Description
Guys. You have no idea how excited I am that, after 10+ years, #KARNIVOOL has announced a new album. Kiddin' ME!?
This song, "Drone", is the first single from the new album (which is titled 'In Verses', & will be released sometime in 2026). I absolutely love it, & I genuinely cannot wait for the entire album to be out.
& if you're unfamiliar with Karnivool, I highly suggest checking them out! They have three other albums --- 'Themata' (2005), 'Sound Awake' (2009), & 'Asymmetry' (2013). I love all of them, but I especially love Sound Awake. That album is easily in my top 10 favorite albums of all time.
Over the last decade-or-so since their last full release, I have revisited their albums countless times (sidenote: They have also released one other single awhile back, but it wasn't a part of a full album, & from what I can tell it flew slightly under the radar. In fact, I didn't even hear it until quite a while after it had come out). At any rate: I've listened to their first three albums countless times, & parts of Sound Awake honestly kinda mess me up (but like, in a sick way). Like, the end of "New Day" legit gives me goosebumps, EVERY. TIME.
I've considered doing a Karnivool cover at various times over the years - even went so far as to transcribe a few songs. But then one thing or another would come up, & I'd sorta put it on the back burner. But when this song came out, & knowing they'll be releasing a new full length all these years later... I had to finally make it happen. Also, the drums in this song are SICK (as is all of Karnivool's drumming --- shoutout to the absolute LEGEND: Steve Judd!!!).
Alright alright, anyways --- I just get stoked about Karnivool. Honestly I haven't been this stoked for a new album announcement (by any band) in ages. So yeah. This song rules, I'm stoked about them announcing a new album, & I can't wait for it to come out...!
KIT SPECS !
#TAMA Star Maple
10x6.5
12x7
14x11
16x13
20x16
14x6.5 Tama Re-Issue Bell Brass
(the 40th, not the 50th... altho... I may be irresponsibly & unnecessarily purchasing a 50th anniversary one soon, too 😂🤙🏼)
#MEINL Cymbals (from left to right, if sitting behind the kit)
19" Classics Custom Dual Crash
15" Byzance Dual Hi-Hats
14"/13" Stack - Comprised of a 14" HCS Trash Stack bottom on the bottom (the china part of the stack), & a 13" Byzance Brilliant Medium Hi-Hat top on top (...hopefully that all makes sense, Haha)
20" Classics Custom Dual Crash
20" Byzance Brilliant China
#EVANS Drumheads
Snare - Heavyweight Dry (batter), SnareSide300 (reso)
Toms - Clear G2's (batter), Clear G1's (reso)
Kick - Clear EQ4 (batter), Onyx w/ pre-cut port (reso)
Lol btw, I had to learn / track this song relatively quickly (just cuz I had some more pressing stuff to work on), so I was relying on my sheet music a bit more than usual. A lot of the time I've already physically internalized something, but I need the sheet music for the mental reminders. In this case, I hadn't fully physically internalized the song yet. When that happens, my mouth tends to go into auto-pilot & make some weird movements. LOL. I don't even notice that I'm doing it; I guess it's a focus thing. But yeah... definitely had the auto-pilot-mouth-movement thing goin' on in this video 😂😂.
Oh &, I realized a couple days before filming that I didn't use the ride at all in this song, so I opted to remove it altogether --- just to allow for a better view in the right-side camera angle
& last but CERTAINLY not least, big love / thanks to Declan White for the mix! The stems themselves I created using a stem-splitter (they actually worked quite well for this song). So I just removed the drums, tracked my own, & Declan mixed it all together. Turned out pretty sick!
Got a handful of other videos totally finished / on deck, I've just had a whole lot goin' on. But I will surely be posting more soon.
... actually, real quick: Some of the 'whole lot I've had goin' on' relates to RS Drums --- the business I co-own w/ good-buddy & long-time best friend, Anup Sastry. Things have been growing quite a bit (which rules!). We also just released a new instrument - Progressive Prodigy: The Simen Sandnes Signature Kit. Check it out if you're so inclined!
https://www.rsdrums.com
Anyways, thanks for watching ya'll. Much love.