Vorig jaar heb ik een semester in Tromso (Noorwegen) gestudeerd, waar ik me in die periode heb aangesloten bij de muziekredactie van het plaatselijk studentenkrantje en ik dacht "hmm, laat ik de nieuwe Karnivool maar eens in het Engels de hemel in prijzen". Geschreven in november, maar nog steeds actueel wat mij betreft. Het is een vertaalde variatie op mijn eerdere Nederlandstalige recensie hier op MuMe. Hier gepubliceerd:
http://www.utropia.no/?p=25799.
Karnivool has delivered a rough atmospheric sketch with tremendously bright details. Surpassing their predecessor Sound Awake was an almost impossible task anyway, but nonetheless the Aussies managed to present an equally inspiring and thrilling masterpiece, although very different. Think of Tool and TesseracT dating Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai and Sigur Ros, carried by polyrhythmic structures and huge emotional devotion.
The first seconds consist of an ambient aural layer: the sound of the universe breathing, according to the band. Be prepared, because after that you get smashed in the face by Nachash, A.M. War and The Refusal; with We Are offering a beautiful breathing space through its wonderful and catchy vibe. Asymmetry is a very… asymmetric album. At first glance, the first five songs are like an unfinished fury on steroids. Not metal, just rough and chaotic. But what’s a first listen… In this case? Very misleading. Enter song six, Aeons, and notice the complete change in atmosphere. Chaos and aggression make way for poetic melancholy. Here vocalist Ian Kenny wonders if he’ll ever be able to breathe again, when his lungs fill with fire. Cause in his veins it’s burning. When he’ll see again, who will still remain here? In the end, he sings about chemical fires signalling we’re dead. Asymmetry is tragic, but don’t we all agree that sad songs are often also the most beautiful? If 2013 had one best album to offer, it would be this one, in my humble opinion. Why?
Listen to those last two sentences of We Are. It’s among the best the album has to offer. You’ll picture the end of an apocalyptic disaster movie in which a big city is flooded (style The Day After Tomorrow) and replace the sounds of panic, waves, gunshots and cries of despair by soft classical music. Asymmetry should definitely be listened to from beginning to end, like you’d read a book or watch a movie. On the other hand, there are signs of hope. Fragile soundscapes and tearing-apart discordance epitomise them. The one recurring element is Ian Kenny’s magical voice, always fitting to the soul of the song, whether it be the rough first half or the mesmerising second half of the record. Just listen to Float. This song, along with We Are, Aeons, Eidolon, Sky Machine and Alpha Omega are among the best of the album.
The nostalgic ending song Om makes me think of Anathema’s Internal Landscapes: an old man, at the end of his life, reminiscing about the past, his regrets and how the world is changing so fast. The song is carried by soft and warm piano sounds and the hope for a sunnier future is vanishing with every second. Despite the apparent pessimism, you just want to start Asymmetry all over again from track one. After these 67 minutes, the world seems like a desolate place in which history has been erased, but it also provides a clear blank sheet you can write on according to your own ideals. Our task is to decide on the content, that is Karnivool’s message.