Quantcast
Connect with us

Music

Album Review – KARNIVOOL’s Sound Awake

Published

16 years ago

on

I got an e-mail a few weeks ago that had my digital copy of Guitar Edge within. Seeing as how Alice in Chains was on the cover and the cover promised several other interesting stories, I started clicking through the pages to see what was new in regards to gear, tabs, interviews and articles. One of the articles/interviews in the magazine was with an Australian band named Karnivool.

The description of this band perked every part of my musical interest. Progressive rock? A band compared to Tool and Porcupine Tree?? Crazy effects all over the guitars??? Hell yeah I was interested! The article was touting their new album, Sound Awake, and discussing various aspects of it, from production to song quality to lyrical content and more. But I’d had enough, I needed to hear it for myself and see if this album was worth it.
The album starts off with “Simple Boy”, a beautifully produced track that hooked me in for the rest of the album. The guitars are clearly defined although sometimes it’s hard to pick out the rhythm guitar from the bass. The lead guitars, however, cut through the mix very fluidly. The bass, thick with effects, is the foundation of the song (very Tool-esque) and has a very round sound, even though it is distorted and slightly fuzzy. The drums have a solid thump to the low end and a nice “sizzle” in the higher registers. There is a very cool spot near the middle of the song where the drums come in sans production effects, giving them a very raw and edgy sound. The vocals are at a perfect volume and the vocals harmonies are wonderfully placed, hiding just behind the main vocals, almost ghost-like. 
Although “Simple Boy” has its moments of “rocking out”, I recommend, for fans of Muse or The Mars Volta, checking out the track “Set Fire To The Hive”. Faster paced with passages that beg for headbangers to unite, I found myself getting pumped up and hot-blooded. 
Even with the amazing production and incredible song quality, it’s a bit exhausting trying to get through the album in one go. The album clocks in over 70 minutes long and the last two tracks are each over 10 minutes. On top of the length, these are not necessarily songs to just sit back and listen to. They require a bit of effort and investment to fully appreciate. 
Overall, Karnivool manages stand right up next to Tool, Porcupine Tree, Muse and The Mars Volta while still being able to sound original and unique.
4 skulls out of 5
Related Topics:

Managing editor/music guy/social media fella of Bloody-Disgusting

Click to comment

Music

‘The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only Live’ Concert Event to Make Streaming Debut Next Month

Published

1 day ago

on

July 14, 2026

By

The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only Live

AMC has announced that The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only LIVE, the standing-room-only performance celebrating AMC’s premiere of its newly-released The Vampire Lestat at New York City’s iconic Beacon Theatre last month, will debut on streaming.

The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only LIVE begins streaming on AMC+ on August 23.

Ahead of its streaming premiere, fans can preview the concert event, featuring original songs from series composer Daniel Hart and performed by Sam Reid, in Hall H at Comic Con International on July 24. 

Our own Daniel Kurland attended the special event, highlighting how electric the Immortal Vampire is on stage: “It’s clear in this season of television that Reid was born to be a rock star, but it’s surreal to see him effortlessly command the stage — and the audience — at every step of the concert. He recites Shakespeare monologues and bitches out Armand between songs, all while the audience screams in support. For the duration of this concert, Reid is Lestat, and he’s given thousands of fans a memory that’s as immortal as any vampire.”

Based on Anne Rice‘s The Vampire Chronicles book series, The Vampire Lestat is the rock and roll-centric third season of AMC’s “Interview with the Vampire” created by showrunner Rolin Jones.

The Vampire Lestat goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by “muses” from his wild and rebellious past. As his band’s popularity and star power rises, so does Lestat’s influence over vampires and humans alike, leaving others to contend with Lestat’s power in the face of the Great Conversion, an unnatural surge in the vampire population.

Jacob Anderson, Assad Zaman, Eric Bogosian, Delainey Hayles and Jennifer Ehle star with Reid. Executive producers include Jones, Mark Johnson, Hannah Moscovitch, the late Anne Rice, and her son Christopher Rice.

The series finale airs this Sunday, July 19, on AMC and AMC+.

Continue Reading