Parkway Drive

Darker Still

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Genre: Metalcore.
Released: 09/09/2022
Via Epitaph

Album Review: Parkway Drive – Darker Still

There was a time when the future of Parkway Drive was unclear as the band took a step back after a lot of thought during lockdown. Thankfully for fans of the band, they have decided to return not just with a tour, but with a new album to boot. ‘Darker Still’ is set to be the beginning of the next chapter in the band’s long and prosperous journey so I’d be a fool not to see what lies ahead for the Australian Metalheads. Here is what I thought about their new album.

Eerie and sombre is how the album opens with ‘Ground Zero’ before a sudden scream causes an explosion of melodic riffs to rain down upon you. The song proceeds to take you on a journey of struggle and hope. A tonne of meaning is put behind each lyric and you can hear the passion within Winston’s vocals throughout. Emotionally driven songs have been a common theme throughout Parkway’s discography and this album is no different. ‘Like Napalm’ uses repetition mixed with a funky yet heavy instrumental to drive its message home. This chorus is going to ring around venues all over the world without a doubt!

If you are looking for a song with an attitude that will get you headbanging, ‘Glitch’ is the song for you. The song marches forward and doesn’t look back at all while it recreates all the metalheads who can hear it into its battalion. Almost heavenly is how I’d describe the intro to ‘The Greatest Fear’. Choir vocals ring in the track before unleashing a heavy yet driven track upon the listener. The harmonized vocals scattered throughout are a joy to hear which really bring the whole song together.

Introducing some Acoustic flair, the title track ‘Darker Still’ brings the mood down and brings a much more sad feel to the album. A truly touching song that may not be one to put on every moment of every day but a wonderful piece of expressive music nevertheless. Returning to a more metal feel is ‘Imperial Heretic’ which is carried by its incredible melodies that allow the song to flow so effortlessly through the listener’s ears and into their minds.

Parkway Drive seems to love questioning the morality of “Gods” so it’s probably not much of a surprise that Winston and co once again aim for the divine during ‘If A God Can Bleed’. A sinister tone looms over this track as Winston delivers a sadistic vocal performance that will have you convinced he is about to slay the almighty given the chance. Warning for this next one, it starts loud! ‘Soul Bleach’ is one hell of a song and it stands leagues above the rest for me. A great bounce to its instrumental will have you wanting to find the nearest mosh pit crew and lay waste to everything around. Do not pass on this one!

‘Stranger’ is a spoken word passage that flows seamlessly into ‘Land Of The Lost’. Once again, the song uses religious imagery to drive its message forward and to be honest, Parkway Drive has absolutely nailed that over the years! The contrast between the verses and chorus help to keep the some sounding original and keeps the listener interested until the song’s climax. Finishing off the album of ‘From The Heart Of The Darkness’. Once again, this song’s opening passage is top-notch. The band really knows how to grab your attention and this song will proceed to stamp all over you. Aggression and Grit are what’s on order with this one and it closes the album out in a powerful way.

This is certainly a new Parkway Drive however they haven’t completely abandoned what has come before. The album has its own unique feel to it but you can hear the progression from ‘Reverence’ and ‘Ire’. As a whole, This album is everything fans of the band could have wanted. Heavy, emotional and full of passion.