Their EP and first two albums, Willoughby's Beach (2011), 12 Bar Bruise (2012) and Eyes Like the Sky (2013), primarily blended surf music and garage rock, and were released on the band's independent record label, Flightless, founded by Moore in 2012. Their third to eighth albums—Float Along – Fill Your Lungs (2013), Oddments, I'm in Your Mind Fuzz (2014), Quarters!, Paper Mâché Dream Balloon (2015) and Nonagon Infinity (2016)—expanded their sound, including elements of film music, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, folk, jazz, soul and heavy metal.
In 2017, the band fulfilled a promise to release five studio albums within the year: Flying Microtonal Banana in February; Murder of the Universe in June; Sketches of Brunswick East, a collaboration with Mild High Club, in August; Polygondwanaland, which was released into the public domain, in November; and Gumboot Soup in December. The band released its fourteenth album, Fishing for Fishies, on 26 April 2019, followed by a fifteenth album, Infest the Rats' Nest, released on 16 August that year.
On the 19th of April they released their first feature-length film, concert movie "Chunky Shrapnel". Named after a lyric from the band’s 2017 song Murder Of The Universe, The film combines concert footage from the band’s 2019 European tour with documentary style-filmmaking of King Gizzard behind the scenes. While Chunky Shrapnel does also document the band offstage, the film’s director, Josh Angus Stewart, said that it prioritizes music over personalities.
Chunky Shrapnel was originally set to premiere at Melbourne’s Astor Theatre, before the Australian government closed cinemas nationwide to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The film was eventually released and finally available for 24 hours only on vimeo.
In all, throughout 2020, the band released several live albums, a concert film, a double compilation of demos, K.G. , their 16th studio album and a compilation of early singles and all the tracks on the Anglesea EP called Teenage Gizzard . In August, Eric Moore (the band's second drummer and manager) left the band to focus on running his record label, Flightless. In February 2021, the band released L.W., their third microtonal album, which was followed by the synth-based dream pop album Butterfly 3000 in June. These albums were released independently rather than on Flightless. The band's twentieth studio album, Omnium Gatherum, was released on 22 April 2022.
On 24 January 2023, the band released the official live bootleg Live at Red Rocks '22. The 86-track, eight-hour release documents the band's three-night run at the titular Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Several independent labels have created physical releases of the bootleg, including a 12-vinyl boxset and a CD/cassette run.
On 4 March of the same year, the band debuted a new song "Gila Monster" during a live performance in Tilburg in the Netherlands. Following that, on 7 May, the band announced their upcoming 24th studio album, PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation via Instagram. According to bassist Lucas Harwood, PetroDragonic Apocalypse will be one of two upcoming albums that will have a "Yin and Yang" concept, stating that they are "going to be very different sounding to each other, but we're going to try to make them complement each other". The album's first single, "Gila Monster", was released alongside a music video an hour before the album pre-order opened on May 16 and the second single "Dragon" was released on June 6 with its music video. The band then went on tour throughout the United States to promote the album before its release by playing songs from the album other than the singles. One such performance on 3 June was at the Caverns in Tennessee where the band dressed in drag to celebrate Pride Night after a judge turned down a law that intended to ruled drag unlawful. Joey Walker told the crowd, "This ain't no protest, baby. This is a celebration!" PetroDragonic Apocalypse was released on 16 June.
Their 25th album, The Silver Cord, was released on the 27th of October 2023.
Their 26th and latest album, Flight b741, was released on the 9th of August, 2024 - it is their first album released on their new record label, p(doom) Records.
The band members all grew up and went to school in the Deniliquin, Melbourne and Geelong areas. The band started off as a group of friends jamming together, before a mutual friend asked them to play at a show. The band's name was created "last minute". Mackenzie wanted to name the band "Gizzard Gizzard" while another band member wanted Jim Morrison's nickname "Lizard King". They eventually compromised with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. The artist Jason Galea has created all of the band's album art, and a majority of their music videos.
