Karnivool return with purpose, power, and a national tour

After five months of studio seclusion in their hometown of Perth, Australian progressive rock heavyweights Karnivool are emerging from the creative shadows — and they’re bringing something new to the surface.

The band’s Ad Complementum Australian Tour will see Karnivool hit 13 cities around the country, marking their long-awaited return to the stage and offering fans an exclusive first listen to what’s been brewing behind closed doors.

The meaning behind Ad Complementum (Latin for “to completion”) remains just as mysterious as the new material itself, but one thing is certain: Karnivool are entering a new chapter — and they’re not in the mood to spell it out. Not yet.

Karnivool Ad Completementum Tour

• Wednesday 16 July – Odeon Theatre, Hobart
• Friday 18 July – SOPO, Gold Coast
• Saturday 19 July – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
• Sunday 20 July – The Station, Sunshine Coast
• Thursday 24 July – Bar on the Hill, Newcastle
• Friday 25 July – UOW Unibar, Wollongong
• Saturday 26 July – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
• Tuesday 29 July – The Baso, Canberra
• Thursday 31 July – Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads
• Friday 1 August  – Pier Bandroom, Frankston
• Saturday 2 August  – PICA, Melbourne
• Sunday 3 August – Hindley St Music Hall, Adelaide
• Friday 17 October  – Metropolis Fremantle, Perth
• Tickets: here

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“We can’t bloody wait to get out there and share what’s been brewing in the Karnivool riff pot, and show folks what they have to look forward to,” frontman Ian Kenny shared.

According to the band, this tour is more than a comeback — it’s a live test lab for what’s next. Fans can expect brand-new songs debuted live for the first time, reimagined versions of old favourites, and a clear sense that Karnivool are shifting gears. Think evolution, not nostalgia.

After earning a devoted following through intricate, emotional, and often thunderous live shows, the group’s return to the stage has been highly anticipated — and with the promise of unreleased material on the setlist, ‘Ad Complementum’ is shaping up to be a must-see moment for Karnivool diehards and newcomers alike.

The national tour kicks off later this year, with dates and ticket info expected to drop soon. So if you’ve been missing those seismic riffs and complex sonic landscapes, this is your cue.

Karnivool are back, and they’ve got something to say — even if they’re not quite saying it yet.

words by staff writer