KARNIVOOL's "In Verses," due February 6 via Cymatic Records, is receiving stellar early reviews from critics who had advance access to the album, with consensus building that the Australian progressive metal act has delivered a masterwork worth the agonizing 13-year wait since 2013's "Asymmetry." The gap between albums — the longest in their career — has only heightened expectations, and by all accounts, KARNIVOOL have risen to the occasion.
The Prog Report calls it "deeply rewarding" and "one of the highlights of 2026," praising the album's emotional depth and sonic architecture. The Progressive Subway goes further, describing it as "heavy, introspective, and deeply immersive — KARNIVOOL's most ambitious work to date." Produced by longtime collaborator Forrester Savell, who also helmed "Sound Awake" and "Asymmetry," the 10-track record represents 13 years of life experiences, personal growth, and creative exploration distilled into the band's most emotionally powerful and sonically diverse collection.
The album features tracks like "Ghost," which opens with haunting atmospheric textures before erupting into crushing polyrhythmic grooves; "Animation," a showcase of the rhythmic complexity that has made KARNIVOOL one of the most respected bands in progressive metal; and "Conversations," an emotionally devastating closing track that builds to a cathartic climax. Vocalist Ian Kenny's voice has matured remarkably, adding vulnerability and nuance to an instrument that was already among the most distinctive in modern rock.
KARNIVOOL spent five months in the studio crafting the album, and the meticulous attention to detail is evident in every layer of sound. For fans who have waited over a decade, "In Verses" appears to validate every moment of patience.