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.
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 and the Lizard Wizard. The artist Jason Galea has created all of the band's album art, and a majority of their music videos.
People-Vultures
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God approaches
Final hearing
What else have I got left to spew down?
People-Vultures waiting to begin
Deadly ulcers feeding on my skin
Wild dogs escaping from their cage
People-Vultures
God approaches
Final hearing
What else have I got left to spew down?
People-Vultures
God approaches
Final hearing
Disappearing
Tainted voodoo
Headless guru
Final head-spin
What else have I got left to spew down?
What else have I got left to spew down?
What else have I got left to spew down?
What else have I got left to spew down?
What else have I got left to spew down?
People-Vultures crowding at my door
Parasites are eating more and more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's song People-Vultures seems to be about someone who is either facing their final moments in life or is confronting some kind of judgment day. The repeated refrain of "God approaches, Final hearing" seems to indicate that some kind of reckoning is imminent. The lines "What else have I got left to spew down" suggest that the person feels like they have said or done everything they possibly can, and they are ready for whatever comes next.
The theme of death is further illustrated by the appearance of vultures, dogs, and parasites throughout the song. These creatures are often associated with death and decay, and the fact that they are "waiting to begin" and "feeding on my skin" suggests that the person is already in a state of decline.
The final lines of the song are particularly interesting: "Tainted voodoo, Headless guru, Final head-spin." It's not entirely clear what these lines mean, but they suggest that the person is experiencing some kind of final descent into madness or delirium. The "tainted voodoo" might represent some kind of spiritual corruption or manipulation, while the "headless guru" could be a symbol of someone who has lost touch with reality.
Line by Line Meaning
God approaches
The end is near, time is running out.
Final hearing
Judgment day has come, and it is time to stand trial.
What else have I got left to spew down?
What else can I say or do to escape my fate or get out of this situation?
People-Vultures waiting to begin
People are waiting for a chance to take advantage of the situation and exploit me.
Deadly ulcers feeding on my skin
I am deteriorating and being consumed by the negativity surrounding me.
People-Vultures waiting by my stage
People are waiting by my door, eager to see my downfall or misfortune.
Wild dogs escaping from their cage
People are out of control, unpredictable and dangerous, causing destruction and chaos.
Disappearing
Fading away into nothingness.
Tainted voodoo
Dark magic, corrupted and twisted.
Headless guru
A leader or guide who has lost their way or purpose, leading others astray.
Final head-spin
The end result or conclusion, the dizzying feeling of everything spinning out of control.
People-Vultures crowding at my door
People are gathering and waiting outside my door to benefit from my misfortune.
Parasites are eating more and more
People who feed off the misery of others continue to grow and become stronger, taking advantage of those in vulnerable positions.
Contributed by Addison J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@theEddzilla
"so the video, will be a vulture fighting random enemies, i really liek that that a concept you can do a lot wi-"
"yeah mate, except were like part of a bird, right"
"Wh- wait so you guys all wanna be photoshopped into the birds?"
"nah mate we're all part of bird see, like were all a bird, it can be a big bird if it makes it easier"
"can you do it for 60$"
"we can do it for 30$, a box a tim tams, and a kebob"
@remybienko1026
lyrics:
People-vultures
God approaches
Final hearing
What else have I got left to spew down?
People-vultures waiting to begin
Deadly ulcers feeding on my skin
People-vultures waiting by my stage
Wild dogs escaping from their cage
People-vultures
God approaches
Final hearing
What else have I got left to spew down?
People-vultures
God approaches
Final hearing
Disappearing
Tainted voodoo
Headless guru
Final head-spin
What else have I got left to spew down?
What else have I got left to spew down?
What else have I got left to spew down?
What else have I got left to spew down?
What else have I got left to spew down?
People-vultures crowding at my door
Parasites are eating more and more
@GataZGinkgo
this is the best power rangers episode to never be
@HeadLiner1995
+Mothabrainable just what i was thinking
@estupidowario
Definitely
@l.salisbury1253
Mighty Morphan Rangers guesting in an episode of the Monkees...!
@absolutedisease1699
But i miss some cheap explosions.
@PissCovered
I think they soraypainted a antman mask silver
@TimSurette
I would pay to watch an entire Nonagon video movie
@SCWood
Nonagon Infinite Jest
@ajfernandez6595
Fuck yes.
@misanthropicservitorofmars2116
Just pay to see them on tour. They are coming around the US again after corona. I went last year and saw them in person for the release of Infest the Rats Nest. It couldn’t be a more perfect concert experience.