Parkway Drive, the Australian metalcore titans, return with their seventh studio album, "Darker Still," a powerful and introspective journey released on September 9, 2022, via Epitaph Records. Produced by George Hadji-Christou, this 46-minute, eleven-track opus showcases the band's evolution while staying true to their signature sound that has captivated fans worldwide.
"Darker Still" is a testament to Parkway Drive's resilience and growth, with each song telling a tale of standing tall in the face of life's challenges. The album opens with the explosive "Ground Zero," setting the tone for the heavy, melodic journey ahead. Tracks like "Like Napalm" and "Glitch" deliver the aggressive, high-energy metalcore that fans have come to love, while songs such as "The Greatest Fear" and the title track "Darker Still" showcase the band's ability to blend clean vocals with orchestral arrangements, creating a more nuanced and dynamic sound.
The album's themes of resilience and uprising are evident throughout, with Winston McCall's wide vocal range and the band's signature bombastic guitar riffs driving each track forward. "Darker Still" also features some of Parkway Drive's most introspective lyrics to date, with McCall drawing from personal experiences and the band's collective journey to create a deeply personal and relatable record.
The album received mixed feedback upon its release, with some critics praising Parkway Drive's musical evolution and others noting a shift away from their original metalcore roots. However, "Darker Still" has been nominated for several awards, including Best Independent Heavy Album or EP at the AIR Awards of 2023 and Best Group and Best Hard Rock Album at the 2023 ARIA Music Awards, solidifying its place as a standout release in the metal genre.
"Darker Still" is a powerful and introspective journey from one of modern metal's most revered bands. With its blend of aggressive metalcore and nuanced, orchestral arrangements, this album is sure to captivate both longtime fans and new listeners alike.
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