King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Infest the Rats' Nest

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Infest the Rats' Nest
Melbourne, Australia-based psychedelic rock monarchs King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard release their second album of 2019; Infest the Rats' Nest contains more hardcore potency than the more lighthearted, bluesy album, Fishing for Fishies.
This latest addition to the group's ever-growing discography sounds more like Metallica than they ever have before. The concept album explores current ecological issues, and is set in a near-future post-apocalypse.
Fast-paced metal jams kick off the first half of the album, with warping distortion leaking from the guitars and bass. The longest track, "Superbug," drags listeners through gritty, James Hetfield-esque vocals that burst through the fuzz of the instrumental sections of the song. Tapped guitar frets babble out breakneck guitar riffs, whipping through the rest of the record like a jackrabbit on fire.
As one should expect from King Gizz, Infest the Rats' Nest never repeats itself, flying through idea after idea like a heart-stopping drop into the rock'n'roll depths of "Hell," the final track. It's never safe to assume anything about King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, but one can figure that this band have an intense musical agenda and a never-ending appointment with a stupefied audience. (Flightless / ATO)