A Heart Is A Heavy Burden
Artist: HeavensGate
Genre: Metalcore
Record Label: Pure Noise Records
Release Date: 24 October 2025
Australian metalcore quintet HeavensGate released their brand new EP A Heart Is A Heavy Burden on 24 October 2025. Signed to Pure Noise Records, HeavensGate’s mission statement is to push a fresh side to modern metalcore, coming in with something to prove and nothing to lose. Forming in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, tha band hail from Melbourne, Australia and are: Nazareth Tharatt (vocals), David Wilder (guitar), Jack Fontes (guitar), Aki Vikneswaran (bass) and Caleb Kotsanis (drums).
“Burden Of Being” kicks off the album with force. Its swiftly building intro gives way to furious vocals, accompanied by layered backing vocals that add depth, complexity, and texture. The track’s regular rhythm changes keep the two-and-a-half minute runtime dynamic and memorable, ensuring no moment feels wasted. As the EP’s shortest song, “Burden of Being” makes every second count, packing in as much variety as possible.
This intensity carries seamlessly into “Oblivion”, a song that wastes no time launching into another burst of aggression. The almost-siren background tones and radio-static effect on the vocals nod to Slipknot’s influence, while the breakdowns hit with satisfying weight, and the instrumental precision is impressively razor-sharp. Screeching guitars and thunderous percussion drive the track forward, but it’s the sheer, chest-thumping depth of the bass that truly sets it apart — this is a song best enjoyed turned up loud. A Heart Is A Heavy Burden maintains powerful momentum with “Rain,” a track that highlights the band’s technical prowess. Drums here stand out for technicality and variety, especially in the marching-style breakdowns that demand a head-banging response. The interplay between the thunderous bass and intricately played guitars creates a visceral energy that underpins much of the EP’s first half.
Midway through, the mood shifts. “Petrichor” offers a moment of respite, a distinct change of pace and style defined by ethereal guitar tones and unexpectedly clean, tender vocals. The imagery it evokes feels almost cinematic, like waves lapping and crashing against a distant shore. When the harsher vocals return, they serve as contrast rather than disruption, enriching this powerful and emotive ballad. The reflective tone carries through “Daring Blue”, where a drum-led intro accompanied by spangly guitars draws the listener right in. The clean and soft vocals give the record a sense of nostalgia, wonder, and vulnerability; these softer moments showcase the many strings HeavensGate have to their collective bow, and serve as a reminder that the band’s strength lies in both their ferocity and in their command of atmosphere. We were sure this album was going to end on a high point, and the closing track, “A Fawn Flayed” delivered by bringing the storm back in full force. Layered vocals, a thunderous low-end, intricate guitars, combine to deliver a complex sound that’s not always easy to find in metalcore. The song slows down for a breakdown that amplifies the tension and delivers an explosive conclusion to an EP that thrives on emotional edges and sonic extremes.
Across its six tracks, A Heart Is A Heavy Burden really demonstrates how much more can be done with metalcore to break the mould of a relatively young subgenre. The album showcases HeavensGate’s remarkable range — from soft and emotive ballad-style tracks, to unrelenting aggression, all executed with conviction and precision. This EP is an undeniable proof that metalcore critics might be wrong in expecting a one trick pony band, and we’re really looking forward to hearing what boundaries HeavensGate might push next.