Bringing with them a triptych-like setlist jam packed with fan favourites, Australian progressive-rock band Karnivool set up shop at the Camden Roundhouse as they came to the end of their 2015 Divergence tour looking to cap things off on the right note.

On paper the setlist for the tour could be mistaken for looking lazy. Snippets from each album were laid out in chronological order, with interludes between breaking the night into three separate sections, rather than working out a way to seamlessly blend the old and the new. However it worked and flowed remarkably well.

Opening with tracks from Themata, Karnivool’s 2004 debut, the band treated the crowd to a glimpse at their rougher early sound, warming them up for the second part of their show which was arguably the highlight of their set’s sections.

The agitated, buzzing opening riff to Sound Awake’s ‘Goliath’ set the second part of the show in motion, leading to crowd favourites such as ‘All I Know’ and ‘New Day’, which provided real sing-along moments for the audience. Almost everyone seemed to be singing at the top of their lungs, at such a volume that at times they often drowned out vocalist Ian Kenny.

Kenny and co were on top form at the Roundhouse, his vocals in particular being spectacular throughout, matching his swaying, emotive stage presence. The rest of the band also performed extremely well, the varied tones that Karnivool deploy being transmitted to the crowd with remarkable clarity. From the overdriven bass growls to sweeping lead guitar parts, it was all crisp and full of punch.

The final section of the night was made up of newer material from the group’s most recent album, Asymmetry, taking a slower, more atmospheric turn that wound the night down in suitable fashion. The lighting also matched the music accurately throughout Karnivool’s set, meeting the mood and energy set by each track.

Overall an excellent show by a truly talented band who go from strength to strength with each release, a group who follow in their prog-father’s footsteps but do so with refreshing innovation and originality.

Ainsley Walker