Released: 2019

Genres: Thrash Metal, Stoner Metal, Speed Metal

The Musiquarium’s Infest the Rats’ Nest Review Score: 9 out of 10

After teasing a metal sound in 2017, with the fan favourite song The Great Chain of Being, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have taken a full plunge into heavy metal, with one of their best and most rewarding experiments yet: Infest the Rats’ Nest.

At 15 albums and a knack for changing genres with every release, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are no strangers to dipping their toes into new waters, but the thrash metal of Infest the Rats’ Nest is their boldest immersion yet, pushing themselves to new extremes, but without sacrificing their trademarks either (e.g. Ambrose Kenny-Smith’s harmonica, the “woos”).

As the follow-up to Fishing for Fishies, Infest the Rat’s Nest couldn’t be more different in terms of sonics, but both records share a strong pro-environment message, instantly noticeable on the opening track, Planet B, where an angry Stu Mackenzie is criticizing the corporate degradation of the planet in the name of profits.

Mars for the Rich is a propulsive Motörhead style banger, which continues the criticisms of the elite from the previous track — denouncing those who are busy planning to colonize Mars, whilst the poor remain on a decaying and exploited Earth.

Organ Farmer has a Slayer-like chaos to it, with lyrics about human butchers. The band channels Sleep on the slow blues of Superbug, where Mackenzie is warning of the dangers of antibiotic resistance (a very real danger that needs addressing).

Venusian 1 and Venusian 2 shift focus from Mars to Venus. During the bridge of Perihelion (the point where the Earth is closest to the sun), the band finds a perfect spot to insert some of Kenny Ambrose-Smith’s harmonica, an instrument you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in thrash metal.

Self-Immolate is an absolute beast of a song, with countless riffs, drum fills and balls-to-the-wall madness. The album ends with Hell, whose chorus gives some context to the mysterious album cover (“remember where to enter, the door to hell is amber”) — the song also has an outro section which provides one final rush before the album wraps up. 

Stu Mackenzie’s guttural vocals perfectly suit the music, and Michael Cavanagh’s drumming here is some of his best yet. Stu Mackenzie, Cook Craig and Joey Walker’s guitar/bass playing is also some of their most intense yet, showing off just how versatile and talented these guys are on the fretboard, turning things up to 11.

Infest the Rat’s Nest isn’t just a great King Gizzard album, it’s a great thrash metal album, one that will sit comfortably in the company of other classic records of the genre from bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard on Discogs.

Back to the 2019 Album Reviews Guide or the King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard