Heavener (album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Heavener
| type = studio
| artist = Invent Animate
| cover = InventAnimateHeavener.jpg
| alt =
| released = March 17, 2023
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Progressive metalcore
| length = 46:17
| label = UNFD
| producer =
| prev_title = The Sun Sleeps, as If It Never Was
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Heavener
| type = Studio
| single1 = Shade Astray
| single1date = June 30, 2022{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2022/06/30/news/invent-animate-premiere-shade-astray/|title=Invent Animate Premiere "Shade Astray"|website=ThePRP|date=June 30, 2022|accessdate=May 7, 2023}}
| single2 = Elysium
| single2date = November 8, 2022{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2022/11/08/news/invent-animate-premiere-elysium-music-video/|title=Invent Animate Premiere "Elysium" Music Video|website=ThePRP|date=November 8, 2022|accessdate=May 7, 2023}}
| single3 = Immolation of Night
| single4 = Without a Whisper
| single4date = March 14, 2023{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2023/03/14/news/invent-animate-premiere-without-a-whisper-music-video/|title=Invent Animate Premiere "Without a Whisper" Music Video|website=ThePRP|date=March 14, 2023|accessdate=May 7, 2023}}
}}
{{ Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = studio
| cover = HeavenerDefinitive.jpg
| caption="Heavener (Definitive)"
}}
}}
Heavener is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Invent Animate, released on March 17, 2023, through UNFD. It was self-produced by the band and Landon Tewers of The Plot in You.
- {{cite magazine|url=https://hmmagazine.com/out-now-invent-animate-unleashes-new-album-heavener/|title=Out now: Invent Animate unleashes new album, Heavener|magazine=HM|access-date=May 7, 2023|date=March 17, 2023}}
- {{cite web|url=https://hmmagazine.com/invent-animate-announces-heavener-album-unleashes-immolation-of-night-video/|title=Invent Animate announces 'Heavener' album, unleashes 'Immolation of Night' video|publisher=HM|access-date=May 7, 2023|date=February 2, 2023}}
- {{cite web|url=https://lambgoat.com/news/38344/invent-animate-present-latest-single-prior-to-new-album-release/|title=Invent Animate present latest single prior to new album release|website=Lambgoat|date=March 14, 2023|accessdate=May 7, 2023}}
- {{cite web|url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/invent-animate-announce-new-album-heavener/|title=Invent Animate announce new album Heavener|website=Distorted Sound|date=February 5, 2023|accessdate=May 7, 2023}}
- {{cite web|url=https://rocknloadmag.com/news/invent-animate-announce-new-album-heavener-with-new-single-immolation-of-night/|title=INVENT ANIMATE announce new album, 'Heavener', with new single, 'Immolation Of Night'|website=Rock 'N' Load|date=February 2, 2023|accessdate=May 7, 2023}}
The album was preceded by four singles: "Shade Astray", "Elysium", "Immolation of Night", and "Without a Whisper". Invent Animate would tour extensively across in North America,{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/events/bad-omens-announce-us-tour-erra-and-invent-animate/|title=BAD OMENS announce U.S. tour with ERRA and INVENT ANIMATE|first=Eli|last=Enis}} Europe{{Cite web|url=https://www.metaltalk.net/erra-destroying-europe-in-early-2023-with-silent-planet-and-invent-animate.php|title=Erra / Destroying Europe in early 2023 with Silent Planet and Invent Animate|date=September 21, 2022|website=www.metaltalk.net}} and Australia{{Cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/we-came-as-romans-announce-2023-australian-tour/|title=We Came As Romans Announce 2023 Australian Tour|first=Alex|last=Gallagher|date=May 11, 2023}} throughout 2023 in promotion of the album, concluding with a headlining North American tour with Australian and Swedish bands, Void of Vision, Thrown and Aviana respectively during Fall 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://lambgoat.com/news/39398/invent-animate-announce-headlining-fall-north-american-tour-w-void-of-vision-and-more/|title=INVENT ANIMATE announce headlining Fall North American tour w VOID OF VISION and more|website=lambgoat.com}}
A year following the album's release, the group would reissue, Heavener (Definitive), a deluxe version of the album with three new songs and a re-worked electronic version of "Without a Whisper" on May 31, 2024, via UNFD.{{Cite web|url=https://heavymag.com.au/invent-animate-announce-heavener-definitive-drop-single/|title=INVENT ANIMATE Announce 'Heavener (Definitive)', Drop Single | HEAVY Magazine|date=May 29, 2024}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Distorted Sound
| rev2 = Kerrang!
