Early in 2016 King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard arrived in London the daybefore their European tour started. The Melbourne group decided to venture out that night to catch compatriots Tame Impala at the city’s historic Alexandra Palace. When the seven members of the genre-shredding guitar band walked into the ornate venue, which holds more than 10,000 people, they were stunned by its size.

“I remember thinking to myself,” says guitarist Joey Walker, “Thank God we’re never going to have to play here, because it’s just too big.”

Come October, when King Gizzard’s latest run of European dates kicks off, they’ll be making their Alexandra Palace debut. Aside from the occasional “palpitations” on Walker’s part, and some doubts about how their usual visual accompaniment of a high-powered projector and a large white cloth will fare, that unexpected progression from awestruck audience member to happy headliner is typical of a group that’s carved their own path with a cheerful lack of conceit.

Crash or crash through has been King Gizzrad and Lizard Wizard's winning formula since starting out. Credit:

Tagged as psychedelic rock revivalists when they first appeared, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard haven’t so much outlasted expectations as outworked them. An at times relentless international touring schedule and an eclectic mix of 14 studio albums over the past seven years had given them an international career forged in alternative rock circles but now venturing into cult status. They’re grateful, but far from dead.