SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD – FLIGHT b741

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD
FLIGHT b741
P(DOOM) RECORDS

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are back with their latest album, Flight b741. Yet again, the band is drastically shifting the genre of music they tackle. Previous albums from 2023 saw them venture into thrash metal (PetroDragonic Apocalypse) and electronic (The Silver Cord). Now, the band is going in another direction: country (and blues) rock ’n’ roll.

Flight b741 is not as unhinged, chaotic, thrilling, or off-the-rails as their previous release, The Silver Cord, but it certainly has more infectious charm. The opening of “Mirage City” sets the stage perfectly for the rest of the album. It is a tremendous bluesy country rock tune with relentless and exciting energy, fantastic foot-stomping guitar riffs, and is a boatload of fun. “Raw Feel” will become a staple in live shows and has one of the best choruses the band has made this decade. Lastly, “Hog Calling Contest” features intriguing and vibrant instrumentation.

Two things that stand out the most from this album is the utilization of the harmonica and the collaborative vocals. Listeners will be delighted by both of these things. The harmonica oozes with style and adds so much to the overall atmosphere and vibe of the songs. Without the harmonica, some songs would not have been as memorable as they are. Sharing the vocal duties throughout the album was a nice touch, too, and allowed the album to have a looser feeling than if the songs were only done by one vocalist. “Le Risque” is the best example of this. It rocks and is such a joy to listen to.

It is very evident that King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard had a hell of a damn good time creating Flight b741. Jam-packed with juicy riffs, a joyful attitude, and sing-along choruses, it is an album worth checking out.

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