In Hearts Wake – Ark


Recent times have seen a resurgence for Metalcore that puts it on its strongest footing since its exciting early days, even perhaps exceeding them. Not only have stalwarts such as Killswitch Engage remained beloved and reliably great as ever, Parkway Drive have grown into absolute powerhouses, and the likes of Architects and While She Sleeps have put a British scene on the map with differing but equally excellent takes. Even Northlane have turned many a head completely out of nowhere on their latest effort. With a similarly solid but understated back catalogue, Australians In Hearts Wake have also made huge leaps on latest album Ark (UNFD), and in doing so have hit it out of the ballpark.

Ark feels like a coming of age record for In Hearts Wake, with a socially conscious message and vast improvements when it comes to songwriting. Much more melodic than many of their peers, In Hearts Wake offer a much more atmospheric take on Metalcore, but still give the breakdown centred, heavier passages you would come to expect.

On Ark, such parts are much more immediate and anthemic, but interchange with mellower soundscapes with ease, offering great diversity in sound and in tone. Matched with an environmental and social focus about the importance of water to both humanity and the earth itself, and the ill treatment towards it and you have an album that genuinely emotes from rage to despair but with some signs of hopefulness.

Vocally this is a little familiar, with harsh vocals particularly sounding uncannily like Winston McCall of Parkway, but with unique structuring, use of atmosphere and genuine emotional weight, Ark does still stand out in a genre that has been accused before of lack of ideas. That, even in a new creative peak for the style, Ark manages to show a strong identity is a hugely impressive feat. Not quite unseating others from their throne, In Hearts Wake have still shown that they are not to be overlooked, and in future they should be definitely included in the same bracket as many of their widely hailed peers. A massive, but very pleasant surprise highlight for the year so far.

8.0/10

CHRIS TIPPELL