Photo Credit: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard / Instagram
Australian psych-rock innovators King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are diving headfirst into electronic music with the announcement of their upcoming EDM album, Alien Metal, alongside a series of special rave-focused performances in New York City.
Due for release later this summer via the band’s own p(doom) label, Alien Metal marks the group’s first full-length electronic dance record. The announcement arrives with the release of lead single ‘Level 5‘, offering a taste of the band’s latest sonic evolution after years of experimenting with electronic textures on releases such as The Silver Cord.
Rather than relying on traditional guitars, the album was created around a massive Eurorack modular synthesiser nicknamed “Nathan”, which all six members operated simultaneously during extended recording sessions. Frontman Stu Mackenzie described the process as completely reshaping his approach to music-making, saying the instrument forced him to rethink composition from the ground up. Bandmate Joey Walker, whose background lies in electronic production, added that the project allowed the band to fully embrace techno, house, jungle and hardcore influences while maintaining their unmistakable identity.
To celebrate the release, King Gizzard will stage four performances in New York this August. Following three nights at Forest Hills Stadium, the final date on 22 August will be presented as a dedicated “rave show” featuring support from broken techno and electro artist Moktar. The band will then headline Brooklyn’s Under the K Bridge Park on 23 August, where German techno producer Vril will deliver a DJ set.
