PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation

Australia’s most dependable shape-shifters slip into full-bodied thrash on their 24th album. It’s King Gizz’s second proper foray into the propulsive metal subgenre—after 2019’s Infest the Rats’ Nest—and once again dire themes of environmental collapse rise to the fore. That imagery is even stronger here, with Godzilla-style creatures wreaking havoc in the lyrics. Meanwhile, the songs are longer and heavier than on that previous outing, with the juddering “Dragon” nearly hitting the 10-minute mark. Repetition remains key, whether it’s droning vocal phrases, entrancing percussion, muscled riffage or precise lashings of lead guitar. That all makes for a particularly vigorous addition to the band’s deep catalogue.