When you think of Australian metalcore there are many names that come to mind. Parkway Drive, I Killed the Prom Queen, The Amity Affliction, Polaris, Make Them Suffer, & countless others. But, there is always one name that should never be forgotten: In Hearts Wake.
With a career spanning nearly twenty years, In Hearts Wake has been revolutionizing the metalcore genre time and time again. Between 2014 and 2015's Earthwalker & Skydancer (released 2014 and 2015 respectively) all the way to 2020's Kaliyuga, nothing could stop In Hearts Wake from releasing the most incredible set of metalcore bangers ever to grace the ears of the world. The release of Incarnation is no different and with a star-studded set of features like Winston McCall, Kaito Nagai, Garret Rapp, Chad Ruhlig, Alfonso Civile, & David Gunn, the entire album is nothing short of a metalcore masterpiece. Not only is it a stunning release, but the fact that the album is tied into In Hearts Wake lore makes it that much better. When speaking on the release of the new album, the band had this to say:
Finally, our new album INCARNATION can be heard in its entirety. This was equally our most challenging and yet most rewarding record thus far…Kyle’s choice to depart before we started writing Incarnation initially hit us like a ton of bricks. The fellowship was breaking, but not its founders. With one man down we had to step up as a four piece, posing the ultimate question: "how badly did we want it?!" To write our heaviest release yet with no clean vocals or melodic lulls. An album that felt focused, relentless and hit hard but still kept you guessing. After 12 years of touring and making records we felt we had everything to lose and a lot to prove to ourselves. Writing a record about the shadows meant we had to move through our own. It was a humbling experience which we’ll share with you in the coming weeks. We feel we’ve accomplished what we set out to achieve, a counterpart record that we are extremely proud of. To us, Incarnation feels like Divinations tough twin brother: pissed off with where the world is heading but still fighting for a future that isn’t fixed. Thank you to everyone who helped make this record happen, and to our incredible fanbase for supporting the new incarnation of In Hearts Wake.
Like I said, the entire album is amazing from start to finish but I think there are two tracks that stand out above the rest: "The Flood (Justice)" & "Gen Doom (The Hierophant)." "The Flood (Justice)" sounds like an angrier, heavier, and more pissed-off version of "Worldwide Suicide." The amazing blend of Winston McCall and Jake Taylor accompanied by the deafening riffs of Eaven Dall & Ben Nairne and the drumming of Conor Ward do nothing but leave your jaw dropping to the ground. And speaking of heavy, "Gen Doom (The Hierophant)" is, in my opinion, the heaviest track on the album with that ending breakdown. Ugh. An absolute chef's kiss of a breakdown. This is that type of breakdown that makes you want to lose every bit of sanity you have left in the mosh pit. The worst thing about this album is that Warped Tour isn't around for In Hearts Wake to play "Michigama (The Magician)" or "Shellshock (The High Priestess)" live because it would absolutely demolish every expectation of a song.
I truly believe that this is the album that brings In Heart Wake back to the spotlight and, as the album name suggests, absolutely will set a new wave of success as the band is incarnated.
Be sure to grab tickets to see In Hearts Wake as they demolish the USA alongside Traitors & Bloom in support of Miss May I.
