Ever since the pandemic I have been exploring this band’s discography and have just been blown away by their range, their ability, and the overall grooving as of their songs. The fact that they can put out rock albums, folk songs, rap songs, boogie songs, groove jams, metal albums, prog rock stuff…it’s all just mind blowing. Call backs to previous albums, looping, world building, and amazing three hour live performances with no repeats over three night residencies? What can these guys not do?
They are releasing a new album this week, a prog/heavy metal concept album about dragons and the apocalypse, and I’m super pumped for it.
Any other Gizzheads here? Hoping to find some more community to geek out with about them!
I got one of their albums once… but it seems there are a lot of them What do you think is a short list of pieces representative of their most musically interesting/powerful work, if that makes sense?
I saw them live in 2018 here in Chicago and they put on a fantastic show. That said, I don’t know their work very well, as I’m kind of overwhelmed by it all! I just kind of peck at songs or albums randomly.
I’m a fan and I’m excited about the upcoming album. I’m an oldschool metal fan (particularly the thrash variant) so really loved Infest the Rats Nest and I think this will be more in that style. I’m loving the two singles they’ve released and have “GILA GILA GILA!” stuck in my head these days.
They crank out a lot of albums, like Zappa, across genres so there is a lot to dig into/through and I like most. They also have a ton of high quality live performances available on Youtube as well as entertaining music videos.
I think a good introduction is Omnium Gatherum - it was the first album they released in 2022 and has 16 songs, all with a variety of genres across the board. If there are a few songs on there that speak to you … then from there you can jump into different albums with more genre-focus.
Typically, though, you’ll see other Gizz fans recommend starting with polygondwanaland or Nonagon Infinity as an entry point. Nonagon in particular is “looped”, meaning that you can listen to the album straight through and have it repeat itself from the last song back to the first song as one infinite loop. It’s kind of trippy. I’m In Your Mind Fuzz is one of their classic records too, though it took me a while to grab onto that one, admittedly. If you’re into more metal stuff, Infest The Rat’s Nest is very thrash metal, and the companion albums K.G. and L.W. have a lot of prog-rock/ Black Sabbath influence.
Pick around and see if anything grabs your attention and gets you moving! I’m happy to offer more suggestions along the way.
I responded to pulykamell’s comment first, but I think what I shared with them would apply to your questions too:
I think a good introduction is Omnium Gatherum - it was the first album they released in 2022 and has 16 songs, all with a variety of genres across the board. If there are a few songs on there that speak to you … then from there you can jump into different albums with more genre-focus.
Typically, though, you’ll see other Gizz fans recommend starting with polygondwanaland or Nonagon Infinity as an entry point. Nonagon in particular is “looped”, meaning that you can listen to the album straight through and have it repeat itself from the last song back to the first song as one infinite loop. It’s kind of trippy. I’m In Your Mind Fuzz is one of their classic records too, though it took me a while to grab onto that one, admittedly. If you’re into more metal stuff, Infest The Rat’s Nest is very thrash metal, and the companion albums K.G. and L.W. have a lot of prog-rock/ Black Sabbath influence.
Pick around and see if anything grabs your attention and gets you moving! I’m happy to offer more suggestions along the way.
YES! Glad to hear it. Infest the Rats Nest is awesome. I also have been obsessed with the song The Hungry Wolf of Fate off of K.G. lately - it’s like old school Black Sabbath and it is awesome.
Have you listened to their Red Rocks 2022 live stuff yet? I bought it on Bandcamp when it released…it’s like 86 songs across three nights of pure music magic.
I really like the KG/LW albums and listened to them a lot. I’m a definite “whole album” kinda guy versus someone that listens to singles/mixed playlists (I do have killer playlists for when I’m working and just need a few hours of music), and KGLW has albums that flow and are typically centered around a theme or music style (similar to Ween). So, I can always find something to listen to.
I have not listened to the Red Rocks shows…I’ll have to take a listen. I find some of their live renditions are better than the recorded which is not something you usually find with rock bands.
Yes, please do check out the Red Rocks stuff…it is so cool, and so much variety and unique jams they incorporate into the sets! Very cool.
As to your first point, I am almost the opposite (more of a playlist/shuffle guy)…but as I have been exploring more into the metal scene and its various subgenres, I’ve come to realize how important the “whole album” flow is. So I need to try to do full album listens more often.
Hey, great thread, discovered the band maybe three or four years ago by some allmusic review and instantly loved them, though I have to admit that I haven’t heard all of their stuff yet, they are so fucking prolific and I still have some other music to listen to . I like bands that are hard to pigeonhole and dabble in many styles (I abhor purists of any kind), so they’re right up my alley. They would be my first counterexample for people who complain that there isn’t any good music or new(ish) band today.
This, all of this Except for not hearing all their stuff. I think I’ve listened to all their main studio releases. I wouldn’t bet any money on that though
OK, I’ve got Omnium track 1 thrashing away, and looking forward to finding a new band to adopt.
As a long-term Doors and Zappa listener it’s been random these few decades since. It gets desperate; an excursion into French lyrics from Axal Bauer, Zazie was/is soothing, less so IndoChine and Noir Desire. Philip Boa and the Voidoo Club too.
As to mad, cute tracks, respect to She Wore Rat Skin Boots from Goons of Doom for sheer garage-band nerve.
Tanngerine Dream and Floyd are MOR for me, so Squarepusher and some more accessible ambient like Hybrid was nice to steal from my son’s collection.
Dripping Tap is still playing so I must be impressed so far…!
Enjoy your journey! King Gizzard has so much variety and so many tracks, there is certainly something on one of their albums that will grab you. Let me know what, if anything, you come to enjoy!
A new album has been released today, with the great title “PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation”. Just read the raving review at allmusic.com and am looking forward to hearing it later this evening. It’s a metal album again, after “Infest The Rat’s Nest” from 2019.
ETA: and I just saw that Motorpsycho have a new album out, too! This is the next band you should check out, in many aspects a similar band to King Gizzard. But rather veterans, they have been around since the late 80s.
I’m so excited. Have had several car problems today and yesterday and haven’t been able to listen yet…but the single Dragon was so good! I’m excited for the full length album.
What do you think is a short list of pieces representative of their most musically interesting/powerful work, if that makes sense?
. I like bands that are hard to pigeonhole and dabble in many styles (I abhor purists of any kind), so they’re right up my alley. They would be my first counterexample for people who complain that there isn’t any good music or new(ish) band today.
Except for not hearing all their stuff. I think I’ve listened to all their main studio releases. I wouldn’t bet any money on that though 