It is a biting autumn evening around Moore Park as the crowd filter in for the glorious return of Perth's prog metal poster-boys Karnivool.
A tingling anticipation hangs in the air as patrons file in and out of the bar area, the smell of beer wafting through.Sleep Talk kick down the front door of the night (25 May), sizzling synths filtering through the air as they launch into a furious cacophony of crashing cymbals. Frontman Jacob Clement is deeply engaging, his face strains as he expresses vigorously, pumping his fist.
The bass pumps an intriguing introduction to the next song, before some seriously impressive shredding from Fraser Ray. I mean, seriously impressive. They are slick and tight, definitely one to watch.
Karnivool enter pulling no punches, thrashing right in with 'All It Takes'. The aqua lights spasm as frontman Ian Kenny's signature vocals cry out, calling you into an experience while promising, "I'll follow you down". The toms thud aggressively as high guitar chords drive the song. It ends abruptly.
"How's everyone feeling?" Kenny asks. "We hope you're feeling good. Whatever we can do to lift you up a level tonight, we're gunna do it. We're gunna raise the f...ing roof," he declares.
'C.O.T.E.' starts, as the crowd scream with recognition. White lights pump as the rhythmic guitar scratches away. "Have you listened lately?" Kenny asks, the crowd singing every word. The band cuts out for the breakdown, as a single purple beam shoots across the stage. Strings weep gently, before the fury returns.
Something indescribable in the music unlocks your emotions. It is a bitter, bitter sweetness that feels so good. 'Goliath' brings the biggest scream of the night so far. The guitar rhythms are perfectly memorable and enticing as the song's layers build expertly. A sonic story unfolds before you, receding away too soon.
"Who made that trill whistle?" Kenny asks the crowd. "I wish I could do that sound with my face." "You do better sounds," one patron affirms.
"Let's take this to the next level. We're gunna raise the roof. F... you roof!" Kenny yells raising his finger. "I should have felt something," he sings from 'Mauseum', the stage flooding orange before descending into flashing madness.
The show's intensity does not abate. 'Simple Boy' takes a heavier turn as the room sway their heads back and forth in the blue haze. These songs simply sound so, so good.
'Aozora' keeps things moving right along, as the lights blend a perfect combination of orange and purple that reflect a sunrise. "We're waiting for the great escape," the room sings as one.
The song showcases some impressive, thrashing 16th note transitions that are smooth as butter. The rhythm continually swings between half time and double time, illustrating the oscillation between waiting and panic brilliantly. Did I mention this sounds really good?
The crowd is decidedly split with a pleasantly large number of women present for a metal gig. Karnivool's appeal is clearly wide.
'Set Fire To The Hive' thumps under psychotic red lights as the crowd give all their dancing might, before Kenny cries "release me," for 'Animation'. His voice is deeply evocative and moving.
'Roquefort' is the heaviest song of the night, the crowd moshing the most they can in the packed space, before 'Themata' is Kenny's every wish come true, as the crowd jump high enough to blow the roof off.
"It's so good to see this world is alive," Kenny sings and the world is indeed alive here tonight. "Thank you for sharing this with us from the bottom of our hearts," he thanks the audience at the song's conclusion.
'Aeons' is surprisingly low for so late in the set but fear not, it shunts into fifth gear courtesy of a cracking kick drum taking off with a nice touch of sentimentality. "Alright, that's the end. Thanks for coming," Kenny jokes before reassuring, "nah I'm just f...ing with you. Can't end on 'Aeons', that's f...ing weird. Maybe we will tomorrow night," he laughs.
"Show me what you got!" he yells for final song 'New Day'. The crowd takes the first verse while Kenny expresses his enjoyment. In the breakdown, your mind explodes as you're overwhelmed by so much sound that it fill every space in your entire reality, but is so good at the same time. It is truly a one of a kind experience.
No encore follows and that feels right as you head back out into the harsh reality of a freezing night.
It is difficult, nay impossible, to understand how Karnivool do it. They take you somewhere deep inside yourself instantaneously, yet it feels warm and comfortable doing it. They are an astounding act I would rue to miss ever again.
