Gila Monster / Witchcraft
{{Infobox song
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
| name = Gila Monster / Witchcraft
| cover = Gila Monster-Witchcraft Cover.jpg
| album = PetroDragonic Apocalypse
| A-side = Gila Monster
| B-side = Witchcraft
| released = 16 May 2023
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = "Gila Monster":{{hlist|Stoner metal|heavy metal}} "Witchcraft": {{hlist|Progressive metal|thrash metal}}
| length = *9:38
- 4:35 ("Gila Monster")
- 5:05 ("Witchcraft")
| label = KGLW
| composer =
| writer = {{hlist|Stu Mackenzie|Ambrose Kenny-Smith|Cook Craig|Joey Walker|Michael Cavanagh}}
| producer = Stu Mackenzie
| prev_title = No Body / Exploding Suns
| prev_year = 2023
| next_title = Dragon
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|YQX2CsMCB9M|"Gila Monster"}}}}
}}
"Gila Monster / Witchcraft" is a single released by the Australian psychedelic rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard consisting of the songs "Gila Monster" and "Witchcraft" from their 24th studio album PetroDragonic Apocalypse, and was released on May 16, 2023. "Gila Monster" surrounds a giant monster that is accidentally summoned by witches and grows to monstrous sizes. The single was physically released as part of a limited run at Gizzard's Los Angeles Record Fair on June 20, 2023, on 7" vinyl.{{cite web |title=Gila Monster / Witchcraft |url=https://kglw.net/discography/gila-monster-witchcraft |website=kglw.net |access-date=27 February 2025}} While "Gila Monster" was the primary track, the B-side of the vinyl had the track "Witchcraft".
At the 2023 ARIA Music Awards, Gila Monster's video was nominated for Best Video.{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/nominees-announced-for-2023-aria-awards/|title= Nominees Announced for 2023 ARIA Awards|website=Music Feeds|date=21 September 2023|access-date=24 September 2023}}
Recording
"Gila Monster" was first played live in March 2023 and became a part of the band's setlists.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-16 |title=King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Share New Single "Gila Monster": Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2223693/king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizard-gila-monster/music/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} It has Stu Mackenzie on lead vocals with keyboardist Ambrose Kenny-Smith doing additional vocals, and the rest of the band appears in the chorus. The full song was released on May 16, 2023, alongside a music video, directed by SPOD.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-16 |title=King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Announce Album, Share Video for New Song "Gila Monster" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/king-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-announce-album-share-video-for-new-song-gila-monster-listen/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}
Critical reception
Gila Monster came out with fairly positive reviews from music critics/outlets like Stereogum,{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} Exclaim!,{{Cite web |last=Gregory |first=Allie |title=Exclaim!'s Staff Picks: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Lean into Heavy Fantasy with "Gila Monster" |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/exclaim_s_staff_picks_king_gizzard_lizard_wizard_gila_monster |website=Exclaim!}} and MetalSucks. Hesher Keenan, from the latter, says "it's fast, it grooves, and it’s got just enough fuzz in the mix to really set it over the edge".{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/05/16/king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizards-new-single-gila-monster-is-a-fuzzy-stoner-metal-banger/|title=King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's New Single "Gila Monster" is a Fuzzy Stoner Metal Banger|author=Keenan, Hesher|work=MetalSucks|date=16 May 2023|access-date=8 September 2023}}
Personnel
- Stu Mackenzie – vocals, guitar
- Ambrose Kenny-Smith – vocals
- Joey Walker – guitar
- Cook Craig – bass
- Michael Cavanagh – drums
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQX2CsMCB9M "Gila Monster"] on YouTube
{{King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gila Monster/Witchcraft}}