Since their earlier days as a formidable and unmistakable grindcore act, the evolution of Calgary, Alberta’s Wake has been an absolutely joyous spectacle to witness. Expanding their sound with wider influences and tones on later releases, the culmination up until this point was 2020’s spectacular Devouring Ruin which, whilst utterly furious and feral also conjured further expansiveness and intrigue to their sound. It was a truly exciting work that deservedly generated high expectations for what was next (as well as signing to Metal Blade Records). Expectations that have, staggeringly, been surpassed.

Thought Form Descent follows on from Devouring Ruin’s more expansive entries; firmly leaving behind the characteristic short and sharp durations of their early grind days with songs regularly sitting around the six-to-eight minute mark; yet at no point does this show any sign of feeling bloated. Album opener ‘Infinite Ward’ shows a gradual and calculated build before wails and blast-beats erupt alongside the opening’s melody maintained for a time. This tension building passage opens up to various shifts across this song alone.

As the album progresses, it showcases a depth of ideas throughout with some unexpected yet sensical turns as the album feels seamlessly cohesive. ‘Mourning Dirge (Repose Of The Dead)’ as a prime example gives a contemplative aura with a brooding opening before it intercepts with flurries of pace. Almost booking ending this, the spellbinding ‘Bleeding Eyes Of The Watcher’ brings forth clean melodic guitar lines in its opening which brings to mind the likes of Khemmis, coupled with a desperate, guttural growl. Maintaining the balance between their grinding, extreme elements with their most grandiose melodicism to date, this piece in particular is a powerful, thought provoking piece which invokes some slither of light amongst its despair.

Extreme metal has the powerful ability to draw you in to many emotional experiences and Thought Form Descent is a welcome, unprecedented reminder of this. As much as it offers the fury filled pace and the adrenaline this creates, it is married as much with calculated shifts through tone and atmosphere and creates as much sense of agony without the feeling of losing all hope.

This is a stunning, moving work that sees Wake growing even beyond the high expectations they previously set.

Buy the album here: https://www.metalblade.com/wake/

9 / 10

CHRIS TIPPELL