STACK #256 February 2026

MUSIC FEATURE

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Karnivool come crashing back with their first album in 13 years. CHAPTER AND VERSES

CHART FACT Karnivool’s

“F or me, it’s a good feeling,” says Karnivool singer Ian Kenny. “We have this thing that we love a lot and it’s ready to go. Finally.” “Catharsis,” adds guitarist Drew Goddard. “I think there’s a lot of catharsis in the music, and that often mirrors our feelings and our journey.” It’s been a long journey to Karnivool’s fourth album, In Verses – 13 years, in fact.

“It [the band] is just a bit of a beast, and you learn to accept that things don’t always go to plan,” Kenny notes. “There have definitely been

tour, kicking off this month in India, a country they have been visiting since 2010. “That first time we went over and played in Mumbai

previous album, Asymmetry , hit number one in July 2013.

In Verses by Karnivool is out Feb 6 via Sony

times over the years where you sort of fall out of love with it... and then you just keep returning to it. It’s still the same thing that we wrestle with

was one of the most mind-blowing experiences of my life,” Drew says. “Now it’s quite common for bands to go there, but at the time it was pretty fresh – we would have been one of the first international rock bands that they got to see.” Jeff Jenkins The Karnivool singer is Ian Kenny, but everyone calls him Kenny. “Only my mum calls me Ian,” he says. “And it always sounds like I’m in the sh-t.” And if you Zoom guitarist Drew Goddard, you’ll discover that his Zoom name is Doug Piranha, which is a Monty Python reference. THE NAME GAME

and love, and feed, and get so much in return.” The Perth band decided to call the new album In Verses , with the initials IV signifying that it’s their fourth album. A thunderous collection of Karnivool’s

Karnivool fans are known as “Vooligans”. You can buy Vooligans merch, including a MEET THE VOOLIGANS

trademark take-no prisoners rock, it’s

beanie and a baby’s onesie.

destined to be one of 2026’s biggest albums. And the band is doing a massive world

Karnivool

A NEW PEAK

T he remarkable story of Gorillaz, the virtual group created by Blur’s Damon Albarn and British comic book artist Jamie Hewlett in 1998, continues with their ninth studio album, The

turned its back on international pop stardom, with our heroes now immersed in the rhythms of mystical

in 2023, saying to get in touch if he was up for doing something together. Albarn wrote the song after visiting Turkmenistan, where he discovered the story of a dictator named Saparmurat Niyazov, aka

The Mountain

by Gorillaz is out Feb 27 via Rocket

music-making, as they navigate the mountainous terrain of this thing called life.” The album’s first single, The Happy Dictator , is a collaboration with American duo

Gorillaz, the world’s oldest virtual band, close in on their 30th anniversary with their ninth album.

Turkmenbasy, who ruled the

Mountain . “Circumstances now find Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs, 2-D, and Noodle in India, having made their way to Mumbai with

country from 1985 until he died in 2006.

CHART FACT

“The point of The Happy Dictator is that Turkmenbasy

Gorillaz have had six Top 5 albums in Australia, including the 2010 chart-topper Plastic Beach .

the help of four fake passports courtesy of a New York business acquaintance of Murdoc,” the group explains. “The band has

Sparks, who left a note in Damon Albarn’s dressing room at the Primavera Sound Festival in Portugal

wanted everyone in Turkmenistan to only think happy thoughts and sleep unaffected

by the doom of the world, and just keep everything upbeat, so he

kind of banned all bad news,” Albarn explained. “When I was there, I was kind of inspired by that.” The Sparks brothers, Ron and Russell Mael, sing: “I am the one to give you life again. I am the one to save your soul, amen.” Jeff Jenkins

The Mountain features the voices of some legends who are sadly no longer with us, including De La Soul’s Dave Jolicoeur, American soul great Bobby Womack, actor Dennis Hopper, The Fall’s Mark E. Smith, American rapper Proof, and African drummer Tony Allen. PAYING TRIBUTE

Gorillaz

42 FEBRUARY 2026

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