King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard – Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms And Lava (2xLP)

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms And Lava is the Melbourne band's 21st album, and one of the clearest examples of how their restless method can still produce something sharply focused. Built from studio jams made with preselected tunings and rhythms, the record was later shaped by Stu Mackenzie, while flute, organ, drums, extra guitar and collaboratively written lyrics were added afterwards. That process gives the album a loose, exploratory feel without letting it drift.

What makes this set especially satisfying is how often it turns long-form playing into distinct musical worlds. Ice V pushes into wiry, apocalyptic funk, while Magma and Lava draw on prog, psychedelia and jazz textures in very different ways. The source material points to psychedelic sax, shimmering cymbals and McCoy Tyner-like piano on Lava; elsewhere, the arrangements keep shifting rather than simply stretching out. Even at seven tracks across more than an hour, it plays like a band testing ideas in real time and then keeping the strongest ones.

Released in 2022 during one of the group's busiest years, the album has since been singled out as one of their stronger catalog entries: AllMusic included it in its Favorite Rock Albums of 2022, and Pitchfork called it one of the best front-to-back records in the band's catalogue. For anyone curious about King Gizzard beyond the genre-hopping headlines, this is a strong place to hear how their jam-based instincts, ensemble writing and fascination with nature and catastrophe can all lock together.

Features

• 2xLP, Lucky Rainbow Vinyl
• Gatefold sleeve

Reviews

• one of the best front-to-back records in their catalog - Pitchfork
• they might unleash something classic, just like they did with Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava - AllMusic.com