| rev2score = 3/5{{cite magazine|url=https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-invent-animate-heavener|title=Album review: Invent Animate – Heavener|magazine=Kerrang!|last=Law|first=Sam|date=March 16, 2023|accessdate=May 7, 2023}}
| rev3 = Metal Storm
| rev3score = 7.3/10{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=18364|title=Invent Animate – Heavener review|website=Metal Storm|accessdate=May 7, 2023}}
| rev4 = New Transendence
| rev5 = Sputnikmusic
| noprose = yes
}}
The album received generally positive reviews from music critics. Distorted Sound scored the album 8 out of 10 and said: "It would be cheap of us to compare this album to the notions of Heaven and Hell. Slightly sacrilegious also. What Invent Animate deliver is an in depth examination of two of the most complex life lessons humanity can accost; grief and self-acceptance. The idea that nothing is permanent and learning to embrace that is something very few bands execute well. Yes, there are some stumbling blocks within Heavener, but on the whole, this is an album we implore everyone to listen to at least once, if only to draw an individual interpretation of life's experiences." Kerrang! gave the album 3 out of 5 and stated: "No question, Heavener is proof that Invent Animate remain one of the most compelling acts in progressive metalcore. It's just that the real intrigue lies in where they go next now they've left this baggage behind..."
New Transcendence gave the album an almost perfect score 9/10 and saying: "This might be an unpopular opinion, but Heavener feels like the first time Invent Animate have tried anything measurably different in several releases—if not ever. Largely, the album is a success, and with songs like 'Shade Astray', 'Void Surfacing' and 'Emberglow' it really isn't a surprise. If anything, Invent Animate are victims to their own immense success, as Heavener only stutters in the context of their own discography, but overall remains an incredibly strong listening experience in its own right. The takeaway? Invent Animate remain at the top of the progressive metalcore food chain, and Heavener opens up a huge number of new directions for the band to expand into next."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Heavener track listing
| title1 = Absence Persistent
| length1 = 3:49
| title2 = Shade Astray
| length2 = 4:35
| title3 = Labyrinthine
| length3 = 3:43
| title4 = Without a Whisper
| length4 = 4:17
| title5 = False Meridian
| length5 = 5:00
| title6 = Reverie
| length6 = 3:10
| title7 = Immolation of Night
| length7 = 3:50
| title8 = Purity Weeps
| length8 = 4:08
| title9 = Void Surfacing
| length9 = 4:30
| title10 = Emberglow
| length10 = 4:21
| title11 = Elysium
| length11 = 4:48
| total_length = 46:17
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Heavener (Definitive) deluxe edition
| title12 = Sleepless Deathbed
| length12 = 3:58
| title13 = How We Used To Say Goodbye
| length13 = 3:53
| title14 = Heavener
| length14 = 4:30
| title15 = Without a Whisper
| note15 = Reimagined
| length15 = 3:44
| total_length = 16:06
}}
Personnel
Invent Animate
- Marcus Vik – lead vocals
- Keaton Goldwire – lead guitar
- Caleb Sherraden – bass
- Trey Celaya – drums {{small|(tracks 1–11)}}, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Brody Taylor Smith – drums {{small|(tracks 12–14)}}
Additional personnel
- Invent Animate – production, engineering
- Landon Tewers – production
- Daniel Braunstein – mixing, mastering
- Hayden Clay Williams – artwork
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}