Who’d a thunk that 20 years after hearing I Get Wet over and over and over again while starting in a record store and subsequently dropping Andrew W.K. like a bad habit with every release since that I’d be gushing over a new record today??? But here we are with the imminent release of God Is Partying, Andrew W.K.’s fifth long player, which is a far cry from my record store daze, a far cry from the days of Jackass (Although with a new film on the way from Johnny Knoxville and co., maybe the more things change and all that jazz?), and a far cry from The Wolf which initially caused this reviewer to tune out.
But I digress.
Consider this: God Is Partying is Andrew W.K.’s A Night At The Opera. It is! An epic Rawk opus that’s light years beyond the “Party Rock” that is synonymous with W.K.’s name, God Is Partying is dense, diverse, and delightfully divine. From the riff monster that is “Everybody Sins” kicking this whole shebang off through to “And Then We Blew Apart” which brings the album to a close with a lavish piano-driven banger, God Is Partying takes the kinds of Rawk anthems that Andrew W.K. fans have grown to love and inserts them into a masterfully crafted sonic scenario that’s part Queen and part Devin Townsend at his most madcap.
The Oreo filling in between all that is just as rich with “Babalon” immediately standing out as not only one of the best jams of 2021 but also one of Andrew W.K.’s best to date. Credit for that and the rest of the sound and feel of GIP goes to the man himself who played EVERYTHING on this bad boy (And also co-produced alongside Ted Young) as well as pushed his voice to new limits as heard on “Babalon” with the singer beginning with a calm delivery before delivering an ear-piercing screech akin to the almighty Rob Halford further within as chugging riffs surround.
“No One To Know” is a glistening gem that ups the epicness while “Stay True To Your Heart” follows that same path with a sweeping power anthem that’s heavy on harmony with pulsating bursts of vibrant guitars and drums to accent the positive message. “I’m In Heaven” is heavenly Metal through and through utilizing ALL the riffs with “Remember Your Oath” boasting the feel of that huge closing number at the end of a massive rock opera and “My Tower” built up around some truly majestic guitar virtuosity from Mr. W.K.
God Is Partying is comin’ at ya through Napalm Records on September 10th! Pre-orders are available now and can be peeped, perused, and picked up all in one convenient location when you head here. For the latest on Andrew W.K., follow the socials by clicking here, here, or here.