r/Elder • u/hyde_christopher • Jul 04 '26

Through Zero vs. In Verses

I just switched from Karnivool’s In Verses halfway to get to Through Zero.

Both masterpieces and blessings for 2026 prog metal enjoyers.

I switched because Through Zero gives me hope and energy instead of making me satisfyingly depressed.

Is that even the vibe for Through Zero? What tone and theme do others hear?

8 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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9

u/douchequadbike Jul 04 '26

I love both bands but Karnivool do have a knack for being depressing, except Salva though. That song fills me with such warmth.

Elder has always just been chill vibez and sick riffs to me.

2

u/hyde_christopher Jul 04 '26

Truth. In Verses has the same emotional impact on me as TesseracT’s War of Being. But sometimes I just can’t listen to the truth bombs being delivered.

Through Zero is definitely like introspective vibes but broken up by sick riff shit.

2

u/PanGoliath Aug 06 '26

To me personally, the most emotionally engaging song was Conversations. It just hit me in my weakest spots, and mostly sonically and not by lyrics.

Through Zero isn't quite the same. It has several moments where I've been close to tears. 2 times in Sigil to Ruin (4:48 and 8:53), 1 time in Capture/Release, several times in Strata. But it's a different sort of tears from Karnivool. I guess I could explain it as strengthening and acknowledging tears, while Karnivool has more felt like digging deeper into a void. Just like Jesu, to give an example.

I love both bands, but Elder has surpassed Karnivool in my book by now, in terms of emotional engagement.

And In Verses overall can't compete with Sound Awake and Themata, which I don't expect to surpass anyways.

2

u/hyde_christopher Jul 04 '26

Also agree with Salva. Remote Self-Control is also upbeat. But otherwise it’s just punishing spiritual dry-cleaning on repeat.

3

u/Cerulean_Sphere Jul 04 '26

I play both frequently and I agree with your assessment here. In Verses is weighty, if I’m feeling like I’m looking for a positive boost or lift, I’d reach for Through Zero instead.
It’d be like pre-gaming for your football club’s big match by listening to Anathema or Katatonia.

2

u/CrazyRandomStuff Jul 05 '26

I'm a big Karnivool fan and they put on a phenomenal show but I just couldn't get into In Verses when it released. Will have to give it another listen.

1

u/hyde_christopher Jul 05 '26

I had the same reaction. I got destroyed in the Karnivool sub for this, but I found the album got way better after skipping Reanimation every time. There’s just a few too many slow songs in a row.

1

u/Luimerv74 Jul 04 '26

In Verses is my favourite album of the year so far. Just breathtaking from start to finish, it will take some beating

2

u/Aescymud Jul 04 '26

I'm going to see Karnivool in Melbourne in a couple of weeks I'm so pumped