Listening to Karnivool: Asymmetry, Part 1

[@carlmanu]

Underrated album that most people overlooked because “it wasn’t like Sound Awake” but a masterpiece nonetheless.

[@thewaxbiscuit]

100%

[@slamduncan4794]

So glad you're giving Karnivool another listen, this is such an underrated album among fans in my opinion. We Are (all in 4/4 by the way) is probably one of my favourite songs of all time at this point. Sky Machine is another one off this one that I really love, I heard it's also the band favourite on Asymmetry. At the end of the day, Sound Awake is the Karnivool album I enjoy the most though, such an amazing ride from start to finish. Would love to hear your take on that one at some point. Either way, have a good one, Jim! Cheers!

[@carlmanu]

‘We are’ is a very unorthodox 4/4 though.

[@schpleeb]

I always interpreted We Are in a slow 3/4 that leads slightly early, if you get my meaning. Amazing groove either way

[@slamduncan4794]

@@schpleeb that's the beauty of it, it appears and can be counted in 3/4, but follow the kick drum and it's a clean 4/4. Every part of the song will fall into place, especially the seemingly off-beat drums during the chorus.

[@jonathandoud1]

We are is in 12/8 which is basically 4 groups of 3. BD on beat 1 of each group of 3. So, this gives it the "triplet" feel yet allows him to keep the BD on each beat.

[@shiv_ring]

Thanks for chosing this. One of my all-time favorites.

[@philliplomax6839]

Amazing Album this is! Cant wait for their next album..

[@MusicWithToddLedbetter]

Wow, that was so much better than I was expecting, I loved this so much. Thanks for introducing them to me, I've heard of them before, just never gave them a listen. So much to enjoy here. No regrets, Todd

[@Gravityys]

Listen to Sound Awake immediately. These guys don't have a bad record but that album is simply something else.

[@antimatter7683]

@@Gravityys agree wholeheartedly, genuine masterpiece

[@antimatter7683]

as @gravity suggested, listen to sound awake immediately, you probably wont regret it

[@MusicWithToddLedbetter]

@@antimatter7683 I just started it.

[@JimNewstead]

Glad you enjoyed it! Glad to see you taking them to your channel too! Well done sir!

[@mpd370]

LOVE IT!!! Glad to see you back. Glad you’re well. One million times happy for the Karnivool reaction. ❤️❤️

[@19RaxR91]

Dude, dont apologize for not liking something _everyone else_ does. Personally, Ive heard "Themata" numerous times, and I dont connect with it either, as the whole melodic motif the song is based around is something I find aesthetically unpalatable anyway. I get that the song might be a favorite to a lot of Karnivool fans and thats perfectly alright - it just would be really nice, if they would express the same kind of understanding towards the opinions of others. Pettiness out of the way, dude, Im Sooo happy to find this reaction, as I myself only recently started getting into "Asymmetry". I have been falling for "Sound Awake" harder with each new listen for the past 2 years, yet at first listen "Asymmetry" failed to grab me. That said, a couple of months ago I finally was in a mood to finally try it another time, and it was still definitely challenging, but it became clear its actually Worth it! Cant wait to get your entire take on the album.

[@andypanz]

Guys 10th december they release new single "All It Takes"

[@lineatus]

If you love it then listen to Sound Awake, one of the best prog albuns all time

[@schpleeb]

You’re a legend for this Jim. Criminally underrated band I feel ❤️. Edit - cannot believe they broke up the transition between We Are and The Refusal. A necessary evil I suppose

[@JimNewstead]

Thanks!

[@Gravityys]

This album is overshadowed by Sound Awake and Themata but is still a great listen imo.

[@Gravityys]

Speaking of bands you've reviewed a long time ago, how about some Oceansize Jim?

[@JimNewstead]

Oh wow! Yes, Oceansize - forgotten them!

[@Gravityys]

@@JimNewstead Time to put Everyone Into Position on your shopping list then! But they really are a great band, surprised you haven't dug more into their music considering how much you seemed to like Music for a Nurse.

[@wastagwaga]

@@Gravityys So happy to see another Oceansize fan, though I'd recommend Effloresce first.

[@Gravityys]

@@wastagwaga Either would do really, it's just that Everyone Into Position sounds closer to some of the Prog bands Jim's checked out on the channel before.

[@Yosef1952]

Themata and Sound Awake are also brilliant. Every single number on both of them.

[@Pulsed101]

'We Are' is pure magic. I just love this band.

[@MisterWondrous]

For a debtor prison, Australia sure breeds the creativity. New to me. Thanks man! Cheers!

[@kronsenborgins9425]

Have conmented before, massive massive fan of this album, but still think Sound Awake will blow your mind. Please oh please do a reaction to Sound Awake on vinyl. It is a proper MAS TER PIECE

[@markdrechsler5660]

The Hoodoo Gurus. Totally forgot about them. I don’t think I’ve heard this Karnivool album, so I’m along for the ride.

