In Hearts Wake

Beginnings and first releases (2006–2010)

In Hearts Wake were formed in early 2006 composed of five friends that originate from Byron Bay, Australia.^[1] In July 2006, the band recorded their first demo track "True Love Is Hard To Find". In December 2006, they recorded their debut 7-track EP, entitled Into The Storm. In early 2007, the band welcomed new drummer Caleb Burton and began to refine their sound, writing faster, heavier, more technical and melodic songs. In July 2007, they embarked on a tour that covered three Australian states and three major cities.

In December 2007, with an average age of just seventeen, the band began their 5-month studio recording schedule at SAE Institute in Byron Bay to produce their second EP with Scottish producer/engineer James Lyall, entitled The Gateway, which was self-financed by the producer and musicians and mixed by respected US engineer Daniel Castleman (As I Lay Dying, Winds of Plague).^[2] In 2010, the band produced a split-EP together with the hardcore band The Bride.^[3]

Divination (2011–2013)

In Hearts Wake signed their first professional recording deal with UNFD in July 2012. Their label debut album, Divination, was released on 31 August 2012. Josh Schroeder produced the album at Random Awesome Studios in the United States of America.^[4] Divination peaked at 27 on the ARIA charts.^[5]

In March 2013, they played four shows in New Zealand.^[6] In June another Australia tour followed with support from Counterparts, The Storm Picturesque and Stories.^[7] The first tour throughout Australia was held in September. In Hearts Wake toured with Landscapes as support for The Amity Affliction in Europe. The tour led the bands throughout the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, France and Austria.^[8] The band continued touring together with The Amity Affliction on their Brothers in Arms Australia Tour alongside Chelsea Grin and Stick to Your Guns as support.^[9]

Between 30 August 2013 and 8 September 2013, the band toured Australia alongside Like Moths to Flames and label mates Hand of Mercy in support of the Homebound tour of Dream On, Dreamer.^[10] After the Homebound tour, the band played four shows with British electronicore group Enter Shikari.^[11]

Earthwalker and Skydancer (2013–2015)

In February and March 2014 they played Soundwave Festival in Australia for the first time.^[12] Before playing at Soundwave, the band headlined the Skydancer Australia Tour with support from Hand of Mercy and Hellions. The earnings of the tour went to the band's own Skydancer project.^[13][14]

The musicians announced they would release a new album, Earthwalker, on 2 May 2014 and in Europe at the end of May. The album peaked at No. 5 at official ARIA Charts.^[5] In June, the band toured Australia again to promote Earthwalker with support from Being as an Ocean, Dream On, Dreamer, Endless Heights, and Sierra.^[15]

In early March 2015, the band announced that they would be releasing a new album entitled Skydancer in May 2015. Jake Taylor stated in a documentary that the band actually recorded the new album alongside their 2014 release Earthwalker.^[16]

On 31 March 2016, as an April Fool's Day, joke the band unveiled the final piece in their three album series entitled Seaskimmer to be released 6 May 2016.^[17]

Equinox (2016–2017)

On 19 April 2016, the band announced that they had been working on a collaborative EP with Northlane entitled Equinox. It was recorded in Melbourne with producer Will Putney. The EP features three songs: "Refuge", "Equinox" and "Hologram" and was released on 20 April, through UNFD. The band stated that they will play all songs live on the Equinox tour, co-headlined by Northlane and supported by Hands Like Houses & Ocean Grove.^[18] In late 2016, Conor Ward was officially announced as in Hearts Wake's drummer.

Ark and Ark Prevails (2017–present)

On 2 April 2017, the band unveiled a new song "Warcry" during their UK tour in support of While She Sleeps. On 26 April, another single, "Passage", was released, and it was announced that both tracks were taken from their upcoming album Ark, released on 26 May 2017.^[19]

Prior to the album's release, the band announced an Australian headline tour with While She Sleeps and Crossfaith in July 2017. The band also announced their We Are Waterborne Initiative, aiming to clean up beaches in Australia and around the world with their fans. Due to overwhelming support and praise for the Initiative, the band released a third track from Ark, "Waterborne", on 23 May.^[20] After the release of Ark on 26 May, the album debuted at No. 5 on the Australian ARIA Charts.^[21]

To celebrate the release of Ark, the band embarked on their first beach clean-ups with fans for their newly created We Are Waterborne Initiative. With plans to take the project global while they tour the world, the Australian events were organized with the help of local marine conservation organizations Tangaroa Blue and Sea Shepherd.^[22]

On 6 July, In Hearts Wake released a music video for the single "Nomad".^[23] The music video features an all-girl mosh pit and is accompanied by a message from the band regarding safety and self-expression for all fans at their shows.^[24] Shortly after, the band embarked on their Australian Ark Tour, and also toured extensively in Europe and the United States in late 2017, co-headlining with Fit For A King, and support from Like Moths to Flames and Phinehas.^[25] At the start of 2018, the band kicked off their 28-date Great Southern Land tour, which includes shows all across Australia.^[26]

On 2 February 2018, the band released Ark Prevails, a four-track Ark companion EP that includes three "re-imagined" acoustic versions of the songs "Frequency", "Waterborne", and "Arrow", the latter of which features guest vocals from CJ Gilpin, frontwoman of the UK band Dream State, as well as a new ambient instrumental track entitled "Adrift (Outro)". The release date of the EP was alluded to in the Ark album tray, which contained a hidden secret message that could be decoded using a cipher.^[26] According to frontman Jake Taylor:

Last year we hid 02.02.18 within the Ark CD booklet and it could only be revealed by using the cypher (only a few figured it out!). So today we finally reveal to you Ark Prevails, bonus re-imaginings of three tracks as well as a special ambient piece. Some of these renditions you would have heard us play acoustically at our Marine Debris clean ups, which took place on the shores of waterways around the world. This four track offering is a thank you to everyone helping to re-steer the ship. May the Ark Prevail.

All proceeds from the sale of Ark Prevails, via Bandcamp's "name your price" model, goes to Sea Shepherd Australia.^[27]

Studio albums

• 2012: Divination (UNFD) (No. 27 ARIA^[29])
• 2014: Earthwalker (UNFD / Rise) (No. 5 ARIA^[29])
• 2015: Skydancer (UNFD / Rise) (No. 2 ARIA^[29])
• 2017: Ark (UNFD / Rise) (No. 3 ARIA^[29])

EPs and splits

• 2007: Into the Storm
• 2008: The Gateway
• 2010: The Bride / In Hearts Wake (New Justice Records)
• 2016: Equinox (with Northlane)
• 2018: Ark Prevails