Album of the Week: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, 'Chunky Shrapnel'

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have long taken the cake as one of the most prolific bands to ever come out of Australia – January of this year saw them release no less than three live records to raise funds for Australian bushfire relief charities – but with this latest release they’ve cemented their status as one of the most talented too.

While the outbreak of COVID-19 meant global touring plans and the release of their Chunky Shrapnel concert film were delayed, the Chunky Shrapnel live album is 16 tracks of brand new life.

The record may be made up of tracks taken from the live performances seen in the film, but as pointed out by Rolling Stone Australia Editor Tyler Jenke below, there’s no treading of the same ground.

Capturing King Gizzard’s tour of the UK and Europe in support of Infest The Rats’ Nest, the Chunky Shrapnel live album is an aural reminder of just how momentous it is that we live and breathe in the era of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. Finishing off just as the concert film does, with 15 minute live show medley ‘A Brief History of Planet Earth’, the sheer labour and dedication is shown at its best with this acme conclusion.

Stream the record below, then check out why the staff here at Tone Deaf love it so much.

Check out King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s LP Chunky Shrapnel below:

Chunky Shrapnel cements King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard as one of the finest live acts to come out of Australia. It also makes my brain feel the same way a tongue feels when licking a battery.
– Geordie Gray

If you’re a King Gizz fan, then you’d already know what Chunky Shrapnel is all about: Showing one of the most prolific artists of the modern age doing what they do best on the global stage. Though the vast majority of the record is live versions of previously-released material, there’s no chance of treading the same ground over and over, with the beauty of King Gizz coming by way of their intricate performances which leave you experiencing and feeling something new with every single listen.
– Tyler Jenke