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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Melodic Barrage Of Killer Riffs & Instant Hooks, September 17, 2006
Sometimes you just have to wonder about the music industry as a whole when a record of this quality goes under the radar for so damn long without some sort of recognition or media buzz. Yeah, they have toured with some serious band's internationally but you can't help but feel that if they didn't come from Australia but somewhere in the US, they would already have a world wide army of fans begging for the next release.
This Karnivool album - 'Thamata' - is just outstanding from start to finish.......so why haven't most of you heard of it?!! Who the f#ck knows?!!
These guys just have it all: brutal low tuned riffs that get your groove on, catchy, melodic, high energy vocals, superb bassplaying and drumming that defies the laws of human capability. For comparisons, just think of mixing up elements of Tool with the best of Korn. Blend moments of Devin Townsend's Strapping Young Lad with the singer from Incubus and take the musical proficencies of Dream Theater and give it personality. There can also be comparisons made with Linkin Park but without the generic, repetitive commercialisation of their recent work. Take all of the afore mentioned bands yet somehow Karnivool's sound is original and renewed.
The first half of 'Thamata' is nearly flawless with arrangements that Nu-Metal bands like Korns and Co. just dream about writting but can't. The difference is the melody and the catchyness of the songs whilst still thrashing the daylights out of you. Take tracks like 'Thamata', 'Shutterspeed' and 'Roquefort' which are hits in their own right as they are appealing from the first listern. The catchy choruses stay in your head while the verses drag you in, yet the heaviness within the bed of detuned guitars that flavour the songs is undeniably brutal at times. Some of the musical complexity and teased time signatures on this disk leave you wondering where the hell Karnivool drew inspiration from to achieve such precise and difficult chops. Thankfully you don't have to be a musician to enjoy it even though it is anything but straight ahead metal.
The other big positive about 'Thamata' is that it doesn't have the same texture and feel throughout as it is musically varied and diverse. You can listern to it in it's entirety without growing tired of it as each song sounds different and unique. This is something few albums these days seem to achieve.
A perfect companion to 'Thamata' is The Butterfly Effect's 'Imago' album. Both disks are world class
I certainly hope to hear more from Karnivool as 'Themata' is a killer.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Aural Perfection, March 24, 2005
If you only buy 1 CD this year, this has to be it!
The album is flawless from beginning to end keeping the same intense energy throughout. I brought it about a week ago and have been unable to stop playing it since. Every song sounds original and will appeal to anyone who desires a truly unique sound.
The act put on a high energy live performance as well, not letting up until the show is over. Luckily i was able to see them in concert as well, living in their home town of Perth, Western Australia.
This is the first full length release to come Karnivool and will by no means be there last with them gaining support from followers all over Australia. It is only a matter of time before this band will make it big on the international scene.
01. C.O.T.E. (10/10) - A perfect beginning for the album with Ian Kenny's hauntingly melodic vocals letting the listener hear that this heavy rock band is more than the norm of just belting instruments and screaming out meaningless drivel.
02. Themata (9/10) - The title track for the album is a perfect representation of what this album is about. Very catchy and a hit with the crowds at their live gigs.
03. Shutterspeed (10/10) - The first single off of the album is being met well by the Australian public gaining the number 1 spot on TripleJ's net 50 countdown (TripleJ being the nations alternative radio station and still holder of the worlds largest annual top100 countdown)
04. Fear of the Sky (9/10) - A great song that has a hard energy throughout.
05. Roquefort (10/10)- By far my favourite song on the album. A slightly mellower track taking the levels down in the middle to hear Ian singing softly with crowd being built up in the palm of his hands and then to break, resulting in the crowd going off to put it mildly
06. L1fel1ke (9/10) - Another perfect blend of low and high intensities to carry the listener on a roller coaster of aural perfection
07. Scarabs (8/10) - By far the most alternative of the tracks. Done in 7-4 time but still flawlessly. Am still yet to see this track live as I'm sure it would be interesting to see a mosh try and deal with the non-standard timing.
08. Sewn & Silent (10/10) - The mellowest track on the CD is pulled off perfectly with Ian's vocals. This one could be my favourite as well. They're all good and i can't really decide upon the best even though i did state it before.
09. Mauseum (9/10) - More Perfection
10. Synops (10/10) - The falsetto Ohhs and Ahhs in the background between verse and corus is eeirly haunting.
11. Omitted for Clarity - won't rank this as it is a 18second silence track to do as the title suggests
12. Change (Part 1) (9/10) - By far the biggest let down of the album. Solely because there is no part 2 to it. Builds up perfectly and suddenly stops leaving the listener wanting more and quickly hitting the CD player to return to track 1 for another bout.
You will not be sorry for buying this CD and will be helping further a great band in there beginnings.
"In the sensory serenity, could it be that i'm in ecstacy"
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An "unbelievable" release! Best of 2005!, October 30, 2005
Karnivool have really done it with this album! This is not just another "hard rock" album...this album has it all: heartfelt and emotive singing, no screaming fodder other bands would just throw into heavier moments on this album, music that makes u think with its changes of tempo and time-signatures (drummers will love this album!), thought provoking lyrics, layer upon layer of finely crafted harmonies and melodies. I dunno what else to say really, this album is pretty close to a masterpiece. The music sucks u in and you'll find yourself listening to it constantly on repeat.
My faith in Aussie rock music has been restored, this album would recieve highly critical acclaim had it been released in the US, but it hasnt. We aussies are so very lucky to have an amazing band like The 'Vool here, it wont be long before they are a hit overseas.
What makes it more phenomenal is that Karnivool's live show is just as good, if not better than their album. I was so blown away i had to see them 3 nights in a row on tour, something i dont do all too often.
Every song on the album is killer, and its hard to choose a few faves...but here goes: Themata, Shutterspeed, Cote and my fave, Scarabs (a metal instrumental masterpiece done in some crazy odd times, very hard to headbang to! hehe...and the double bass blast beats are really awesome!).
This is one band you MUST hear!!!
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