After promising five albums in 2017, the ever fruitful King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have returned with this year's second instalment, 'Murder Of The Universe'.

Split into three chapters that mix spoken word with King Gizzard's usual bonkers fusion of psychedelia and garage rock, 'Murder Of The Universe' is another ambitious effort from the Aussie outfit.

Narrated by singer-songwriter Leah Senior, chapter one tells 'The Tale of the Altered Beast' through various versions of 'Altered Beast' and 'Alter Me'. With incendiary psychedelic guitars and enough blaring harmonicas to cause an acid trip, chapter one is an onslaught of psych perfection.

Interweaving elements from their previous records 'Nonagon Infinity', 'I'm In Your Mind Fuzz' and 'Paper Mâché Dream Balloon', chapter two is once again narrated by Leah Senior and documents the skirmish between the Lord of Lightning and the Balrog. Acting as a trans-dimensional portal into the world of King Gizzard, 'The Reticent Raconteur's Mongolian throat singing and the krautrock odyssey of 'The Balrog' serve as a fitting ode to the band's back catalogue.

The final chapter, which happens to be the album's most wonderfully bizarre, shares the quest of Han-Tyumi the cyborg and his plan to destroy the universe with his vomit - yes, you read that correctly. From the heavy 'Digital Black' to the epic finale of the destruction of the cosmos during 'Murder Of The Universe', this story of Han-Tyumi is one of King Gizzard's best.

Whilst it may seem like overkill for a band to be releasing their twelfth project since 2011, it's simply not the case for the Melbourne septet. An intense, ingenious and utterly insane listen, 'Murder Of The Universe' is another brilliant addition to King Gizzard's already stellar and ever-expanding discography.

8/10

Words: Liam Egan

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