[@JimNewstead]

Magnum-cum-Louder was the album. I've got in the collection somewhere!

[@markdrechsler5660]

@@JimNewstead I had the “Kinky” album.

[@troydaaussie1143]

Ian Kenny is the lead singer of Birds of Tokyo too 3 albums for Karnivool and 6 for Birds of Tokyo hopefully they make another Karnivool album.

[@scrubsscrubs694]

What a great album. If you haven't seen it yet I suggest you relisten to We Are off of this album then go watch the live performance of it on triple J radio station. The video is on youtube and will completely change your opinion on that songs time signature

[@MyOvercoat]

Jim you play the Didgeridoo? You should watch some of early Thewillstyle videos. Their didg style is awesome, especially Mark Robinson. Cheers.

[@JimNewstead]

Yes, but not very well!

[@joshualangley1060]

Jimmy please can you go back and listen to the themata album 💿 so many great songs on there for the year that it was brought out.

[@JimNewstead]

I will.

[@arthurmol6875]

Great

[@asherror]

Karnivools best record by a long margin

[@JimNewstead]

Ok…. So many different opinions on this record!

[@asherror]

@@JimNewstead It is a polarising record for sure. All 3 of their LPs have different tones and I hope this new one they are set to drop on us continues this theme.

[@Pulsed101]

Sound Awake is my favorite but Asymmetry is amazing.

[@jamesthemachinedean]

Sound awake is by far their best album and themata is the second best. For me this is the weakest album but it's still a very good listen. Looking forward to seeing the other sides when you put them up. Just a comment on the live part, I've seen them live twice and got tickets to see them next May. They are even better live and are releasing a blu ray on 10th of December which is fantastic as I paid to watch it live streamed well worth a buy when it's out.

[@Cuzjudd]

Agreed. Me being from Perth, I've been them about 20 times live haha

[@jamesthemachinedean]

@@Cuzjudd lucky you, you seen birds of tokyo? A lot more pop than karnivool but bakers son sounds like how Ian Kenny does in karnivool

[@Cuzjudd]

@@jamesthemachinedean Yeah first saw them in about 2006, love a lot of their earlier, rockier stuff. I know the old bassist Anthony, his brother was in my year at school

[@jamesthemachinedean]

@@Cuzjudd that's crazy haha. I like all their stuff because everything Ian Kenny is I is just pure gold

[@pasit1738]

The first album I heard from Karnivool was the Sound Awake and it was/is great. With high expectations I went forward to listen to the Asymmetry and some how I was disappointed. Though I love the chaos of the Mars Volta, I found this album not clicking for me. The basic reason was the drummer who's very, very talented without a doubt, but... I think he breaks rhythm patterns up too much just for a sake of skill and ruins the songs with over-whelming complexity. It gives a feeling of forced creation process with a lots of pressure. That being said, there is many good moments in this album, thou. The band sound is great and I do wait for their next album.

[@IllumeEltanin]

Good to see you, Jim. How is toddler Newstead feeling? I watched all the way through, so I think I gave it a fair shot. Still not for me; I assume this means I would not care for the other bands you mention in this video. I did like the slowed down, repetitive lines at the end about wisdom/vision/witness.

[@jamesthemachinedean]

Check out new day or deadman by them, these 3 songs played on this video aint the catchiest and take a while to get into.

[@dfbovey]

I love Karnivool but wasn't a big fan of the production on this album. The drums in particular and the way they were mixed was pretty grating. Have you given Oceansize a try? If you like Karnivool, they are in the exact same wheelhouse of art/progressive rock

[@ryanpritt4849]

Omg u picked the wrong album! Sound Awake is one of the greatest records of all time.

[@JimNewstead]

Ah well! What can you do?

[@ryanpritt4849]

@@JimNewstead ha. I realize now that comment sounded a bit angry… oh the subtleties that get lost in print. No, Asymmetry is definitely a good record, just way different. I think I was more just hoping you’d give “Sound Awake” a spin sometime as well. It’s a special, special record man. Probably No. 2 all time for me behind only Lateralus.

[@palantir135]

Never heard about them. Love the first part; relax, don’t do it. Second song: it’s indeed a mix of styles; some I like, some I don’t. I don’t like the second part very much. Too much noise (yes, it’s controlled noise but not the one I like. Devin Townsend does that way better to my taste). Next song is a little better…. but still…mmm. I get very tired of listening to this. I found a dark folk band from Siberia: Nytt land. Amazing throat singing. See U- Gra. Album Ritual.

[@JimNewstead]

I get it Palantir, thanks for trying!

[@lesblatnyak5947]

pretty ordinary. Now for something real different Octopus by Gentle Giant.

[@jamesthemachinedean]

Far from ordinary band just not the band at their full potential, wrong album for that

[@anxiousdreamers7120]

Faaaaaaaaar from ordinary!.. (but i really hate A.M.War....)

[@billnole2188]

I have Sound Awake and like it very much. There seems to be several bands out playing this style of rock/metal.