King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard to Release 28th Album ‘Alien Metal’ at Brooklyn Rave

It has been more than a year since we last heard new music from King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, which feels like an eternity given the band’s prolific output. However, fans can rejoice as the Australian psychedelic rock group is gearing up to release another conceptual masterpiece. After exploring the world of orchestral rock with last year’s Phantom Island (LP27), the upcoming Alien Metal (LP28), set to drop later this summer, shifts its focus to electronic dance music.

While a press release mentions 2023’s synth-heavy The Silver Cord, the lead single “Level 5” signifies a strong emphasis on beats. This direction stemmed from the rave shows that King Gizzard experimented with last year, inspired by band member Joey Walker’s love for techno music and the introduction of the Eurorack modular synthesizer to Stu Mackenzie. Mackenzie describes this experience as rewiring his brain, leading him to approach music with a fresh perspective and a willingness to unlearn and relearn his craft from scratch.

The evolution in sound is evident in “Level 5,” a track that stands out for its departure from the band’s usual style while still retaining Mackenzie’s distinct sensibilities. The decision to conclude their annual Forest Hills Stadium residency with a rave show and add an extra rave show in Brooklyn’s Under The K Bridge Park makes perfect sense in light of this new direction. A visual representation of “Level 5” can be found in Hayden Somerville’s accompanying video.

Featuring tracks like “Sapience,” “Alien Metal,” “Superheavy, Supercritical,” “Kill For The Steel,” “Level 5,” “Rapid Alpha Decay,” “Uqt,” and “Atomic Collapse,” the tracklist for Alien Metal promises a sonic journey into the realms of electronic music. Furthermore, fans can catch King Gizzard live at select North American dates, including their highly anticipated performance at Forest Hills Stadium and the rave show at Brooklyn’s Under The K Bridge Park.

With Alien Metal set for release later this summer on their label p(doom), frontman Stu Mackenzie offered a sneak peek by sharing a 37-minute live set on YouTube. The video showcases Mackenzie’s performance with a portable modular synth at Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall, hinting at the experimental and boundary-pushing nature of the upcoming album.

As anticipation for Alien Metal continues to build, fans can look forward to experiencing King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s latest sonic evolution and immersive live performances at select venues across North America. With the band’s willingness to reinvent their sound and push creative boundaries, Alien Metal promises to be a transformative listening experience for fans old and new.