ALBUM REVIEW: Kaliyuga Booster Pack – In Hearts Wake
Australian hard hitters IN HEARTS WAKE are back to deliver a deluxe edition to their acclaimed 2020 album Kaliyuga. This new addition to their repertoire will include three new tracks and recorded live performances of songs from the original album. These recordings happen to be from their only show on this album cycle so far in Brisbane, making for some very passionate performances.
The first new track, Dogma (feat. ALPHA WOLF), opens strong with some classic harsh solo vocals from vocalist Jake Taylor suddenly dropping into a bold guitar riff. The playful sounds of a woof woof are introduced, working with the name and meaning of the song. This is a cool take on a section of additional vocals which could have very easily been replaced with a scream or ‘blegh‘ sound, but most would agree this fun twist makes it much more enjoyable. Some hefty drums and guitar riffs paired with unsympathetic unclean vocals make for a very boppy song, resulting in a headbang or six. Next comes a memorable chorus in a chanting style which is sure to be sung back in full force on their upcoming tour. These guys are able to swing the tight balance between brilliant heavy verses and catchy melodic choruses and hooks to make for a great listening experience. ALPHA WOLF then make their appearance; the feature is very fitting name wise, but also very impactful musically. It leads us into a pretty decent breakdown, but this could have been a bit more intense to contrast with the verses.
Moving into another new song, War begins with a nice drop into a groovy higher tuned guitar riff, which lightens the sound of the whole song to make it feel much more melodic. The whispered element in the first introduction of the vocals, whilst only short, creates huge depth when it is completely switched up into harsh growl verses. Again, a melodic chorus ensues, this being very tuneful and catchy as always, and proving the band know how to balance cleans and uncleans, piecing them together in a way that doesn’t sound bitty or negatively affect the flow of the whole song. This song kind of encompasses everything that IN HEARTS WAKE are good at, making sure to display all their strengths in the heavy and more tuneful areas, whilst also always delivering memorable and original riffs and rhythms.
Torn In Two goes against the grain when it comes to the new tracks on this release, being a stand out song not only for its well executed musical talent, but also because the band create a super interesting mix of classical sounds like string instruments and mixing them with some heavier guitars. This layering works so well, combining two styles of music that work so well together when intertwined, and resulting in a truly atmospheric sound. The drop/chorus section of the song features more chant style singing which adds to the ethereal element when paired with the classical strings used. Then when harsh vocals are reintroduced, the contrast created is somehow in your face but subtle at the same time. This type of song stands out as it’s not something every band does regularly, but when well executed can result in something really special.
Worldwide Suicide is a killer track to hear in this live version, being a stand out song from the full album. Its lyrics focus around raising questions surrounding climate change which the band are very vocal about trying to tackle. There is lots of depth to this song when played live, and hearing the passion of the crowd shouting along with the lyrics only furthers the enjoyment. The song is fast paced and energetic, but as with any live performance, it tends to lose some of the intricacies of the recorded version. That said, this very deep heavy song is here to prove a point and raise awareness, and it certainly manages to grab your attention.
The last live song on the release, Hellbringer, brings huge sounding rhythms, which all the songs seem to be able to account for, being able to for sure get a crowd going when performed live. The two vocalists of the band managed to mesh the uncleans and cleans together very well, making for a very enjoyable listen, and they even change it up by bringing in a featured performer – Dylan from GRAVEMIND – to take part in one of the verses. This switch up adds another layer of depth to the performance, and it’s always great to hear how multiple singers interact and meld their styles together. The main theme of all these songs is that IN HEARTS WAKE are here to make a statement. They deliver relatable lyrics that crowds will take part in chanting with the band, accompanied by weighty riffs and rhythms which result in a really great listening experience.
Rating: 8/10
Kaliyuga Booster Pack is set for release on February 11th via UNFD.
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