Review: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Quarters!

Castle Face
Street: 05.11
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard = Thee Oh Sees / The Murlocs

Quarters! isn’t the first concept album King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have conceived, but it enters a realm of psychedelic jazz that’s relatively new for the Australian seven-piece. King Gizzard are known for their face-melting psych that can be unpredictable yet groovy, but Quarters! finds the band hitting their stride by exploring cosmic rhythms and toning down the noise. This elevates the band from trippy to spiritual through four 10-minute songs with plenty of breathing room. “The River” features Santana-esque riffing and jazz drumming that stimulate the mind right into the mellow launch pad that is “Infinite Rise.” And while “The River” features one of King Gizz’s better hooks, nothing compares to the brightness and ease of “God Is In the Rhythm.” It’s their best song to date and a testament that these scallywags just keep getting better. –Justin Gallegos