L.W.: King Gizzard’s most wildly inventive album yet.

The latest release of the Australian rock band King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard is without a doubt one of their best albums yet. As the sister album to last year’s K.G., which I previously reviewed, L.W. continues to experiment with microtonal music, utilizing tiny pitch differences between two sounds to create complex, fast-paced songs. But L.W. delves into even more experimental territory than K.G. and is a much more rewarding listen because of it.

There is so much pure manic creative energy stuffed into this nine-track album that at times it just explodes into a shower of musical confetti. The track “O.N.E” rapidly shifts from a serene and beautiful harmonica opening to a sitar riff with an accompanying jazzy rhythm to an electric guitar solo backed by chanting before finally winding down again. The closing track, “K.G.L.W,” is an 8 minute long extrapolation of the opening track of the same name from the previous album, K.G.. This time around, the song is a much harsher guitar focused affair with plenty of intense, grungy electric guitar riffs and ominous, echoing vocals. 

 While the wide variety of musical influences that King Gizzard draws from are already stunning in and of themselves, what I find even more astonishing is just how well it all works. None of the instruments or sounds feel forced; none of the shifts in tone are jarring. Each new musical element seamlessly blends together to create a musical experience that flows as smoothly as a mountain stream. 

In summary, L.W. is a triumph of unrestrained creativity and experimentation that has pushed King Gizzard’s sound into new and exciting territory. If you are in the mood for something new and wholly unique. L.W. is well worth a listen. 

L.W. is available to listen on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp and other music streaming services. Physical editions are available for purchase on Amazon and other digital retailers.