Plenty of bands have a message – that is nothing new – but few are more genuine than Australia’s In Hearts Wake. The metalcore quintet from Byron Bay have dedicated their careers to fighting for the Earth, wholeheartedly channelling their lyrical and marketing content towards making a difference while it is still possible. It is a risky move because, ultimately, if their music is not up to scratch, they will not be given a platform to spread it. Thankfully, though, they know as much about dishing up deep, innovative metal as they do the fragile state of the Earth’s environment.
The band’s fourth LP, ‘Ark’, centres around the importance of water. Lead single ‘Passage’ is incredibly clever in the way it flows, with the verses and breakdowns crashing down like 30 foot waves while the chorus plays out the cool, calm eye of the storm. Vocalist Jake Taylor boasts a voice powerful enough to control the elements, and each aspect of their sound is free of an anchor.
People talk a lot about the infamous metalcore “template” that, in a lot of cases, is embarrassingly applicable. But not on ‘Ark’. ‘Nomad’, sitting at the brutal end of the spectrum, possess a gargantuan chorus, while ‘Elemental’ barely registers one. The former pulls no punches, yet the latter sends heads nodding at a stable, rhythmic pace. There is no cut ‘n’ paste going on here.
Each of their three previous albums has included a curveball – think ‘Erase’ on ‘Skywalker’ – something a bit different that halts the record in its tracks. ‘Arrow’ is that curveball, allowing bassist and clean vocalist Kyle Erich to show he can play more than a bit-part role. It is a beautiful song, and rarely is such a gem found in this genre.
The hardest hitter comes in the penultimate track, ‘Totality’. It is far from the heaviest, but that allows the severity to resonate a lot clearer. Lyrics like “The tree of life splintered in our hands” cuts as deep as intended, but the choice of words leave enough hope to inspire change. A splinter is not irreparable, but it is the start of something.
With the release of ‘Ark’, it might not be long before In Hearts Wake’s status in the metal scene aligns with their enthusiasm for making a difference. After all, ‘Ark’ is 45 minutes of energetic, ruthless metalcore that should take them to more places, more people, and that can only have a positive impact.
MATT BORUCKI