Karnivool
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Music
Press
THAT ONLY three of the 11 songs found on Sound Awake clock in at less than five minutes tells you everything you need to know about Karnivool's musical approach. Nestling cosily alongside the dark, brooding and atmospheric tones of A Perfect Circle, the Australian quintet's second album in undeniably progressive, but for those with patience to burn it's one that's just as impressive.
Built on a foundation of rumbling bass lines and haunting vocal harmonies the likes of New day are simply exquisite. The band build the intensity slowly but surely, before collapsing in a hail of expansive melodies that, when at their best, are little short of breathtaking.
This is genuinely impressive stuff. - Kerrang - Sound Awake album review
Karnivool are an exciting proposition. 'Sound Awake' is an album of immense progressive proportions that boasts some brilliant atmospherics, excellent melodies courtesy of vocalist Ian Kenny, accomplished musicianship and adventurous songwriting.
Never in a rush, the truly awe-inspiring moments come in a guise of the 'Change' and 'Deadman' - both clocking in at over 10 minutes - which sees Karnivool nail the terms 'dramatic' with aplomb. - Rocksound
Perth quintet Karnivool dares to occupy a genre no Australian band risks: progressive hard rock. Unlike prog rock masters Pink Floyd or King Crimson, their variety emcompasses the atmosphere of Tool, emotional weight of the Butterfly Effect and a glint of Queensryche grandiosity.
An oblique shift from their riff-heavy 2005 debut Themata, Sound Awake is a sprawling work of melody, mood, tempo and musicianship. Led by the soothing voice of front man Ian Kenny, a seamless transition is made from transportative opener 'Simple Boy' to the choppy 'Set Fire To The Hive'.
Intricacy, pedantry and perfection are evidenced on 'The Caudal Lure' as guitars swirl and crash, tempos oscillate and a gong is gently hit. Twelve-minute musing 'Deadman embarks on a sonic journey akin to a tobaggan criss-crossing snow-covered mountains followed by dramatic last track 'Change', which underscores the load of their 11-track journey.
A statement of Karnivool's musical proficiency and vision, Sound Awake will make for hypnotic listening live. - Rolling Stone
In terms of sheer ambition, Karnivool are one of Australia's most formidable bands.
The 11 tracks on this, their second album, span a whopping 72 minutes, and require the listener to fully commit their attention rather than just dip in and out when the mood strikes. To their credit, the Perth quintet manage to thread enough hooks into the dense layers of sound to make songs such as 'Simple Boy', 'Goliath' and 'Set Fire To The Hive' memorable, Ian Kenny's golden vocals gorgeously coating the intricate, atmospheric riffing.
- Blunt
Discography
Sound Awake LP (2009)
Themata LP (2005)
L1fel1ke SP (2003)
Persona EP (2001)
Photos
Bio
When Perth five-piece heavy rock outfit Karnivool emerged in April 2005 with an album called Themata, two things were immediately obvious. One, here was a record that single-handedly set a new benchmark for heavy rock in this country and others for years to come. And two, Karnivool were going to be big. Really big.
Over the following years the band toured hard, selling out major venues wherever they played and attracting a hardcore cult of fans. Karnivool went on to earn three spots in the triple j Hottest 100 for the title track Themata, Roquefort (featuring The Cat Empires horn section) and their inspired reworking of electronic artist Gotyes The Only Way. In 2007, at Perths prestigious WAMi Awards, they won five trophies: Most Popular Act, Most Popular Live Act, Best Male Vocalist (Ian Kenny), Best Guitarist (Drew Goddard) and Best Hard Rock Act. They became a drawcard act at the Big Day Out and other major rock festivals in Australia. And, after shifting 32,000 units of Themata completely independently, they secured an international licensing deal for the album in the US, UK, Canada and Mexico through the Bieler Bros label. Suddenly, this little ol prog-rock band from Perth were one of Australias biggest acts.
Sound Awake, their second and latest full-length, is a kaleidoscopic, multi-dimensional masterpiece. Its a record thats going to blow people away. Savells production is nothing short of awesome. Unlike the more clinical, hook-laden Themata, Sound Awake is a slow-burner. A grower. Rather than bludgeon people over the head with one of Thematas trademark barnstorming riffs and soaring choruses, this is a considerably more technical, progressive record and Karnivool have chosen to draw the listener in slowly. And if that confounds some fans hanging out for the big dumb riff and the hook, its a risk the band are prepared to take.
Links
