Karnivool, The Unset @ Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide 3/8/2025
Elite! It might have been a cold wintry August night but that didn’t stop the Vooligans turning out on mass to sell out Adelaide’s Hindley Street Music Hall. When you considering the bands in the upper echelon of Australian bands without doubt Karnivool are very much a part of those discussions. I have seen them play many, many, many times and even with front man Ian Kenny getting over illness (which you would hardly know he was quite unwell) this performance was next level brilliant.
With the whiff of new music on the horizon that added a whole level excitement to the show with a couple of new songs played in amongst all the staples we have grown to love and treasure. Hats off to local outfit The Unset who stepped up to fill the void left by Big Noter who were experiencing illness also and regrettably having to withdraw. Nevertheless, The Unset were the perfect fit for Karnivool bringing their brand of prog rock to the fore. Great sound and super tight playing a brooding set that spanned forty odd minutes. Respect!
The night really did belong to Karnivool who took the production up a notch and as thge band emerged from the shadows front man Ian Kenny said “Hello Adelaide” then launching in to new single Drone. They were seriously on. There was a moment wondering whether their new stuff would live up to what they have done previously but their intention was clear with the bold opener. If that’s a taste of what’s to come, get excited about the new album. Kenny was up and about feeling his way through the music with his trademark moves.
The crushing and pounding bass lines of Goliath was an incredible follow up to the opener lifting the intensity of their performance. To the delight of fans Kenny confirmed the rumours saying “it’s true, the new record is finished and done and out in a few months”. Another new song by way of Aozora is another glimpse in to the forthcoming album before returning to the beloved faithfuls of Simple Boy and Mauseum. The crowd went nuts for these lifting the spirits of the band tenfold. All engrossing C.O.T.E was brilliant proving to be one of many highlights followed by another new song in Ghost which slotted in to the set list seamlessly.
Karnivool came barrelling home like a freight train with the eight minute epic in Deadman followed by We Are and the anthemic Themata. Biblical! Themata is one of those monumental and defining tracks and judging by the crowd reaction I’m one percent certain the fans loved this one.
With the stage literally smouldering after that it would almost be impossible to top that but they did. Karnivool returned pulling out all stops in the encore with another new tune in All It Takes. Holy heck! Brilliant! That momentum carried forward on to Roquefort before finishing on the iconic New Day. One for the classics, killer show.
Live Review By Rob Lyon