This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.
Sound Awake is the second studio album by Australian rock band Karnivool, released in Australia on 5 June 2009. At the J Awards of 2009, the album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year. At the 2010 West Australian Music Industry Awards, the album won Most Popular Album. The album follows a four-year gap since their debut studio album Themata in 2005. Sound Awake was produced by Forrester Savell (The Butterfly Effect, Dallas Frasca) and recorded at Perth's Blackbird and Kingdom Studios over several months. It was later mixed at Melbourne's Sing Sing Studios and mastered by Tom Coyne (DJ Shadow, The Roots) at Sterling Sounds in New York City. AllMusic wrote that "The core of alternative/nu metal that brought the group success on its debut album, Themata, still holds throughout the bulk of [Sound Awake], but there are little touches of something else." The songs on Sound Awake are longer than those on Themata, and more in common stylistically with progressive rock than any of the band's previous work.
Very nice surprise. A band totally unknown to me, but it felt like nostalgia. 16 year old me would have bought the album immediately
Blew my mind. Thought it would be piss-poor numetal. Instead, it's thoughtful prog rock displaying incredible talent. Need to dig deeper on this band.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Set fire to the hive, All i know, The caudal lure, Change
Enjoyed this a lot
I started off thinking this was very much like yesterday’s Tool album. And maybe it is, but I think I enjoyed it a bit more. While it isn’t yet a five for me, I think it could get there. I really like the long, epic final two songs which enticed me to listen to it a second time which increased my appreciation.
Nice and heavy, lots going on musically to like, complex and layered. A great listen tbh. Initially my reaction was I'm not sure how much more anger we need in the world, even as grown up and polished as this is. At least that's how I'm feeling today as grievance torches my retirement. But while there's intensity here for sure, with a closer listen I realize it's more emotionally nuanced than I first thought and ultimately I'm a sucker for some horns. I wasn't previously aware of Karnivool so I appreciate the share.
Nice metal album. Sometimes sounding a bit too much like tool. I do not really like the ballads (f.e. New Day), but that probably is a matter of personal taste as they are favorites of a lot of listeners.
Didn't love this. I like a lot of progressive rock from the 70s, but for some reason the more modern progressive rock doesn't usually connect with me. 3 stars.
A pretty cool prog rock metal album that seems to be very influenced by tool. I like tool so this was a good listen for me. Never heard of this band before but I would relisten to this album. The hard riffs mixed with the understandable lyrics is always a good combo. 6.6/10
not terrifyingly bad. not terrible, either. I guess it's saying the same thing. Not a whole lot going on with this album that I could get.
This was really good. Musically nuanced, with a weighty sound. Rock solid instrumentation and an excellent vocalist in Ian Kenny. Fave Songs: Umbra, Goliath, Simple Boy, New Day, The Caudal Lure, Set Fire to the Hive
Interesting, new-to-me heavy/alt rock, a lot of Pearl Jam DNA, but shot through with shades running from Pink Floyd to Radiohead. Overly self-serious as this genre tends to be, but a cut above the general pack musically.
Better than I expected
This one didn't do much for me.
Alternative metal, progressive metal, progressive rock. Ni fu ni fa.
I've tried to get into these guys over the years. A bunch of my mates are into them and I saw them live a few years ago (gotta credit them for playing in Coffs Harbour) but... eh? I'm not a big tool fan, and they just sound like tool. It's pretty competent, but it's not my thing. 3/5.
This album is pretty interesting for being part of the nu metal genre at sort of the tail end of that genre (at least as far as I'm aware). It's definitely good in parts, but it starts to sound like a lot of other things I've heard in other parts too. The real strength of this album is the production. There's a lot of good stuff that I think would be missed if it wasn't mixed and mastered so well. The sound is super crisp, and the texture of the bass really comes through. 3/5
I would give this a 3.5 after an initial listen. I think there is potential here.
Two things. One, I feel like Australian music was given short shrift in the original list, and I'm glad that it is getting rectified here... But this wasn't hugely for me - if I had to pick a hugely underrated Aussie metal band, I think I'd have gone with Voyager.
Really good modern prog metal album, not my cup of tea but can help but respect the complexity of the music on show here.
Didn’t float my boat, but didn’t sink it either.
This LP can’t figure out what it wants to be – there’s a great instrumental basis, and the band clearly knows how to execute on some decent prog metal, but there’s too many detours into other genres and influences to allow this album time (even at 80 minutes long!) to develop a sound of its own. Could’ve gone for more of the growling, glassy bass lines and heavier tracks, and the thin vocals didn’t help either.
What if butt rock but Australian?
I don't really like this type of vocal performances, but the musicians are great. I don't feel like the songs get any better throughout the album and they stay very average.
Ah yes more cringe emo music exactly what I asked for. Wasn’t as terrible as some of the other ones I guess.
Sound asleep
I started and stopped this so many times Apple Music tried to give me Karnivool radio. Never got into it never finished. High brow metal