In Hearts Wake – “Skydancer” [Album Review]

Last year Australian metalcore boys In Hearts Wake released their impressive Earthwalker album. It was an album which, quite rightfully, caused more than a slight stir amongst the metalcore scene. Well, the band recently announced that, at the time of recording what was to end up as the Earthwalker album, the group had also recorded material which makes up the content of this new release.

So, how does it fair? Does this ambitious project fall into place? Does it sound like two separate albums, or does it all actually work? Either way, you can only applaud these Aussie shredders for taking on such an impressive task and showing that there is more to the metalcore scene than just the same rehashed formula that we’ve heard a million times over.

An atmospheric intro sets the tone for the rest of the album as those opening moments give way to the title track where the band intersperse blasts of towering metalcore with note perfect cleans. It’s a formula the band utilize throughout the album – sometimes the pairing works well, “Insomnia” for example, sometimes the end result is a little dubious – “Badlands” for example. Overall though, this cocktail of hard metallic riffs, vocal-chord damaging screams, guest vocals, dramatic atmospherics, and pulsing electronics blend together fairly seamlessly with the conceptual lyrics to create an end product that isn’t afraid to challenge your preconception of the metalcore genre.

“Father” brings this double-set to a powerful, dramatic conclusion and, I have to say, it’s hard not to been left feeling anything other than impressed – impressed by not only the quality of music on both this and its predecessor, but also by the fact that these Aussies had the balls to pull off such an ambitious project in the first place.

Track Listing:

01. Aether
02. Skydancer
03. Breakaway
04. Badlands
05. Insomnia
06. Oblivion
07. Wildfire
08. Cottonmouth
09. Erase
10. Intrepid
11. Father

Run Time: 34:03
Release Date: May 4, 2015

Check out the song “Badlands” here.