Australia’s King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard today shared news of their first-orchestral album, Phantom Island. This album becomes a crowning achievement in the centerpiece of the band’s career, as it is their 27th release. Evocative and transportive, the lead track “Phantom Island” sets the mood for the ten-track album marvelously. It does a great job of illustrating the band’s trademark progressive rock grandeur.
The band has not yet announced the name of the orchestra that worked with them on the album. For now, what we do know is that Brett Kelly recorded the lead single. This orchestral endeavor comes on the heels of last year’s Flight B741 and two ambitious records released in 2023: The Silver Cord and PetroDragonic Apocalypse, or Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation.
The band has not yet set a release date for Phantom Island. All is not lost, they tease, as further details — including the full agenda — will release on April 15. Read on for lead singer and guitarist Stu Mackenzie’s reflections on how they made the record. He spoke about the extraordinary love that shaped its creation. He wrote, “A lot of love and time and energy and patience and growth went into this one.”
The Australian band worked with an orchestra, sometimes remotely, when recording their cinematic new album Phantom Island. This artistic endeavor took place just as Flight B741 was being completed, a testament to their unstoppable spirit. Mackenzie shared in their excitement, telling their fans, “Can’t wait to grow wings and fly with all of you.”
Still, as excitement grows for Phantom Island, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard isn’t done preaching to the converted. The band have announced a stellar run of shows in 2025. They’re determined to take their new sound – now fully realized as a quintet – to stages across the tri-state area.