King Gizzard's 2022 Album Explosion

Alright guys, let's dive into something truly epic: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's 2022 album lineup. If you're a fan of this psychedelic, genre-bending powerhouse, you know they don't mess around. But 2022? That year was on another level. They dropped five full-length albums, each one distinct, each one a journey. Seriously, five albums in one year. That's not just prolific; it's bordering on superhuman. We're talking about a band that consistently pushes boundaries, exploring everything from microtonal metal to thrash, jazz-fusion, and even bluegrass. And in 2022, they didn't just dabble; they committed fully, delivering a diverse and astonishing body of work that kept fans on their toes and critics buzzing. It’s a testament to their relentless creativity and Stu Mackenzie's boundless vision. Let's break down this incredible year for King Gizzard and explore what made each of these albums a must-listen.

The Quintet of 2022: A Deep Dive

So, what exactly did King Gizzard unleash upon the world in 2022? It wasn't just a collection of songs; it was a meticulously curated set of sonic experiences. First up, we had Made in Timeland, released in March. This album kicked off the year with a bang, exploring a more electronic, krautrock-infused sound. It's experimental, it's groovy, and it sets a unique tone for the year. Following that, in April, came I Am Infinitely Confused. Wait, did they? No, that's a bit of a prank, guys! They actually released Omnium Gatherum in April. My bad! Omnium Gatherum is a massive double album, a real smorgasbord of styles, showcasing their ability to blend different genres seamlessly. It feels like a grand statement, pulling together threads from their past while hinting at future directions. It’s a testament to their vast musical palette. Then, in June, they dropped Changes. This album is super interesting because it was written and demoed years prior but finally brought to life. It leans into a more jammy, psychedelic rock vibe, with some really infectious melodies and intricate arrangements. It’s a more laid-back but equally captivating listen. By July, we were treated to Antarctica. Oops, another slip! They released Laminated Denim in July. This one is a bit of a curveball, a single 45-minute track, perfect for a long drive or a deep listening session. It's hypnotic and immersive, a testament to their ability to hold your attention for extended periods. Finally, rounding out the year in October, was Ice, Death, Planets, L.G.D.F.D.F.D. (yes, that's the actual title, pronounced 'Ice, Death, Planets, Lies, Gonna Die, F extbf{}ck, Die, F extbf{} extbf{*}e Die'!). This album is a sprawling, multifaceted beast, exploring themes of environmentalism and the cyclical nature of destruction. It’s their most ambitious project thematically and sonically, with each track representing a different planet. It’s a fittingly epic conclusion to an absolutely monumental year of releases.

Made in Timeland: The Electronic Overture

Let's kick things off with Made in Timeland, the first gem King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard gifted us in their 2022 marathon. Released in March, this album felt like stepping into a meticulously crafted sonic playground. It’s heavily influenced by krautrock and electronic music, showcasing a more synthesized and rhythmic side of the band that we hadn't seen explored to this extent before. Stu Mackenzie and the gang really leaned into looping, repetitive beats, and atmospheric soundscapes. The vibe is often described as a soundtrack to an imaginary film, and honestly, that feels spot on. You can just picture bizarre, surreal scenes unfolding as you listen. Tracks like "The Land Before Timeland" and "Timeland" itself are prime examples, building hypnotic grooves that draw you in and refuse to let go. It’s not their typical high-energy rock assault, but rather a slower burn, a more meditative experience. Yet, it’s still undeniably King Gizzard – quirky, inventive, and full of unexpected turns. The use of vocoders and synthesizers gives it a futuristic, almost dystopian feel at times, while other moments are surprisingly playful and whimsical. It’s an album that rewards patient listening, revealing new layers and textures with each spin. For fans who appreciate their experimental edge, Made in Timeland was a perfect, albeit unconventional, way to start the year. It proved that King Gizzard could master almost any genre they set their minds to, and it was just the beginning of what would be an absolutely insane year for new music from them. It really set the stage for the sheer diversity that was to come, showing us they were not afraid to explore new sonic territories and push their own creative boundaries even further.

Omnium Gatherum: The Genre-Bending Double Album

Next up, we have Omnium Gatherum, the beast of a double album that dropped in April 2022. Guys, this album is insane! It’s like King Gizzard decided to throw everything but the kitchen sink into one massive package, and somehow, it all works. We're talking about a true smorgasbord of their signature sounds and beyond. You've got blistering thrash metal tracks like "Iron Lung" (which is an absolute banger, by the way), smooth jazz-infused jams, psych-rock anthems, and even some spoken-word interludes. It’s a testament to their incredible versatility and their ability to transition between vastly different musical styles without missing a beat. The sheer ambition of releasing a double album is impressive enough, but the fact that they managed to make it cohesive despite its eclectic nature is what truly blows my mind. You might expect an album this diverse to feel disjointed, but Omnium Gatherum flows surprisingly well. It feels like a celebration of everything King Gizzard is and can be. Each song feels like a fully realized idea, contributing to the overall richness and depth of the project. "The Dripping Tap" is a standout, a sprawling 18-minute epic that takes you on a wild ride through multiple musical phases, showcasing the band’s improvisational prowess and instrumental skill. It’s an album that truly has something for everyone, whether you’re into their heavier stuff, their more mellow psych-rock, or their experimental excursions. Omnium Gatherum solidified their status as one of the most unpredictable and exciting bands in modern music, proving that their creativity knows no bounds and that they are masters of sonic exploration. It’s a record that demands to be heard, listened to, and absorbed in its entirety.

