Review: Dan Maynard
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Thirteen years. That’s how long it has been since Karnivool last released an album. 2013 gave us Asymmetry, the band’s third full length record, four years after Sound Awake. Now, 13 years later, we are just days away from album number four, In Verses.
Reviewing an album of this magnitude is no easy task. Expectations are sky high, and understandably so. The simple truth is this. In Verses is phenomenal. That’s also where the challenge lies. After such a long wait, I don’t want to oversell it or give too much away. This isn’t one of those trailers that spoils half the experience before you even press play. I could easily dissect every track, talk endlessly about the layered guitars, the precision in every drum part, Jon’s immaculate bass tone that anchors each song perfectly, and of course Ian Kenny’s voice, effortlessly weaving through complex time signatures and beautifully harmonised passages with a sense of control only he can deliver.
So this won’t be a long review. Karnivool fans deserve to experience this album properly. Sit down, turn it up, and listen front to back. From the moment opening track Ghost hits with its towering wall of guitars and filthy low end, through to the epic and powerful closer Salva, the journey is undeniable. As Kenny explained in my interview with him, Salva represents a sense of celebration within the album, and it plays out exactly that way. A long awaited finale that closes the record with soaring vocal layers and, yes, bagpipes blended seamlessly with Drew’s signature synth driven guitar tones.
What sits between those moments is an album that flows effortlessly. Something that often gets overlooked. Every track feels exactly where it should be. Songs bleed into each other naturally, complement one another, and reward full album listens. You can hear the time, care, and patience poured into every detail.
My 11 year old used to ask who my favourite band was, and the answer never changed. Karnivool. I remember the first time I heard Sound Awake, the first time I ever heard the band in a friend’s loungeroom back in 2004 watching the Lifelike video on an old label sampler DVD. Asymmetry dropped the day I returned from my honeymoon. We Are premiered on Triple J on the night of my bucks party. I love this band. So yes, 13 years is a long wait. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Have I listened to it at least eight times already? Without hesitation. Do I believe others will feel the same? I genuinely do.
Come Friday, fans will form their own opinions. But it’s hard to imagine many feeling differently. Karnivool continue to evolve with every release, and In Verses is no exception. It’s an incredibly well crafted album that honours everything that came before while still pushing forward. With Australia’s finest producer, Forrester Savill, at the helm, it’s no surprise the album sounds as good as it does.
Hopefully this hasn’t spoiled the experience. Hopefully it’s clear how I feel about it. And hopefully, once you hear it, you’ll feel the same. Thank you, Karnivool. In Verses is everything it needed to be.