Parkway Drive - Deep Blue

Thu 24th Jun, 2010 in Music Reviews

In the music world a hyped album often leads to a severe disappointment for fans. These fans have been counting down, agonising over the wait for the day of release, only to be let down by an album which doesn’t meet their expectations. Parkway Drive’s latest release Deep Blue does not even slightly fail to meet the massive hype that has been generated; in fact it surpasses every expectation.

After two albums, two EPs and a DVD, Parkway Drive has set the benchmark for hardcore in Australia, if not around the world. From their humble beginnings on the local metal scene in Byron Bay they have quickly become the most successful Australian hardcore act of all time, which is hardly surprising considering the calibre of their previous albums.

Deep Blue represents the next step for Parkway Drive in the form of a concept album. Many fans were sceptical at the idea of a concept album from a band of their nature but alas, their tale of a man who “Is in search of truth in the world” is executed with a precision that can only be demonstrated by a band of Parkway Drive’s calibre.

Since 2007’s Horizons there has been a noticeable improvement in the band’s performance, from Winston McCall’s brutal growls and screams in songs like Deliver Me to the technical guitar work laid down by Luke Kilpatrick and Jeff Ling in Sleepwalker. Each member has become more proficient with their chosen instrument which has led to both a more technically complex, diverse and interesting album.

One of the most noticeable aspects of Deep Blue is the way in which each track blends together. The instrumentation on each track melds together flawlessly throughout the album. Every melody interlocks with every rhythm and each vocal line.

Home is for the Heartless highlights the true skill and magnificence of Deep Blue. Winston provides his signature screaming, layered against a chorus of wo-oh’s, while strong double kick backbeat and fills from Gordon and brutal sustained power chords and complex licks from Kilpatrick and Ling weave an incredible web of brutality and melody.

It’s this kind of writing which not only demonstrates the bands proficiency but also the band’s improvement as a result of their constant touring throughout the world with metalcore juggernauts such as Architects and August Burns Red.