Changes: The Long-Awaited Psychedelic Journey

Oh man, Changes, released in June 2022, is an album with a story! This one had been gestating for years, with demos floating around since before the pandemic. It’s a really cool testament to their songwriting process, showing how ideas can evolve and mature over time before finally seeing the light of day. Musically, Changes leans into a more jam-oriented, psychedelic rock sound, but with a really tight, almost pop-sensible structure in places. It’s got this infectious, grooving quality that makes it incredibly easy to get lost in. Think of it as a slightly more mellow, but no less captivating, journey compared to some of their other 2022 offerings. The album is built around a central chord progression that the band supposedly kept returning to and reinterpreting, hence the title. You can hear how they’ve twisted and turned this core idea into various sonic landscapes, from driving rock anthems to more laid-back, atmospheric pieces. "Kepler-186f" is a standout track, a beautiful and expansive piece that really showcases their ability to craft compelling melodies and build intricate sonic textures. The entire album feels incredibly lived-in and polished, despite its long development period. It's a record that feels both familiar and fresh, offering a warm, inviting sound that’s perfect for a chill listening session. Changes demonstrates King Gizzard's mastery of the psychedelic genre, proving they can create music that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. It’s a testament to their enduring appeal and their ability to consistently deliver high-quality material that speaks to their dedicated fanbase. It really shows a different facet of their musical personality, one that is perhaps more introspective and groove-focused, but still brimming with that signature Gizz energy and inventiveness.

Laminated Denim: The Single-Track Immersion

Alright, let's talk about Laminated Denim, which King Gizzard dropped in July 2022. This album is a wild one, guys, because it’s literally a single, 45-minute track. Yes, you read that right – one long, continuous piece of music. It’s the kind of release that immediately grabs your attention and makes you think, "What are they doing now?" And honestly, that's part of the magic of King Gizzard. Laminated Denim is a masterclass in sonic immersion and hypnotic repetition. It builds and evolves slowly, drawing you into its intricate layers of sound. It feels like a journey, constantly shifting and transforming without ever really losing its core groove. The instrumentation is rich and varied, incorporating elements that fans have come to expect from the band – driving rhythms, psychedelic guitar work, and atmospheric textures. It’s the kind of album that’s perfect for a long drive, a deep meditation session, or just getting lost in your own thoughts. It challenges the conventional album structure, forcing the listener to engage with the music on a different level. You can't just skip around; you have to commit to the experience. The title itself is a bit of a head-scratcher, adding to the band’s penchant for the quirky and the surreal. But beneath the oddness lies a deeply engaging and surprisingly dynamic piece of music. Laminated Denim showcases King Gizzard's fearlessness in experimenting with form and structure, proving that they can create compelling narratives and captivating soundscapes even within a single, extended track. It’s a bold move that paid off, offering a unique and memorable listening experience that further cemented their reputation as innovators in the music world. It’s a testament to their ability to keep listeners engaged and surprised, even when presenting music in unconventional formats.

Ice, Death, Planets, L.G.D.F.D.F.D.: The Grand Finale

And finally, we arrive at the grand finale of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's 2022 album blitz: Ice, Death, Planets, L.G.D.F.D.F.D., released in October. This album is, in a word, colossal. It’s their most ambitious project thematically and sonically, with each track representing a different planet and exploring interconnected themes of environmentalism, climate change, and the cyclical nature of destruction and rebirth. The sheer scope of this record is mind-blowing. Sonically, it’s incredibly diverse, drawing on all the sounds we’ve come to associate with King Gizzard – heavy riffs, intricate jams, electronic flourishes, and moments of pure sonic chaos. Tracks like "Iron Lung" (which originally appeared on Omnium Gatherum but is re-recorded here in a heavier, more thrashy style) and "The Grim Reaper" showcase their heavier side, while "Ice V" and "Magma" offer more expansive, psychedelic journeys. The album’s title, a cryptic acronym that’s almost a tongue-twister, perfectly encapsulates the band’s love for the strange and the profound. It’s an album that demands your attention, not just for its musical complexity but for its urgent message about the state of our planet. It feels like a culmination of everything they’ve explored over the years, delivered with a newfound maturity and a powerful sense of purpose. It’s a challenging listen at times, but incredibly rewarding. The interlocking nature of the songs, the recurring motifs, and the sheer sonic density create an immersive experience that stays with you long after the music stops. Ice, Death, Planets, L.G.D.F.D.F.D. is arguably one of their magnum opuses, a testament to their enduring creativity and their ability to craft meaningful, impactful art. It’s a fittingly epic and thought-provoking conclusion to a year that saw them redefine what’s possible for a prolific band.

The Legacy of 2022

So, what's the takeaway from King Gizzard's absolutely insane 2022? It wasn't just a year of releasing music; it was a statement. A statement about artistic freedom, relentless creativity, and the sheer joy of making music. They proved that a band can continue to evolve, experiment, and surprise their audience, even after years in the game. The diversity across these five albums is staggering – from the electronic soundscapes of Made in Timeland to the thrash metal fury of Omnium Gatherum, the jammy psych-rock of Changes, the immersive single-track journey of Laminated Denim, and the epic, planet-hopping finale of Ice, Death, Planets, L.G.D.F.D.F.D.. Each album is a distinct world, yet they all bear the unmistakable King Gizzard fingerprint. For fans, it was a gift that kept on giving, a constant source of new sounds to explore and dissect. For the music industry, it was a reminder that innovation and dedication can still thrive. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard didn't just release five albums in 2022; they redefined what a single year could hold for a band. It's a legacy that continues to inspire and excite, setting a high bar for musical output and artistic vision. Seriously, guys, if you haven't dived into their 2022 catalog yet, what are you waiting for? It's a wild ride you won't want to miss.