar to their 2021 effort “Psychedelic Fightback”.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard isn’t afraid to experiment, break genre boundaries, work at rapid speed and take their music in unexpected directions. Too often bands fear working outside of their comfort zones, yet with fearlessness King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard members have reached their true potential and reached new audiences. Every band can learn something from King Gizzard; no need for multiple albums per year or genre shifts just so long as there is not stagnation!
Pop
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard remain a jam band despite an abundance of releases in 15 years. Sure, their mythos covers their extensive discography as well as an expansive fictional universe (known by fans as “Gizzverse”). But their music remains accessible.
On stage, though, their improvisational energy and ability to ride a groove make it feel as if any song could come at any time; they even covered Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” at one recent show I attended in Colorado!
“Pop In Your Step,” from Butterfly 3000, marks a return to psychedelia for the band. Its Middle Eastern instrumentation harkens back to their 2008 Twilight soundtrack days while dense single-key punches provide a pulsing buzz which pulls everything together. Meanwhile Stu Mackenzie’s vocals provide catchy tuneful tunes which shift between hatred and indifference before building towards dancing passion – clever songwriting which shows they can go beyond garage rock to explore other genres.
