Themata is the debut full-length album by the Australian rock band Karnivool. The album was released independently on 7 February 2005, and was distributed via MGM Distribution. The album was released in the United States on 10 April 2007 via Bieler Bros. Records and in the UK on 7 May 2008 on the Happy Go Lucky label.

Three singles were released from the album, "L1FEL1KE" in 2003, "Themata" and "Shutterspeed", both in 2005.

Metal Hammer said that Themata "clicked with a subculture that was barely post-nu metal, resurrecting [the progressive metal genre] for one last gasp with a Tool-inspired twist".^[1] Lead guitarist Drew Goddard played most of the drums on Themata, as well as contributing to the songwriting. The album's songs were composed in a combination of dropped-B and standard E tuning.^[2] Metal Forge magazine said that the album's songwriting demonstrated "a whole new spectrum of sophistication, with maturity and a growing confidence evident throughout".^[3] "Roquefort" features elements of funk, while "L1FEL1KE" shows influence from nu metal.^[3] Rolling Stone India said that the album's sound was defined by "Odd-time signatures, buzzing riffs and jagged guitar lines, soaring and harmonized vocals [and] cerebral writing".^[4] In a review of the band's later album, Sound Awake, AllMusic categorized the sound of Themata as "alternative/nu metal",^[5] while Rolling Stone India categorized the album's sound as "progressive rock/metal".^[4]

"Roquefort" was initially supposed to be recorded with a horns section, but the band did not have time to do this during the recording of the album.^{[citation needed]} Harry Angus and Kieran Conrau of the Cat Empire later recorded trumpet and trombone respectively for the single version of "Roquefort". This version has been played live on a few occasions, including at Rock-It 2005, during the Triple J Hottest 100 on 26 January 2007, and at the 2010 Melbourne Big Day Out.^{[citation needed]}Drew Goddard said the following regarding "Change", stating "'Change' wasn’t originally conceived as a two part song.

We had written about 60% of "Change" as a whole piece and were desperately trying to finish it in preproduction for inclusion on Themata, as we thought it was shaping up to be an absolute cracker. Due to the nature of the song, the time needed to spend on it and the time we didn’t have we decided do the thing that annoyed everyone so much, and chop it at the peak of the climax, and then finish the 2nd part for inclusion the next album. The title "Change" seemed fitting as this was the last song (mostly) written during the Themata sessions and almost signaled what we thought could be a change of direction on the next album.… It seems we were pretty spot on going by the general feel of the new material. It just wouldn’t have found its place on Themata.^[6]

Karnivool

• Ian Kenny – lead vocals
• Drew Goddard – guitar, drums, backing vocals, string arrangements
• Mark Hosking – guitar, backing vocals
• Jon Stockman – bass

Additional

• Ray Hawkins – drums on track 6
• Novac Bull – additional vocals on track 2
• Leigh Miller – string arrangements on track 2
• Eve Silver – string arrangements on track 8
• Ezekiel Ox – whistling and castanets on track 5