History
Karnivool
Karnivool is an alternative rock and progressive rock band formed in Perth, Australia, in 1996. Initially, the band focused on performing covers of bands like Carcass and Nirvana, with frontman Ian Kenny handling both guitar and vocals. The band's name originated from early descriptions by local fans who characterized them as "a bunch of clowns." Their musical style is characterized by progressive and alternative rock elements, often incorporating undertones of alternative metal. Key influences include Nirvana, Radiohead, Meshuggah, Pink Floyd, Tool, Soundgarden, and Carcass. Karnivool is recognized as a foundational act in the Australian progressive rock and metal scene, consistently delivering fresh material to their growing catalog.
Formation and Early Years
In 1996, Ian Kenny recruited high school classmates Andrew Brown and Brett McKenzie to form a cover band. Around this time, the band's future bassist and lead guitarist were studying jazz guitar and drums at a conservatorium. By 1998, Andrew Goddard joined on bass, and the band began writing original material. Subsequently, Goddard moved to lead guitar, and Jon Stockman (bass) and Ray Hawking (percussion) replaced Brown and McKenzie. The band has since released several singles and two EPs, including Themata and their second album, Sound Awake.
Current Lineup and Collaborations
The current lineup of Karnivool features Ian Kenny on lead vocals (also a member of Birds of Tokyo), Andrew "Drew" Goddard on lead guitar (also involved with Revolucion Street and The Cat Empire), Jon Stockman on bass (a member of Floating Me), and Steve Judd on drums (formerly of Hope Here Gone, replacing Hawking in 2004). Goddard and Stockman also contributed to Pendulum's 2005 album, Hold Your Colour.
Themata (2005)
Karnivool's debut album, Themata, derives its name from the Greek word for an intuitive understanding or philosophy that, while unproven, is instinctively felt to be correct. For the album's recording, the band utilized a unique guitar tuning (B-F#-B-G-B-E), a hybrid of Drop B and standard E tunings. Guitarist Andrew Goddard has stated this tuning resulted from a mistake during detuning, which he found added complexity. Goddard was responsible for writing the album's tracks and performed all the drum parts during the recording sessions, noting that his guitar playing often mirrored his drumming style. Notably, the band only performed the songs from Themata together as a unit after the album's completion. The writing process was described as unconventional and slow, reflected in the eclectic song titles and lyrics, such as "Roquefort" (named after a French cheese) and "Mauseum" (a term coined by Jon Stockman).
Sound Awake (2009)
Following their return from the U.S. and participation in the 2008 Big Day Out festival, Karnivool entered the studio to record their follow-up to Themata. Guitarist Andrew Goddard described the new album as a significant progression, emphasizing a more collaborative writing process and a focus on capturing a more natural sound in the studio, moving away from excessive attention to minute details. Sound Awake was released on June 5, 2009.
Live Performances and Singles
During their Aeons Tour, Karnivool previewed several new songs, including "Goliath," "Deadman," and "Pearogram," alongside the previously played "New Day." At the 2008 Homebake festival, they debuted another new track, "Set Fire to the Hive," which, along with the other new material, showcased a more mature sound while retaining the band's signature style. The album was highly anticipated within the Australian music scene for 2009. Ian Kenny mentioned that the band planned a tour following the Aeons Tour that would feature a similar innovative approach to typical rock shows.
Album Success
The first single from Sound Awake, "Set Fire to the Hive," was released on April 26, 2009, ahead of schedule, with its accompanying music video premiering on May 9, 2009. Sound Awake achieved international release in early 2010. The album debuted at number 2 on the ARIA charts and was certified Gold just over a month after its release.
