Asymmetry (Karnivool album)


Asymmetry is the third studio album by Australian progressive rock band Karnivool. It is their first release in over four years, since Sound Awake. It was released on 19 July 2013. The album's first single, "We Are", was released, along with an accompanying music video, released on 14 June 2013.

Background

After extensive worldwide touring in support of their second album, Sound Awake,
Karnivool took a break in 2010 so that vocalist Ian Kenny could work with his other band, Birds of Tokyo. The band would reconvene in 2011, when they would alternate between working on writing new music and performing on their "Melodias Frescas" tour through Australia. The band wrote the album over a two-year span, and then recorded it over a three-month span. The band worked with American music producer Nick DiDia. Drew Goddard said about the album title: "Asymmetry to me is about two sides of the coin and the beauty in imperfection. Also about seeing beyond duality".

Promotion and release

On 14 June 2013, the band announced that the album would release on 19 July 2013, and would be followed by a national tour to support the release. The first studio track from the album to be heard was "The Refusal", which was first played on radio station Triple J on 19 May 2013. The band revealed their first single on 2 June 2013 at Perth's State of the Art festival. On 14 June 2013, the band released the music video for "We Are", which was directed by Chris Frey.

Reception

The album received generally positive reviews, with review aggregator Metacritic, assigning an average score of 82 out of 100, based on five reviews. New Noise Magazine gave Asymmetry a positive review, saying "Asymmetry literally takes what we know from Karnivool – the Tool influenced soundscape, throbbing metal riffs and fantastic structural passages – and kicks them up a notch. Way up a notch. I can honestly say that this is one of the best Karnivool releases that I’ve ever heard and that’s saying a great deal." The AU Review gave the album 8.9 out of 10, stating that "the fantastic metal riffs and punishing drumbeats that are scattered in amongst the quieter, almost contemplative moments on the record really make it shine and stand out amongst the other Karnivool records..." The Music gave the album a positive review, saying that "Asymmetry is challenging and complex yet intricate and delicate at times. It is not an easy listen but that is not what you would expect from a band of this depth. This album demands contemplation and deserves it." LifeMusicMedia also praised the album, arguing that "Asymmetry is likely to be the most rewarding, innovative release of the year." VH1 has rated the album 8/10, stating that "Asymmetry is exactly the album Karnivool needed to put out, and more so, an album that will cement them as pioneers of the ‘progressive’ faction."

Track listing

Deluxe edition DVD track listing

  1. "Simple Boy"
  2. "Goliath"
  3. "Shutterspeed"
  4. "C.O.T.E."
  5. "New Day"
  6. "Fear of the Sky"
  7. "Deadman"
  8. "All I Know"
  9. "Umbra"
  10. "Themata"
  11. "Set Fire to the Hive"
  12. "Roquefort"
  13. "Change"
Note