King Gizzard's 24th Album Falls Flat: Camp Overpowers Metal

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, known for their prolific output, have released their 24th studio album, PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation. This concept album delves into thrash and speed metal, a direction previously explored on their 2019 release, Infest the Rat's Nest.

However, PetroDragonic Apocalypse is described as a spiritually continuous but artistically backward step, characterized by an overly campy and operatic makeover. Unlike earlier works that blended melodic motifs effectively, this album is noted for its repetitive nature and lack of original, gripping highlights. The approach is seen as a departure from the earnest homage found in Infest the Rat's Nest.

Tracks like "Supercell" and "Converge" feature Stu Mackenzie's vocals clinging to monotones, accompanied by predictable double kick drums and blast beats, contributing to a perceived one-note experience. While the album attempts to showcase musical shifts, particularly in its longer closing tracks, critics suggest these efforts arrive too late to salvage the overall impression of the record.

The album's stylistic choices, including vague allusions and disjointed lyrical themes, have led to it being labeled as fundamentally campy. Despite the band's demonstrated talent for sonic exploration, PetroDragonic Apocalypse is ultimately considered to offer few compelling reasons for listeners to revisit it after initial spins.