What makes Wake of a Nation by Zeal & Ardor notable?

The album gained significant attention for its fierce commentary on racial injustice, coinciding with the Black Lives Matter movement's resurgence in 2020. It was well-received by critics, landing high on various year-end lists and showcasing the band's ability to meld genres while addressing contemporary issues. Released on October 23, 2020, 'Wake of a Nation' marks Zeal & Ardor's third full-length album, following their acclaimed 'Stranger Fruit' from 2018. This release comes at a crucial moment in the band's evolution, as they further explore the intersection of heavy music and socio-political themes amidst a global climate of unrest.

Who is Wake of a Nation for?

Wake of a Nation works well if you're into short impactful listening experience, haunting themes of struggle and urgent emotional exploration.

How many songs are on Wake of a Nation?

Wake of a Nation has 6 tracks, running approximately 17 minutes.

Wake of a Nation

Zeal & Ardor · 2020

17 min · 6 tracks · black metal

An urgent blend of black metal and spirituals that confronts systemic injustice with raw intensity and haunting melodies.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Vigil — The opening track sets the tone for the album with its powerful invocation of urgency against a backdrop of atmospheric soundscapes and intense vocals.
→
I Can’t Breathe — At just over a minute long, this track delivers a visceral punch, encapsulating the pain and urgency surrounding police brutality in a succinct yet impactful manner.
→
Tuskegee — This track tackles historical injustices directly, using haunting melodies and aggressive instrumentation to underscore its message about the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

69 /100

Alpine

Higher than 94% of albums we've rated

The EP's unique blend of genres and urgent themes create a powerful listening experience.

What we noticed

The first track opens with a slow, haunting melody that gradually builds in intensity, leading into the more aggressive second track.
The EP concludes with a title track that revisits themes from earlier songs, tying together the narrative of systemic injustice.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 9/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

short impactful listening experience
haunting themes of struggle
urgent emotional exploration
in-order listening recommended

Maybe skip if you

prefer longer albums
seek lighthearted content

Where this album fits

Career context: Released on October 23, 2020, 'Wake of a Nation' marks Zeal & Ardor's third full-length album, following their acclaimed 'Stranger Fruit' from 2018. This release comes at a crucial moment in the band's evolution, as they further explore the intersection of heavy music and socio-political themes amidst a global climate of unrest.
Stylistic neighbors: Myrkur· Black Anvil· Batushka