In 1996, Kenny began by recruiting two of his high school classmates (Andrew Brown/Brett McKenzie) to play Carcass and Nirvana covers at several gigs around Perth. At this time, both Karnivool's current bassist and lead guitarist were attending a conservatorium to study jazz guitar and drums respectively. In 1998, Andrew Goddard joined Karnivool on bass, and from there they began writing original material. Soon Andrew "Drew" Goddard was switched to lead guitar, Andrew Brown and Brett McKenzie were replaced by Jon Stockman (bass) and Ray Hawking (percussion). The band have since released several singles and two EPs, Themata and most recently their sophomore record, Sound Awake. Currently Karnivool consists of Ian Kenny on lead vocals (also one quarter of Birds of Tokyo), Andrew "Drew" Goddard on lead guitar, Mark Hosking on rhythm guitar (both a part of Revolucion Street and an accompaniment for The Cat Empire while they are on tour), Jon Stockman on bass (one fifth of Floating Me) and Steve Judd (originally the drummer for Hope Here Gone which has now disbanded, replaced Hawking in 2004 as a "permanent gun for hire"). Goddard and Stockman also contributed guitar and bass parts to Pendulum's record Hold Your Colour released in 2005.
Themata: Their debut album was named after Themata, an old Greek word; the plural of Thema. A Thema is a gut assumption or intuition about the workings of the world or life itself, a philosophy you can’t prove with hard evidence, but something you instinctively know is right and are willing to back. For the recordings of Themata, they used guitars tuned in the tuning of B-F#-B-G-B-E, a hybrid tuning of Dropped-B (low strings) and Standard E (high strings). Guitarist Andrew Goddard said that this was because he forgot the high strings while detuning and that he liked the complexity. Andrew "Drew" Goddard wrote the tracks for Themata as well as playing drums throughout the recording of the album, he commented too that he often plays guitar like he does drums. Karnivool only actually played the songs off Themata together as a band after the album was recorded, according to Drew. The record was not written with any real foresight, which is evident in many of the song titles and lyrics (Roquefort is actually a strong smelling French cheese, Mauseum is a word "from the depths of Jon's mind" (Drew Goddard) and C.O.T.E. means Center of the Earth), and Karnivool's writing process was dysfunctional and slow going.
Sound Awake: After returning from the US, and completing their slot in the 2008 Big Day Out, the band headed back into the studio to write their follow-up to Themata.
In an interview with X-Press Magazine, guitarist Andrew Goddard said that the new album was a huge step up from Themata. He also said that the writing process of the new record had been more of a collaborative group effort by the band than previous works, and that they were going to go into the studio with a new recording strategy: that is, trying to focus less on the minute details, and put together a more natural sounding album. Karnivool released their long-awaited second album on June 5, 2009.
During live performances in the Aeons Tour, they played three new songs, titled "Goliath", "Deadman" and "Pearogram", as well as "New Day", which had been played at previous shows. At their performance at Homebake in 2008, they debuted a fifth new song entitled "Set Fire to the Hive". The new songs appeared to have a more mature vibe, but still bore resemblance to the band's other work. The album was one of the most anticipated Australian releases for 2009. In an interview with Channel V, Ian Kenny stated that after the success of the Aeons Tour, the band's next tour would be based on a similar layout which brings a new impression on the typical rock show.
On the 26 April 2009, two days before schedule, the band's first single from Sound Awake, "Set Fire to the Hive", was released on the band's MySpace page. The video for the single, confirmed by the band earlier, was released on the 9 May 2009. Sound Awake was set to be released internationally in early 2010.
Sound Awake entered and peaked 2nd on the ARIA charts, following this, just over a month after the release the band announced via their MySpace Sound Awake had gone 'Gold'.
Deadman
Karnivool Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Changing my mind
Changing the weather
I feel it at first
A blow from the dark
Take it for better
How I define myself
Blacker the bruise
Coming up clear
Vow to get better
Blessed with a curse
Hoping not far
The deeper, the better
I needed
I needed to know
I needed
I needed to know, why
Oh no
This can't be happening
Oh no
This can't be happening
Hate
Is a door
A fever burning for more
A red light
In your mind
That I feed on
You must've been so surprised to see
That you were staring back at me
Caught in a web, now
Out on your own
You've got nothing to stay for
Or so you keep saying
This year it's coming
And guess what we're running from
Too late for running
The stitches are coming undone
Grab your belongings
The exit is near
Making your way through
Indecisiveness
I needed
I needed to know
I needed
I needed to know, why
Oh no
This can't be happening
Oh no
This can't be happening
This myth is meant to die
You're coming blind in this madness
I'll bide all of my time for your love
Come on, crooked man you'll die
Like excuses pouring out a child
Sing: "S.O.S. you saint"
But make room for laughter
No man tried here
This water's dark and cold
God's not where you hoped
In this moment come and gone
It's too late, mayday
Call out: "Mayday!"
While I'm still alive
Hey, no matter
I don't want this to end
I don't want this to end
I don't want this to end
I don't think this will end well
Hey
There goes my love again
No-one's
Coming now
Hey
Out on my own again
Fading face
Broken frown
Hey
I guess I'm fucked up again
No-one
Will find out
Hey
Stare at your feet again
Don't say
You don't know
This water's dark and cold
God's not where you hoped
In this moment come and gone
It's time we all moved on
It's time we all moved on
It's time we all moved on
Away!
