Decent album but I think Gizz should take a year off

Before I get into my “poo pooing” i just want to say that I absolutely loved Joeys vocals in this album. He’s got an incredibly strong singing voice and it’s just a fantastic highlight for this album.

I’ve noticed a troubling shift in their music since around 2022, and it’s hard to ignore the sense that their prolific output might be taking a toll on their creative spark. While there’s nothing inherently bad about the album the production feels overcrowded—strings and horns clutter the mix, drowning out eachother, the vocals and melodies that once defined their unique sound. I can’t help but miss the days of their krautrock and jazz fusion works, which had strength and memorability that their recent tracks, like “Eternal Return,” lack (this and Panpsych are the better tracks imo). To me, these newer songs sound quite generic, almost like background or ad music. Instrumentation wise nothing really stood out to me. As a drummer, guitarist and bassist it was all a little underwhelming.

While I still commend them for experimenting and pushing beyond their limits it’s as if their relentless pace has left little room for the magic that made their early work stand out. I feel like their approach has just changed fundamentally, perhaps due to the sheer volume of albums they’ve churned out. The distinctiveness that characterized their older sound seems to have faded, replaced by a more formulaic style that doesn’t stick with me the way it used to. I’d rather revisit their early catalogue than push through another listen of their latest release, and I’m not alone in feeling unmotivated to do so.

It’s a shame but maybe it’s time for King Gizzard to take a break, recharge, and rediscover the passion that fueled their best work. A pause could help them return to writing songs that don’t just sound basic and forgettable, but instead recapture the originality that once made them a standout force in music.

I’d give this album 6.5/10. A fantastic idea but not executed as well as it could have been.

I mean it is all just preference haha. I know that others prefer this style of music and that’s fine.