Released: 16th August 2019
Rating: ★★★
‘Infest The Rats’ Nest’ is the fifteenth studio album from King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, and after that many records, you’d think the band would have run out of ideas by now. However, their latest sees King Gizzard as if they were an 80s heavy metal band, and the results are comical and slightly disturbing.
Though for the most part ‘Infest The Rats’ Nest’ does feel absurd, there are some moments that feel authentically King Gizzard. ‘Mars For The Rich’ blends elements of hard garage rock with space influences and a dirty hook, and the sludge ridden ‘Superbug’ is filled with bluesy riffs and fuzz. The goliath ‘Perihelion’ is need of a mention too as the band fearlessly tackle sci-fi head-on, even though it feels more Red Dwarf than Star Trek.
The vocal style is definitely the Achilles’ heel on ‘Infest The Rats’ Nest’, the faux-gruffness makes you question whether the album would still feel largely like a gimmick without them. Though filled (in parts) with the experimental riff wizardry to satisfy the itch left by 2016’s ‘Nonagon Infinity’, ‘Infest The Rats’ Nest’ is another one of King Gizzard’s curious creations, that maybe we could have done without.
Jasleen Dhindsa