Still I remind myself
How I define myself
Still I remind myself
(I needed to know)
How I define myself
(I needed to know)
I needed to know
I needed
I needed to know
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
So if you like the sound of
The glass that breaks against the wall
I'd trade it all for several
Pieces of your anger
I am the interest of your heart
Say: "This would wash away"
I'm climbing this rope, I feel God
Would I care to stare you down?
I portray you in different light
The song Deadman by Karnivool is a complex and introspective piece that reflects on the personal journey of the singer as they navigate the twisting path of their own existence. The lyrics speak of shifting perspectives, changing conditions, and the inescapable nature of fate. The opening lines set the tone, with the singer acknowledging the fluidity of their mindset and environment, as though both were subject to uncontrollable forces.
The themes of self-reflection and self-doubt dominate the song, with the singer expressing a need to define themselves in the face of an uncertain future. The chorus is a repetition of the lines "I needed to know, why/Oh no, this can't be happening", which suggest a sense of desperation and urgency. The emotions expressed are raw and unguarded, with the singer grappling with feelings of helplessness and confusion. The use of metaphor and symbolism add depth and complexity to the lyrics, with references to bruises, webs, and darkness alluding to the pain and damage caused by life's hardships.
One of the key strengths of the song is its use of vivid imagery and poetic language. The imagery is often dark and intense, reflecting the singer's inner turmoil and apprehension. The references to hate, burning fever, and red lights all highlight the idea of danger lurking just beneath the surface. The song also displays a great deal of musical nuance, with the instruments and vocals complementing each other to create a rich and textured soundscape.
Line by Line Meaning
Changing the tone
Shifting the mood
Changing my mind
Altering my perspective
Changing the weather
Manipulating the atmosphere
I feel it at first
I sense something initially
A blow from the dark
A hit from the unknown
Take it for better
Accept it for improvement
Still I remind myself
I continue to recall
How I define myself
What makes me who I am
Blacker the bruise
The darker the mark
Coming up clear
Becoming more evident
Vow to get better
Pledge to improve
Blessed with a curse
Favored with a burden
Hoping not far
Anticipating with nothing far away
The deeper, the better
The more challenging, the more rewarding
I needed
I had to have it
I needed to know
I desired to understand
This can't be happening
I can't believe this is occurring
Hate
Intense dislike
Is a door
Serves as a gateway
A fever burning for more
A passion for increasing intensity
A red light
A warning sign
In your mind
Internalized
That I feed on
That sustains me
You must've been so surprised to see
You didn't expect to see
That you were staring back at me
I was the reflection you saw
Caught in a web, now
Trapped in a situation
Out on your own
All alone
You've got nothing to stay for
No reason to remain
Or so you keep saying
At least that's what you claim
This year it's coming
It's approaching this year
And guess what we're running from
We're trying to escape
Too late for running
Escaping is no longer an option
The stitches are coming undone
The repairs are failing
Grab your belongings
Take your possessions
The exit is near
The way out is close
Making your way through
Navigating through
Indecisiveness
The inability to make a decision
This myth is meant to die
This fiction has to come to an end
You're coming blind in this madness
You're approaching this chaos without foresight
I'll bide all of my time for your love
I'll wait endlessly for your affection
Come on, crooked man you'll die
You'll perish, devious person
Like excuses pouring out a child
Like justifications from an immature person
Sing: "S.O.S. you saint"
Sing a cry for help
But make room for laughter
Do not forget to find humor
No man tried here
No one attempted to help
This water's dark and cold
This liquid is murky and chilly
God's not where you hoped
The divine being is not present
In this moment come and gone
This fleeting instant
It's too late, mayday
It's too late, an emergency signal
Call out: "Mayday!"
Yell for help
While I'm still alive
While I'm still breathing
I don't want this to end
I dread the conclusion
I don't think this will end well
I have doubts it will finish positively
There goes my love again
My adoration is disappearing
No-one's coming now
Nobody is coming to assist
Out on my own again
Back to being alone
Fading face
Disappearing expression
Broken frown
Cracked scowl
I guess I'm fucked up again
I must be messed up once again
No-one will find out
Nobody will discover
Stare at your feet again
Glare downward once more
Don't say you don't know
Don't deny understanding
It's time we all moved on
We all need to advance
Away!
Leave!
(I needed to know)
(I had to have it)
(I needed to know)
(I had to understand)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Vocalization
So if you like the sound of
If you appreciate the noise of
The glass that breaks against the wall
Shattering glass hitting the wall
I'd trade it all for several
I would surrender all of it for numerous
Pieces of your anger
Parts of your fury
I am the interest of your heart
I am the focus of your affection
Say: "This would wash away"
Declare: "This would disappear"
I'm climbing this rope, I feel God
Ascending with this rope, I sense a divine being
Would I care to stare you down?
Do I agree to confront you?
I portray you in different light
I depict you in a contrasting manner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW GODDARD, IAN KENNY, JONATHAN STOCKMAN, MARK HOSKING, STEPHEN JUDD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind