June 27th, 2010 
James Shotwell 
Artist: Parkway Drive
Album: Deep Blue
Genre: Metalcore
Label: Epitaph
The immediate thought of Australia may rally up images of the Aboriginal Outback, or spark up your inner Aussie accent, but in recent years the region has become a strong exporter of metal acts. Among a slew of other promising bands, Parkway Drive have climbed their way towards the forefront of the pack and are one of Aussie’s leading exports. They quickly made themselves a force to be reckoned after the release of their previous two albums, Killing With a Smile and Horizons. These two releases stapled their identity and their unrelenting reputation briskly amassed a respectable following. Their prevalent exposure is undeniable but it isn’t until now that their musical ability has joined the ranks of the more renowned metalcore contenders. Their signature blend of music is vicious while the lyrics tend to focus on the hardships of this cruel world and the purity and balance found in the ocean. Their newest offering, Deep Blue continues to follow suit but proves to be their most concentrated and ruthless album to date.
The foundation of Deep Blue is built around an introspective tale that follows a central character’s journey as he wakes up to discover everything he believed in was a fabrication. The expedition takes him to the bottom of the ocean and back as he tries to find truth within himself and the world around him. The music and lyrics are interlaced for an encompassing concept and enticing audible experience. As the opening moments of lead track “Samsara” slowly surges to life it’s evident that Parkway Drive are not only following in a similar path of their earlier work but also taking small strides forward to altering it. Throughout the album they pay greater attention to applying tasteful passages of melody but still maintaining their hardcore style of groove-laden, breakdown weighted, aggression they have become known for. “Unrest” pays tribute to their usual pounding assault while “Sleepwalker,” kicks things into high gear. Their signature mix of rage-filled breakdowns continue to be a huge part to each tracks structure. Inarguably most are predictable, generic, and monotonous but moments akin to the midway point in “Sleepwalkers” and “Pressures,” are where they play to their strengths.
This album really gives the sense that Parkway Drive are stepping up their game musically, especially in terms of guitar work. It doesn’t seem like they’re merely waiting for the opportune moments to play breakdowns, but instead incorporating more mouth-watering riffs and melodies. Axe men, Jeff Ling and Luke Kilpatrick submerse the listener in melodic depth on “Deadweight” and most notably on, “Alone.” The track opens with beautiful clean guitar picking, that slowly builds to faster paced riffs, before descending back to a technical melody. The galloping pace of interweaved melodic strides with a heavy dose of brutality serves as the ridged formula the album follows relentlessly. The numerous build-ups and breakdowns each song undergoes is enough to keep the listener’s attention. Highlight tracks “Pressures,” and “Deliver Me,” follow by incorporating many trademarks to the genre with powerful gang chants and heavy chug while “Wreckage” features the alluring guitar tapping that has become a distinct attribute in their sound.
Vocalist Winston McCall continues to be a valuable asset, as he possesses a range that many hardcore vocalist lack. He is capable of exuding low gutturals and screeches as high to his hearts content, all being delivered with ease. Bad Religion guitarist and Epitaph owner, Brett Gurewitz makes a monumental vocal appearance on “Home is for the Heartless,” which has an anthematic punk influenced sound with a prevailing catchy chorus. Throughout the album they follow their template closely but “Deliver Me,” “Leviathan I,” and closer, “Set to Destroy,” showcases the band’s darker persona and introduces a dynamic shift by adding crushing drum work, including a maelstrom of blast beats.
Parkway Drive serve another blistering set of tunes that further cement their place among American adversaries. Deep Blue is essentially what everyone expected, a brutally formulated album with frenzied tempo changes, throaty vocals, fiery fretwork, and technical melodies. The lack of creativity within metalcore has left it on life support and while Deep Blue does little to revive the genre. it’s enough rekindle the flame to a deteriorating trend.
Score: 7.5/10
Written by: Nerrisa Judd
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Spot on review, nice work.
Don’t really like the new design for site. Not much has changed but the colors just ain’t doing it, for me.
Reviews are as good as always, though. Keep up !!!