CD Review: In Hearts Wake - Kaliyuga

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"Kaliyuga shines as an exceptionally dynamic showcase of intense passion, emotion and talent."

(Image credit: supplied by label)

IN HEARTS WAKE
Kaliyuga
UNFD

With its predecessors focussed on the Earth, sky and water elements, In Hearts Wake turn their enviro-conscious ire towards the flames on Kaliyuga: the world’s first carbon-negative metalcore record, and one of the Byron Bay quintet’s strongest efforts yet. 

It’s a fitting theme, given how absolutely scorching the riffs on this LP are. Strewn between the nu-metal spark of “Crisis” and the slick, acidic soloing on “2033” is a full spate of six-string sadism; standouts come in the numbing final breakdown on “Hellbringer”, the Southern warbles on “Crossroads” and the all-authorative crunches on “Force Of Life”. 

Braided with luminous flickers of melody and groove, Kaliyuga shines as an exceptionally dynamic showcase of intense passion, emotion and talent. And, true to the band’s form, it’s gonna sound insane live.

Ellie Robinson
Ellie Robinson
Editor-at-Large, Australian Guitar Magazine

Ellie Robinson is an Australian writer, editor and dog enthusiast with a keen ear for pop-rock and a keen tongue for actual Pop Rocks. Her bylines include music rag staples like NME, BLUNT, Mixdown and, of course, Australian Guitar (where she also serves as Editor-at-Large), but also less expected fare like TV Soap and Snowboarding Australia. Her go-to guitar is a Fender Player Tele, which, controversially, she only picked up after she'd joined the team at Australian Guitar. Before then, Ellie was a keyboardist – thankfully, the AG crew helped her see the light…