Karnivool emerged as one of the bigger names in the progressive rock/metal space in the mid-2000s, as they were successfully able to merge some of the complexities of prog with sweeping choruses and memorable hooks. Their earlier days leaned a bit more nu-metal, but by 2009’s Sound Awake the band had solidified their sound as one that had widespread appeal. Karnivool followed Sound Awake up with Asymmetry in 2013, which saw them tweaking their approach and opting for even more complexity. It was the type of album that clicked with some listeners and not others but showcased the group’s ability to continue experimenting. In the years that followed things would remain quiet on the studio front for quite some time and I’d check every so often to see if there was any hint of new material. That silence has finally been broken close to thirteen years later, and thankfully In Verses doesn’t disappoint. It strikes a middle ground between Karnivool’s different eras, bringing back some of the heaviness of their debut, the mesmerizing hooks of Sound Awake, and some of the exploration from Asymmetry while continuing to move things forward.
In Verses has an incredible opening run, as its first three tracks showcase multiple sides of the band’s sound with memorable songwriting to back it up. Opener “Ghost” opts for appropriately subdued textures for the first minute or so before exploding into room filling, heavy instrumentation. The interplay between the softer melodies and powerful bass and guitar riffs makes for a strong first impression, and the way the song ebbs and flows showcases Karnivool’s continued ability to have a progressive foundation but deliver it in a way that keeps the listener engaged. “Drone” is a bit shorter and direct, adopting more of a darker slant to its melodies, while “Aozora” has one of the most powerful choruses the band has ever written. In Verses’ second half is no slouch either, but it does have more songs that are a slow burn and grab you more and more with each time through. “Reanimation” and “Opal” emphasize the melodies (the former features a solo from Guthrie Govan), giving off a bit more of a pop aesthetic but running it through post rock type build-ups, while closer “Salva” shakes up the rhythms more and even has a Celtic flair near the end. What struck me with each time through was how well this fourth album captures everything Karnivool is about without seeming like it’s merely repeating what they’ve done before. The band has smartly expanded upon a little bit of everything, retaining some of Asymmetry’s abstractness and fluidity but letting the catchier and heavier elements draw in people who might not care about the technical details as much.
Ian Kenny’s singing is an element that has helped Karnivool grab listeners over their lengthy career, as the way he is able to move from more subdued and introspective pitches over to ones that soar over the recording makes a big difference. Some of the softer moments still give off similarities to Maynard James Keenan circa some of Tool’s earlier material, but Kenny has always had a style of his own and even after all this time the performance is just as strong. The way his voice expands outwards on the choruses alongside the impactful lyrics makes songs like “Aozora”, “Conversations”, and “Salva” stick with you from the very first listen, stacking up to some of the best moments from across Karnivool’s discography. While the pitch may often be on the softer end, there’s a sharpness to the performance that adds to the emotional impact and this continues to give the band an advantage over some of their other progressive oriented peers.
Despite the decade long gap, In Verses makes it clear that Karnivool hasn’t lost any of their impact. It doesn’t quite topple Sound Awake for me but may just slot in at number two thanks to how strong the material is from beginning to end. The second half is more of a slow burn, but the group’s ability to take some of the complexities of prog and fuse them with accessible hooks remains unmatched and make this an early 2026 highlight. It’s great to have Karnivool back, and hopefully the next gap between releases isn’t quite as long. In Verses is available from Cymatic/The Orchard.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg