Prepare to embark on a wild and fantastical journey as King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard unleash their 24th album.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have exciting news for their fans as they announce the upcoming release of their new double LP album, “PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation.”
Set to be released on June 16th, this album marks their 24th musical venture. Following their successful foray into thrash with “Infest The Rats’ Nest” in 2019, the band takes a unique evolutionary step with “PetroDragonic Apocalypse.”
The album’s lead single, ‘Gila Monster,’ offers a tantalizing taste of the high-octane thrash greatness that awaits listeners. Accompanying the single is a captivating video directed by SPOD, who blended elements of video games and the fantasy realm to create a majestic journey through a cursed world. The video combines 3D animation, modeling, and live footage, resulting in a marvellous adventure that explores themes of truth and power. Friend or foe?
In a departure from their usual songwriting process, King Gizzard’s core trio, including Mackenzie, Joey Walker, and drummer Michael “Cavs” Cavanagh, approached the creation of “PetroDragonic Apocalypse” in a radically different manner. They started with no preconceived riffs, tunes, or ideas, opting instead to write a song a day and record everything in their practice space. From these jam sessions, the songs took shape, and Mackenzie had already sketched out the story that would be told. The album was created in reverse, with the story guiding the composition process.
Mackenzie playfully explains that “PetroDragonic Apocalypse” draws inspiration from fantasy lore, combining elements of the real world with witches, dragons, and more. The album is a vibrant tapestry that balances surface-level fun with profound undertones. Lyrically, the songs contain echoes of Shakespeare and biblical language, adding a blackly comedic and bleakly destructive narrative. These voices, reminiscent of words spoken centuries ago, weave throughout each song, adding a sense of historical weight.
Musically, “PetroDragonic Apocalypse” showcases King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s mastery of thrash-flavored riffage. The album channels the razor-sharp precision and prog-infused vibes of the late-80s apex of the genre, resulting in a complex and brutal sonic experience.
As dedicated artists, the band is already on the verge of completing their next album, a seven-track concept record. This upcoming project shares a connection with “PetroDragonic Apocalypse,” as it was also conceived through the improvisational method of crafting one song per day. However, once these albums are completed, the band intends to return to the traditional approach of writing songs before entering the studio.
With their ever-evolving sound and prolific output, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard continue to push musical boundaries, cementing their status as a force to be reckoned with in the contemporary music scene. The release of “PetroDragonic Apocalypse” promises to be a thrilling and immersive experience for fans and newcomers alike.
