Karnivool - IN VERSES (2026)

I wanted this to hit harder than it did. Technically, it’s everything you’d expect from Karnivool — layered guitars, intricate rhythmic frameworks, dynamic builds that suggest something monumental is coming. But the problem is exactly that: too often it suggests rather than fully delivers. The tension builds, the textures expand, and then instead of catharsis, I get restraint.

There’s craft here, no doubt. The production is spacious, the performances tight, and the atmosphere carefully constructed. But emotionally, it feels cautious — like the band is more interested in refinement than risk. After such a long gap, I expected sharper contrasts, bigger turns, or at least one track that felt unavoidable. Instead, I get a well-made progressive album that rarely escapes its own control.

It’s solid. It’s intelligent. It just doesn’t grip me the way their peak material did.

 3 Pros

1. High-level musicianship – Rhythmic precision and layered guitar work remain elite; the band still sounds technically confident.

2. Textural depth – Strong atmospheric production; space and dynamics are handled with maturity.

3. Cohesive tone – The album maintains a unified sonic identity without veering into chaos.

 3 Cons

1. Limited payoff – Many builds don’t resolve with enough emotional or structural punch.

2. Safe progression – Feels like evolution by refinement, not reinvention or risk.

3. Replay gravity is moderate – Impressive on paper, but not magnetic in practice.

Genre: Progressive Rock
Country: Australia

Final Verdict: 65% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 37th / 125

Highlight: Salva


Made me think of:
Tool
Porcupine Tree
Riverside

#newalbum #newalbum2026 #albumrelease #newmusic #albumoftheday #nowspinning #NowPlaying #musicdiscovery
#ProgressiveRock #Karnivool #Australia
#LP #Album #release

 

Previous

Next