It’s absolutely normal to expect the weird and the wonderful each time those prolific Australian psychedelicists, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard release a new album. Yet, guitars are also pretty much expected to be somewhere in the mix. Not so with Alien Metal: their 28th album in 14 years.
Fuelled by Joey Walker’s recent synthesizer obsession, Alien Metal apparently evolved from an extended seamless Eurorack jam that took in techno, breakbeat, house and the electronic end of prog rock to make something that is part thumping hardcore foot-stomper and part tripped out hard-spinner. However, while this may be something of an unexpected left turn for the Melbourne six-piece, the sound on this new disc is still very much their own. So, it’s unlikely to alienate long-term fans, while potentially also bringing more into the Gizzverse.
Comprising eight tunes that flow effortlessly into one another, Alien Metal hits the ground running with the relentless percussive sounds of the lively “Sapience” and eventually comes to a close with the exhilarating techno frenzy of “Atomic Collapse”. In between, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard journey through futuristic rave sounds of the title track and trancey hands-in-the-air vibes of “Superheavy, Supercritical”. “Level 5” evolves into a breakbeat monster that takes a serious lead from the early hardcore junglists and lets rip in no uncertain terms. While, Ambrose Kenny-Smith’s unsettling vocoder treated vocals add something of a proggy wash to the ebb and flow of “Kill for the Steel”, “Rapid Alpha Decay” and “Uqt”.
In fact, Alien Metal proves King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard to be truly authentic psychedelic travellers who are unafraid to venture into previously untried sonic territory with some gusto. And in an age where building a brand and unashamedly sticking to it is the usual model, this can only be praised and wholehearted encouraged.
