Parkway Drive - Deep Blue (2010)^{Release ID: 5369}

I would never exaggerate when I say that Parkway Drive is one of the most popular metalcore bands outside America. They have a highly original stylistic mix of catchy melodic riffs and aggressive brutal breakdowns perfect for moshing. After gaining global success throughout an EP and two albums, the band knew they had to continue doing what they do best; creating original music, going on relentless tours, and building a worldwide fanbase. Continuing the ante, they crafted a follow-up to the excellent Horizons, though that album can never be surpassed. Out of the deep blue rises the album Deep Blue, also known by vocalist Winston McCall as "The search for truth in a world that seems to be devoid of that." An honorable mention for the top half of Parkway Drive's discography, but the guitars and vocals wouldn't be totally same...

Like many bands wanting to improve their greatness, Parkway Drive continue improving their formula and while Deep Blue is not as supremely groundbreaking as Horizons, it's still a well-written album that can please both longtime and new fans. Deep Blue continues the band's superiority of phenomenal battling harmonies and almost perfect melody. Deep Blue has higher accessibility than previous Parkway Drive albums, maybe because they down cleverly written glorious yet gruesome (NOT in a death metal way) lyrics and instead sound distinctly unique with each song having an average 3-minute length.

The album opens with "Samsara", a smooth intro track setting up the tone. It starts quietly before a crescendo into heavy guitars and drums and the first of Winston McCall's vocals. Then it snaps into "Unrest" a short brutal song. Winston's growling vocals of angst for crowds to sing- sorry, SHOUT along as the chaotic instrumentation stomps through. Up next is the album single "Sleepwalker", which is nothing like the previous album's "Boneyards" while still having excellent riffing and amazing ending soloing. "Wreckage" is more calm and melodic than the previous songs so far, while still wrecking harder than a wrecking ball. The tapping after the midway point is so mesmerizing! "Deadweight" really packs a punch with its driving tone with soaring guitars and vocals.

"Alone" has similar elements than that other "Alone" song from the Bullet for My Valentine album; they're both the 6th and longest track in their 2010 third album considered metalcore. Coincidence?? Probably... Anyway, it blends riffing and vocals worth singing along to with a meaningful yet strange slow chorus. "Pressures" continues the catchy songwriting that comes to mind more than anything else in that song. "Deliver Me" is a brutal yet simple fan favorite to keep the live crowd energized. The next track, "Karma" is another album highlight with excellent riffing and a superb solo that would suffocate you with its technical aura before a monumentally memorable moshing breakdown.

The powerful anthem "Home is for the Heartless" can really drain some emotion. It's almost similar to the previous album's "Carrion" with a crowing sing-along chorus too nice to ignore. The third-to-last song "Hollow" is a recording of an old pre-EP song "Hollow Man", now with new and improved production and the chorus much angrier than in the original. That memorable song is so underrated! And now for the best song of the album, "Leviathan I"! It's a supreme anthem!! Why is this song never in live shows?! The music is absolutely superb, storming through a winning chorus with better vocals and percussion than anything else in this album. Finishing the album in a great bang while not being long enough is "Set to Destroy". Not bad, but what makes this song less powerful is the short length. The riffing is songwriting is interesting but, at a measly length of one and a half minutes, seems like a meaningless anti-climax.

It's interesting to see that with all this critical acclaim Parkway Drive has been receiving, the reception is kinda mixed in many of their albums. However in this album, the songwriting and sound is much more mature than previous albums. Deep Blue is a metalcore album that has proven how much good potential this album has its ideas can be leveled up. This is certainly not as super awesome as Horizons, but for anyone who likes heavy music and vocals, you got yourself a metalcore winner!

Favorites: "Sleepwalker", "Alone", "Deliver Me", "Karma", "Hollow", "Leviathan I"