Sound Awake

On Karnivool’s second album, the Aussies make a gutsy leap from aggressive alt-metal to complex prog. Singer Ian Kenny shows off his Brit-rock-style falsetto, while drop-tuned guitars meet fretwork bathed in reverb. The extended pieces "Deadman" and "Change" showcase the band's ambition: The latter, piercing the 10-minute mark, is built upon rolling tabla and drum-corps beats that will leave you dizzy. The band's aggro vibe hasn’t mellowed entirely though: “Set Fire to the Hive” is a hornet's nest of buzzing riffs and twisted fuzz bass.