Recently I was exposed to yet another Australian band making serious waves in the music scene, albeit sad I am reaching back into 2009 to uncover this gem called Sound Awake by the band Karnivool. The band name stems from the fact all the members were originally described as “a bunch of clowns” in their hometown of Perth, but let me assure you this album is a far from funny, it is a crowning musical achievement. Prog rock takes a new form, with heavy influence from A Perfect Circle, Chevelle and fellow Aussies The Butterfly Effect.

Like so many albums the intro track is what sets the tone for the entire release, and the track “Simple Boy” lets the listener know this is going to be serious. Ian Kenny belts forth vocals that would make Maynard proud, and although they are laid lightly over a robust bass line and echoing guitar riffs the impact is nothing shy of impressive. “Set Fire to the Hive” is the first single from the album, and also the shortest track. Rapid-fire guitar play dares the drummer to keep pace, while angry vocals echo amidst the controlled chaos that is this track. “All I Know” gives the album a reprieve from the breakneck speed most of the album embodies, offering a healthy dose of atmospherics while lead guitarist Drew Goddard shows his skill with a slide and delay.

Selling out shows in Australia has not been a problem for Karnivool, but their recognition has been sluggish here in the States. Recently launching a tour with American rockers Fair To Midland in February, in addition to playing a flurry of showcases at this years SXSW festival in Austin, will surely help rectify the recognition issue. Despite the heavier nature of many tracks on Sound Awake many are quite radio friendly, so I am very curious to see if the radio stations here in the States pick up on this and start helping spread the word about these Aussie hard rock heroes. If you are going to be one of the many concertgoers hitting up SXSW this year I highly recommend checking these guys out, but first you can hit up Amazon for their album here: