Is Carnage a good place to start with Warren Ellis?

Yes, Carnage is recommended as a starting point for new Warren Ellis listeners. A haunting blend of orchestral textures and minimalist arrangements, evoking an atmosphere of introspection and melancholy. Released in 2021, 'Carnage' marks a significant collaboration between Warren Ellis and Nick Cave, following their previous work on 'Ghosteen' in 2019. This album showcases their continued artistic partnership, further exploring themes of love, loss, and the human condition through rich soundscapes.

Carnage works well if you're into steady, consistent energy levels, long, immersive listening sessions and layered, dense sonic textures.

How many songs are on Carnage?

Carnage has 8 tracks, running approximately 40 minutes.

Carnage

Warren Ellis · 2021

40 min · 8 tracks

A haunting blend of orchestral textures and minimalist arrangements, evoking an atmosphere of introspection and melancholy.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Hand of God Start here — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its grand orchestration and profound lyrical exploration of existential themes, drawing listeners into the emotional core of the record.
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White Elephant — With its driving rhythm and poignant lyrics, this track encapsulates the album's exploration of personal and collective struggle, marking a pivotal moment in the listening experience.
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Albuquerque — This track stands out for its narrative quality, painting a vivid picture of longing and place that resonates deeply amidst the album's broader thematic landscape.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

67 /100

Alpine

Higher than 90% of albums we've rated

The album's atmospheric soundscapes and layered compositions create a compelling exploration of grief.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of sparse instrumentation, often relying on piano and strings to create an atmospheric backdrop.
Each track typically builds slowly, layering vocals and instruments gradually, which enhances the emotional weight of the lyrics.
Several tracks incorporate spoken word elements alongside sung passages, blurring the lines between poetry and song.
The final track concludes with a long instrumental fade-out, leaving a lingering sense of unresolved emotion.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady, consistent energy levels
long, immersive listening sessions
layered, dense sonic textures
contemplative emotional exploration

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — Represents an artistic evolution with significant emotional depth and acclaim.
Moods: Melancholy· Cathartic
Career context: Released in 2021, 'Carnage' marks a significant collaboration between Warren Ellis and Nick Cave, following their previous work on 'Ghosteen' in 2019. This album showcases their continued artistic partnership, further exploring themes of love, loss, and the human condition through rich soundscapes.
Stylistic neighbors: Nick Cave· Brian Eno· Godspeed You! Black Emperor