King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Phantom Island (Album Review)
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Written by James Palaczky
Photo: Maclay Heriot
When you’ve made 27 records, uncharted territory is hard to find. But Australian psych-rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are nothing if not ambitious. ‘Phantom Island’ is another big-brained odyssey from a band who have already covered everything from Dragon-slaying metal to inter-dimensional psychedelic epics. Continuing their fascination with orchestral rock, it is one of their most accomplished endeavours as well as a soul-enriching odyssey.
The record is a collection of songs written alongside, but creatively distinct from, the classic rock-infused ‘Flight B741’. After a conversation with British composer Chad Kelly, an unlikely collaboration was formed and, soon enough, the songs were fleshed out and the fuse was lit for one of King Gizzard’s finest albums.
The heavenly string intro of Lonely Cosmos sets up a David Bowie-esque adventure to the stars. On the flipside, the Blues Brothers-style Deadstick has enough energy to shock you from your seat like a not-lame boogie-woogie possessed demon.
Each song is driven by a new, raw emotion, exploring a fresh reality for the band, while the orchestral arrangements bring a unique aspect to proceedings. Gizzheads can sleep easy, though, knowing the jam-rock element the group are famed for has not been sacrificed at the altar of strings and woodwind.
The funky jazz-rock guitar licks of Stu Mackenzie and Joey Walker playfully gallop between the sweeping strings and bold brass, while chunky Status Quo riffs strut confidently under the elegant arrangements. Even Grow Wings and Fly calls back to Shanghai from 2021’s ‘Butterfly 3000’. In combining these foundational sounds with orchestral flourishes, King Gizz have hit upon an ingenious vessel for them to explore the as-yet unconquered seas of their musical world.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon July 28 2025 - PHILADELPHIA Pennsylvania - TD Pavilion at the Mann in Fairmount Park (USA)
Wed July 30 2025 - NEW HAVEN Connecticut - Westville Music Bowl (USA)
Fri August 01 2025 - NEW YORK New York - Forest Hills Stadium (USA)
Sat August 02 2025 - NEW YORK New York - Forest Hills Stadium (USA)
Mon August 04 2025 - COLUMBIA Maryland - Merriweather Post Pavilion (USA)
Wed August 06 2025 - HIGHLAND PARK Illinois - Pavilion at Ravinia Park - Complex (USA)
Fri August 08 2025 - COLORADO SPRINGS Colorado - Ford Amphitheatre (Sunset Amphitheater) (USA)
Mon August 11 2025 - SAN DIEGO California - Rady Shell at Jacobs Park (USA)
Fri August 15 2025 - BUENA VISTA Colorado - Meadow Creek (USA)
Fri October 31 2025 - MANCHESTER Warehouse - Aviva Studios
Sat November 01 2025 - LONDON Electric Brixton
Sun November 02 2025 - LONDON Electric Brixton
Tue November 04 2025 - LONDON Royal Albert Hall
Wed November 05 2025 - PARIS La Seine Musicale (France)
Thu November 06 2025 - TILBURG 013 (Netherlands)
Fri November 07 2025 - DEN BOSCH Mainstage (Netherlands)
Mon November 10 2025 - BERLIN Columbiahalle (Germany)
Tue November 11 2025 - PRAGUE SaSaZu (Czech Republic)
Wed November 12 2025 - VIENNA Gasometer (Austria)
Fri November 14 2025 - COPENHAGEN Poolen (Denmark)
Sat November 15 2025 - GOTHENBURG Film Studios (Sweden)
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