In Hearts Wake

In Hearts Wake

In Hearts Wake is an Australian metal band from Byron Bay, active since 2006. The group is based around vocalist Jake Taylor and guitarist Eaven Dall, and also includes guitarist Ben Nairne, bassist Kyle Erich and drummer Conor Ward. Its style sits across hard rock, metal, metalcore and post-hardcore.

Formation and early releases

The band forms in Byron Bay in 2006 and begins as a group of five friends. It records its first demo track, “True Love Is Hard to Find”, in July 2006, then follows it with a debut seven-track EP, Into the Storm, in December of that year. In early 2007, the line-up changes with the addition of drummer Caleb Burton, and the group starts writing faster, heavier and more technical material with a melodic edge. Later that year it tours across three Australian states and three major cities. In late 2007, the band begins a five-month recording period at SAE Institute in Byron Bay for its second EP, The Gateway, which is self-financed by the producer and the musicians and mixed by Daniel Castleman. In 2010, it releases a split EP with hardcore band The Bride.

Studio albums and label work

In Hearts Wake signs its first professional recording deal with UNFD in July 2012. Its debut studio album, Divination, is produced by Josh Schroeder at Random Awesome Studios in the United States and peaks at No. 27 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The band follows it with Earthwalker, which reaches No. 5 on the ARIA chart, then Skydancer. Its fourth studio album, Ark, arrives in 2017 and debuts at No. 3 in Australia. The fifth studio album, Kaliyuga, is released in 2020.

Collaborations, touring and projects

The band tours widely in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America, supporting acts including The Amity Affliction, Northlane, Parkway Drive, While She Sleeps, August Burns Red and others. It appears at Soundwave Festival in Australia for the first time in 2014 and later joins the final touring section of the Vans Warped Tour in 2018. In 2016, it releases the collaborative EP Equinox with Northlane, recorded in Melbourne with producer Will Putney and containing the tracks “Refuge”, “Equinox” and “Hologram”.

In 2017, the band launches the We Are Waterborne initiative, which focuses on beach clean-ups in Australia and around the world with fans. It works with marine conservation groups including Tangaroa Blue and Sea Shepherd, and the Ark Prevails EP in 2018 donates proceeds to Sea Shepherd Australia. Ark Prevails includes reimagined acoustic versions of “Frequency”, “Waterborne” and “Arrow”, plus the ambient track “Adrift (Outro)”; “Arrow” features guest vocals from CJ Gilpin of Dream State.

Themes and later singles

In Hearts Wake’s lyrics focus on environmentalism, environmental justice, global warming, conservation and other social issues. In the Kaliyuga era, the band releases singles including “Worldwide Suicide”, “Son of a Witch”, “Hellbringer”, “Dystopia” and “Moving On”. “Hellbringer” features Jamie Hails of Polaris.