A long awaited delight from Australia’s latest, greatest exports.Karnivool’s Themata is an exercise in melody and sweeping soundscapes, eliciting an emotional response normally associated with classical music, rather than the rock genre. From the opening track “Cote” to the closing bars of “Change (Part 1)” the band have explored various methods and styles of melody, each creating unique songs yet at the same time maintaining a cohesiveness that makes Themata a thoroughly rewarding listen.
Comparisons can be drawn with Boy Hits Car (especially on the best track on the album, “Themata”) and fellow Australians The Butterfly Effect and, at a push, Tool. In an environment filled with metalcore and emo clones, it’s refreshing to hear bands coming out with more individual sounds that defy pigeon-holing. The aforementioned title-track, for example, while kind-of-conventional in structure has some of the most emotional, melodic and soaring choruses that remain strangely understated. With vocalist Ian Kenney’s voice switching between a range of pitches and tempos, backed up impeccably by the instrumentalists in the band (particularly the oft-fuzzed-up guitars). Truly excellent stuff, and I would bet money that this could make an excellent single.
With a distinctive sound that runs throughout the album, while still retaining variation and surprises, Themata should have something for everyone, but at the same time might not be recommended for those who like simple, 1-2-3 music (i.e. pop music), with simple structures and so forth.
Difficult to describe, but well worth checking out, Karnivool is a band that you should look out for in the future as they prepare to release their next album (Themata was released some years ago in their Australia).
