PETRODRAGONIC APOCALYPSE; OR, DAWN OF ETERNAL NIGHT: AN ANNIHILATION OF PLANET EARTH AND THE BEGINNING OF MERCILESS DAMNATION

Australia's gift to the legions of cannibis users (as well as heirs apparent to jam bands like Phish and The Grateful Dead), the GizLiz Wizards, are back with another foray into the territory of the metal artists. Apparently, their fans loved their previous effort in this direction, Infest the Rats Nest, and so have been greatly anticipating this release.

1. "Motor Spirit" (8:32) a great opener giving the listener a clear idea of where the band have landed for this album: the historic Molten States of Metal. There are 1990s feelings to this style of music (though I fear the drumming is unbefitting), though not quite as abrasive or technically precise--and the singing is more akin to the metal singers of the early 80s when the fiery genres were really exploding and solidifying like PANTERA, SLAYER, TWISTED SISTER, WHITESNAKE, IRON MAIDEN, and even BLUE 'YSTER CULT and a little BEASTIE BOYS. I love the trance/chant passage in the fourth and fifth minutes. (Are those vibrating vocals in the fifth minute attempts at Central Asian throat singing?) There are many moments when I can hear and feel the presence of all that is essential to the soul of the GizzWizzies, which is nice. A darn good song that is friendly enough to cause the listener to engage, not recoil. (18.25/20)

2. "Supercell" (5:05) solid metal but sounding like a band evolving toward DEATH or ATHEIST, but only about halfway there. The lead guitar solo work sounds more like SPINAL TAP parody material. (8.75/10)

3. "Converge" (6:16) okay, maybe three-quarters. (The drumming is finally getting up to speed.) Nice grating voice for the snarling metal vocals. The "converge" chorus is a bit laughable. I do appreciate and like the unexpected twists and turns the band takes us on--like the afro-pop rhythms behind the passage in the fourth minute before the BEASTIE BOYS-style version of the chorus. (8.75/10)

4. "Witchcraft" (5:03) feels to me like milktoast metal. Too much of KG&tLW signature sounds and unfitting, incongruous drumming. The weakest song on the album. (8.66667/10)

5. "Gila Monster" (4:35) a more 1970s, militaristic, lead guitar-oriented approach to metal--like SABBATH-OZZY or THIN LIZZY (almost Blue 'yster Cult). Engaging. A top three song. Same vocalist/vocal styling as "Converge" only with a little better two-part chorus. (8.875/10)

6. "Dragon" (9:44) sounds as if BIG COUNTRY merged with some Viking Metal band. I LOVE the chorus parts, as well as the guitar and bass play. This could have been my favorite song on the album but it drags on (no pun intended) longer than it should. Pretty impressive growling vocals (and vocal arrangements) from multiple singers. (17.75/20)

7. "Flamethrower" (9:21) the exact voice and styling of the previous song already yields demerits to my listening experience. Doubling-up of the vocalist with a background singer is a smart move. The music shifts and turns to and from several motifs, which is nice--and different for a jam band--even going into TED NUGENT territory as well as other 1980s heavy metal bands. There is a transition at the halfway point into a smoother, almost Latin jazzed-up motif which is carried forward as a more psychedelic/industrial instrumental jam. With far more presence of keyboard/synthesizer pops and beats and chant-like group vocals, the second half could serve the audience as a trance-inducing experience if extended live. I like it! This feels more true to the KG&tLW mission. (18/20)

Song #8. "Dawn of Eternal Night" (14:22) is not available through my Bandcamp access/service but it can be listened to in a Live at Red Rocks form on YouTube. It is an apocalyptic allegory read by a female voice that is support by an appropriately spacey, atmospheric rhythmless soundscape, not really a KG&tLW musical performance.

Total Time 62:58

While quite interesting--and surprisingly diverse in their imitative stylings--I do not find that the GizzLizard Wizzes bring very much new to the metal genres. There are glimpses of genuine inspiration that, with repeated listens, reveal themselves as being merely the authentic King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard peeking (or shining, depending on your allegiances) through the metal clothing.

B/four stars; an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection--especially if you are A) a KG&tLW fan and/or B) like metal musics or C) like hearing/seeking the retro-historical references in your music.