Gondii
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gondii's in the amygdala
Human being contaminated
Living-murdered feline worshiper
What it feels like
Is it feels like
It's dreamlike
Can't get a message to my brain
I can't control myself
Can't get a message to my brain
I can't control myself anymore
What it feels like
Is it feels like
It's dreamlike, woo
Human being manipulated
Gondii drizzles serotonin
Human being lubricated
Drowning in oxytocin, woo
Can't get a message to my brain
I can't control myself
Can't get a message to my brain
I can't control myself anymore
I've got a cyst inside my head
I can't control myself
Can't get a message to my brain
I can't control myself anymore
So am I the bird or am I the worm?
Do I have free will? Do I have free thought? Woo
Am I the chicken or am I the egg?
Have I liberty? Have I my wings?
You shouldn't fight it or deny it
Just breathe in and embrace it
Symbiotic Gondii choir
Sings a song of fuzzy minds
So am I the dog or am I the cat?
No, it's neither one
I am the rat, woo
Can't get a message to my brain
I can't control myself
Can't get a message to my brain
I can't control myself anymore
I've got a cyst inside my head
I can't control myself
Can't get a message to my brain
I can't control myself
The lyrics to "Gondii" by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard delve into the concept of human manipulation and the influence of a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The song starts by acknowledging the domestication of human beings and how the presence of this parasite affects the amygdala, a part of the brain associated with emotions and fear. It suggests that humans are contaminated and controlled by this parasite, which is known to be commonly transmitted through infected cats.
The lyrics reflect a sense of detachment and loss of control as the singer describes the inability to communicate with their own brain and the consequent loss of self-control. It seems like they are in a dreamlike state, where their thoughts and actions are manipulated by the parasite. The song further explores the effects of Toxoplasma gondii on human brain chemistry, as it releases hormones like serotonin and oxytocin, which can heavily influence emotions and behavior.
Through the use of metaphors, the song questions the essence of free will and the nature of human identity. The singer ponders whether they are the bird or the worm, the chicken or the egg, implying a struggle to define their autonomy. In the end, they proclaim themselves as the rat, suggesting a sense of powerlessness and being controlled like a laboratory experiment.
Overall, "Gondii" reflects on the potential manipulation of human behavior by parasites like Toxoplasma gondii and raises existential questions about the nature of consciousness and free will.
Line by Line Meaning
Human being domesticated
Humanity has been tamed and subdued
Gondii's in the amygdala
The parasite Toxoplasma gondii resides in the amygdala of the brain
Human being contaminated
Humanity has been infected
Living-murdered feline worshiper
Existing as a victim of the parasite, worshiping and serving cats who are its carriers
What it feels like
The subjective experience of this situation is
Is it feels like
It can be described as
It's dreamlike
Having a surreal or fantastical quality
Can't get a message to my brain
Unable to convey information to my mind
I can't control myself
I have lost control over my actions or behavior
Can't get a message to my brain
Unable to communicate with my brain
I can't control myself anymore
I have completely lost the ability to control myself
Human being manipulated
Humanity is being influenced and controlled
Gondii drizzles serotonin
The parasite releases serotonin in the brain
Human being lubricated
Humanity is made more compliant and docile
Drowning in oxytocin, woo
Overwhelmed by feelings of affection and bonding
I've got a cyst inside my head
There is a cyst present within my brain
So am I the bird or am I the worm?
Am I the prey or the predator?
Do I have free will? Do I have free thought? Woo
Am I able to make independent choices or think without influence?
Am I the chicken or am I the egg?
Am I the cause or the result?
Have I liberty? Have I my wings?
Do I possess freedom and the ability to soar?
You shouldn't fight it or deny it
One should not resist or reject it
Just breathe in and embrace it
Instead, one should accept and welcome it
Symbiotic Gondii choir
The parasite Toxoplasma gondii and its effects working together in harmony
Sings a song of fuzzy minds
Creates a melody that represents unclear or distorted thinking
So am I the dog or am I the cat? No, it's neither one
Am I the predator or the prey? No, I am neither
I am the rat, woo
I am the vulnerable and manipulated individual
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stuart Mackenzie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind