The Australian polymath masterminds are back! With an even more kitchen-sink approach than normal, Omnium Gatherum finds King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard in an even more exploratory mood than normal. If you’ve heard about this unique band but can’t get into their unpredictable music, here are all of the styles covered on their new record!
Starting as a psychedelic, garage-influenced rock band, Stu Mackenzie has since taken his prolific band to far more wide-reaching heights. Over the course of 20 albums (the first released in 2012), Mackenzie and the rest of his band have jammed through numerous genres and styles, often dramatically shifting to a completely different sound on the following album. With Omnium Gatherum, they try to fit this approach on a single, double-length record.
The most exciting track on Omnium Gatherum is the opener, “The Dripping Tap,” a progressively-minded 18-minute extension of a jam session with fellow Australians Tropical Fuck Storm.
A hooky melody and dreamy soundscape are invoked on “Magenta Mountain” and “Kepler-22b,” both also pre-released tracks.
A lot of laidback tracks take up time on Omnium Gatherum, but with a couple of twists. For example, “Ambergris,' 'Persistence,' and 'Blame It On The Weather' take the laid-back sound to funky levels with a killer bass part, while the closer “The Funeral” is more straightforward in design but with some nice guitar runs.
There is a fair amount of filler with slightly different styles; 'The Garden Goblin' and 'Candles' have a chill indie-pop sound, while 'Red Smoke' and 'Presumptuous' lean into some blues and Latin sounds.
Yes, 'Gaia' and 'Predator X' are full-on metal tracks, revisiting the sound of Infest The Rats' Nest.
Yes, 'Sadie Sorceress' and 'The Grim Reaper' reach into ill-advised rap territory.
'Evilest Man' sounds most like their past work, combining rock, psychedelic, pop, and exploratory sounds into one semi-cohesive adventurous work.
You can find Omnium Gatherum on all streaming services, as well as hours of back catalog to explore!