The schizophrenic psych-metal band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have released the third and fourth volumes of their excellent Demos series, and they're also encouraging their fans to bootleg the set. The 26-song collection is available now on Bandcamp and spans the group's short but nonetheless prolific career, including outtakes from their most recent LP, Omnium Gatherum.
About the compilation, head gizzard Stu Mackenzie had this to say: “On Bandcamp now!! BOOTLEG ME BABY! A refresher to anyone who’s forgotten or is new here: “Bootleg” in gizzard-speak means anyone is allowed to make copies of this album. If you’re a label you can release it like any other release. If you’re not a label you can go create a label right now and sell this album to whoever you want. Or if you just wanna make some tapes, CDs, 7”s or whatevs for fun, YOU CAN. You don’t need our permission or anything – just goooo to the bootleg section on our website to find everything you need. Only rule is u gotta send us some to our Gizzverse store. IT’S SO FUN! PS — A bunch more bootlegs dropping on Gizzverse – head there for deets. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS BIZARRE AND DOPE EXPERIMENT – I LOVE YOU ALL!" [via ThePRP]
Demos Vol. 3 + Vol. 4 can be streamed in its entirety below.
Since their thrash-filled Infest the Rats Nest LP in 2019, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have released an astonishing three additional studio albums, but Omnium Gatherum may be their most conscious pivot back towards the heavy mayhem of Rats Nest. Its fuzzy Krautrock rhythms and delightfully freaked-out guitars kiss the tongues of the Acid Gods in 20-minute stretches, as can be heard on the album's opening number, "The Dripping Tap." Elsewhere, the crunchy stoner rock punch of "Gaia" blends deep into a growling, heady vocal, and tears at the fabric of time with chugging riffs and relentless work behind the drum kit. It's also worth noting that both of these tracks appear in various demo forms on Demos Vol. 3 + Vol.4, opening a rare vantage point into the craftwork of KGLW's songwriting.
In June, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard became the first ever recipients of the Environmental Music Prize, which honors Australian artists who motivate action on the issue of climate and conservation. The band won for its track "If Not Now, Then When?" and the accompanying video. Upon news of winning the award, Mackenzie stated, "We need actual, real, tangible action from our leaders, otherwise, what are they there for? Why are we not doing everything we humanly can to right our wrongs? When we’re literally on fire, why not now? If not now, then when?” [via Global Citizen]
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard will return to the road at the end of this month, spending the rest of the summer in Europe before returning to North America in October. You can see all confirmed dates below.
7/31 – Waterford, IRE – All Together Now
8/2 – Šibenik, HUN – St. Michael’s Fortress
8/3 – Šibenik, HUN – St. Michael’s Fortress
8/5 – Prague, CZE – Archa Theatre
8/7 – Vienna, AUT – Arena Wien (Open Air)
8/9 – Leipzig, GER – Parkbühne
8/10 – Munich, GER – Tonhalle
8/12 – Sion, SWI – Palp Festival
8/14 – Helsinki, FIN – FLOW Festival
8/18 – Paredes de Coura, POR – Paredes de Coura Festival
8/19 – Gueret, FRA – Check-In Party Festival
8/20 – Saint-Malo, FRA – La Route du Rock Festival
8/21 – Hasselt, BEL – Pukkelpop
8/23 – Cologne, GER – E-Werk
8/24 – Hamburg, GER – Markthalle
8/26 – London, UK – All Points East
8/27 – Málaga, SPA – Canela Party
10/2 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre
10/4 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
10/5 – Vancouver, BC – PNE Forum
10/6 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
10/10 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
10/11 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
10/14 – Saint Paul, MN – The Palace Theatre
10/15 – Chicago, IL – Radius
10/16 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple
10/18 – Toronto, ON – History
10/19 – Montreal, QC – L’Olympia
10/21 – New York, NY – Forest Hills Stadium
10/22 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
10/23 – Washington, D.C. – The Anthem at The Wharf
10/24 – Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit
10/26 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
10/27 – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater
10/31 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
