Reviews list for Wake in Providence, A - Insidious: Phase II (2017)

It was a little tough deciding where to start my review journey through the rest of A Wake in Providence's material, but ultimately I decided to start with Insidious Phase II. It's a re-recording of their 2015 Insidious EP, extended to a full-ish album. And it has the one and only future Lorna Shore vocalist Will Ramos!

The lethal heaviness can crush your skull and ooze through your ears and brain. It expands the boundaries of this deathly genre that is deathcore. Complex and heavy as h*ll with all its punishing aggression. A Wake in Providence know how to go technical, brutal, and atmospheric all at once. This dark offering fits right in with its name, something as insidious and bleak as Death himself.

The atmospheric intro "Doom" begins it all on an eerie note that would have listeners on the edge of their seats. Then the straight searing "Seeker" kicks off with the vocal dynamics of Will Ramos, hopping through different vocal styles so seamlessly. "Black Mass" is a 6-minute epic with great drumming flow from Anthony Dipietro. I enjoy the alternation between Ramos' growls and the screams of Dickie Allen (Infant Annihilator, later Nekrogoblikon). Nothing ever sounds weak there! Ramos has that monstrous intensity that would continue to stun listeners 5 years later in his time with Lorna Shore. Absolutely insane!

"Euthanasia" has more of Dipietro's brutal drumming in synergy with guitar duo D'Andre Tyre and Jordan Felion to pulverize your head and the music oozes into your brain. The guitarwork really grinds up then slows down in an almost doomy pace (Doomcore?!). The instrumentalists all make a crushing invincible force, with their work striking like a spine-breaking jackhammer. The title track continues the speedy riffing in conjunction with brutal breakdowns to get listeners hooked, alongside the guest vocals by Bryan Long of Dealey Plaza. We have some more eeriness in "Bane", as the band strikes as another standout in the deathcore scene. They never have to go mainstream to sound so good. Wait, did Ramos just do a Knocked Loose-style "ARF ARF" towards the end?!? D*mn, he can do anything with his vocals!

Insidious Phase II includes two tracks that weren't in the original Insidious EP, starting with new song "Ov Hell" featuring Spite's Darius Tehrani. Not the best track, but it doesn't affect the album's rating. On the other hand, "Psycho", an earlier previously non-album single, stands out greatly with guest vocals by Shadow of Intent vocalist Ben Duerr, and that wouldn't be the only time he appeared in A Wake in Providence track.

There's no escape from the darkness and destruction of this offering within your brain. Insidious Phase II has some of the heaviest deathcore that doesn't cease until the end. And it's quite amazing hearing Will Ramos before Lorna Shore. The beast awakens!

Favorites: "Black Mass", "Euthanasia", "Bane", "Psycho"