King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard – Murder Of The Universe

Description

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s 21-track concept album Murder of the Universe arrived as the second of five albums the Melbourne band released during their prolific 2017. Produced by frontman Stu Mackenzie, the album divides into three distinct narrative chapters, each functioning as a self-contained apocalyptic tale. Narration by Melbourne folk singer Leah Senior guides the first two chapters, while the band employed NaturalReader’s “UK Charles” text-to-speech program as the voice of Han-Tyumi, the cyborg protagonist of the final suite. The album earned a nomination for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album at the 2017 ARIA Music Awards.

The first suite, “The Tale of the Altered Beast,” follows a human who encounters a mystical creature that alters his consciousness. “The Lord of Lightning vs. Balrog” draws from Tolkien mythology as an electrical deity confronts a demon awakened by technological hubris. The final chapter, “Han-Tyumi and the Murder of the Universe,” presents the most conceptually ambitious narrative, following a cyborg’s obsessive quest to experience human sensations of death and vomiting, culminating in universal destruction. Key tracks include “The Lord of Lightning,” which splits across sides on single LP pressings, “Altered Beast IV,” and “Vomit Coffin.” The album connects thematically to earlier releases I’m In Your Mind Fuzz and Nonagon Infinity, with motifs and melodies resurfacing throughout.

This limited edition pressing features transparent swamp green vinyl with heavy opaque olive green and mustard yellow splatter, appropriately nicknamed “Vomit Splatter” to match the album’s apocalyptic themes. The package includes a 30-page illustrated storybook that presents the complete narratives for all three chapters, transforming the listening experience into a fully realized conceptual work that merges psychedelic rock, prog, and heavy metal into King Gizzard’s most narratively ambitious project.

• Format: Vomit Splatter Colored Vinyl LP (Green with Green & Mustard Splatter)
• Standout tracks: “The Lord of Lightning,” “Altered Beast IV,” “Vomit Coffin”
• Pressing details: Limited Edition, 30-Page Illustrated Storybook
• Genre/style: Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock, Heavy Metal, Experimental
• UPC: 880882299316

The album represents King Gizzard’s embrace of interconnected storytelling across their catalog, with Mackenzie describing their albums as portals through which listeners can move between different sonic and narrative worlds.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. A New World
2. Altered Beast I
3. Alter Me I
4. Altered Beast II
5. Alter Me II
6. Altered Beast III
7. Alter Me III
8. Altered Beast IV
9. Life/Death
10. Some Context
11. The Reticent Raconteur
12. The Lord Of Lightning Pt.1

Side B:

1. The Lord Of Lightning Pt.2
2. The Balrog
3. The Floating Fire
4. The Acrid Corpse
5. Welcome To An Altered Future
6. Digital Black
7. Han-Tyumi, The Confused Cyborg
8. Soy-Protein Munt Machine
9. Vomit Coffin
10. Murder Of The Universe