A Wake in Providence – Eternity (Review)

This is the second album from US deathcore band A Wake in Providence.

The promo blurb states that this is for fans of bands like Osiah, Signs of the Swarm, and Aversions Crown, and who am I to disagree with that? Okay, well maybe a little. I’d mention bands like Lorna Shore, Mental Cruelty, and Worm Shepherd too, as A Wake in Providence are not without their significant blackened side. I’d also throw in a reference to the mighty Viscera, as Eternity shares some emotive and dynamic traits with them. All told, this provides a nice initial reference point for considering the 43 minutes of brutal and occasionally technical blackened deathcore that Eternity presents us with.

The songs are punishingly heavy, combining thundering deathcore beatdowns with dark symphonic atmosphere, and malevolent blast beats. The epic grandeur of the keyboards is near-omnipresent, a majestic backdrop to the band’s crushing intensity. A Wake in Providence have clearly thought about these songs, how they are structured, and their running order, as Eternity boasts a solid collection of tracks with a well-rounded flow.

The vocals are as well-delivered as you would hope, with growls, screams, shouts, and everything else performed with passion. Unexpectedly we also get a range of clean and semi-clean vocals used at select points throughout the album, and these work really well, adding a welcome emotive side to the band’s carnage.

Eternity is mean and cruel, and destined to destroy pits everywhere. It’s brutally good fun, and an excellent addition to any gym playlist.

A highly recommended listen.