KARNIVOOL SOUND AWAKE… REALLY AWAKE.
In the “bands that obviously look up to Tool but don’t sound exactly like Tool” department, Australian quintet Karnivool are clear winners. Their sound is big, dense, layered and just as intricate as the music of the aforementioned heavy prog rock masters… but unlike so many bands, Karnivool aren’t content to simply rape and pillage the tones of their heroes. Karnivool’s sound is a whole lot more atmospheric, lighter (in terms of mood) and a touch more melodic — and shit, maybe even a little more varied.
Karnivool’s album Sound Awake is old news to those in the band’s native Australia but the album isn’t officially getting released stateside until February 16th. Unsurprising then that they’re a pretty big deal at home but are only starting to get a foot-hold here; when they played Don Hill’s in NYC (a shithole in the truest sense of the word) last month, eyewitness reports came flooding in that the band absolutely blew the roof off the place, even without the aid of the phenomenal light show they usually bring in tow.
I’ve got my hands on a copy of Sound Awake and it’s a doozy indeed, but more than anything I’m anxious to see Karnivool live when they hit the states in March and April (dates on their MySpace page) starting with an appearance at SXSW. Stream the new track “Goliath” in its entirety below.
-VN
