The Parkway Drive vocalists shares his shortlist of artists that have delivered definitive albums that have had an impact on the landscape of heavy music both home and abroad.
With a tenure lasting nearly two decades and now seven albums deep, the Byron Bay collective of Parkway Drive have established the precedent of Aussie heavy.
Currently reveling in the arrival of their long-awaited follow-up to the band’s 2018 Reverence LP, the metalcore powerhouse of Parkway Drive augmented their arsenal of arena-ready anthems, adding towering singles like “Glitch”, “The Greatest Fear” and the title track of “Darker Still” into their live assault.
Anchored by the definitive intensity and bombast that have become signature for the band, Darker Still also showcases a new level of songwriting prowess and artistry – firmly establishing Parkway Drive’s position in the hierarchy of heavy music. Coupled the band’s menacing presence, album seven asserts a sense of maturity and meticulousness that adds depth to the devastation and achieves a new creative triumph in career already loaded with accolades.
“There are compositions and songs that we’d never attempted before — or, to be more accurate, which we have attempted in the past, but not had the courage, time or understanding to pull off,” vocalist Winston McCall explains.
It’s that advantage of experience and expertise that positions Parkway Drive as not only top tier among the genre, but as the gold standard of Australia’s heavy music exports. Thriving in a region that has become a hotbed for heavy music, the band’s success has served well in shining a light on their country’s subcultural identity, the bands that continue to add to it, and the community that has galvanized around them.
In short, Parkway has better illuminated that Australia goes hard. So, it seemed only fitting to source some more information from the band and get their take on which Aussie bands are among those they feel are carrying that torch with far-reaching, international implications.
Parkway Drive frontman Winston McCall gave us ten bands, ten albums, and a wealth of knowledge on just who from Down Under is destined for the very top.
Northlane – Obsidian
McCall – Fearless in both identity and spirit. Northlane have carved a personal and unique path.
Justice For The Damned – Pain is Power
McCall – Relentless devastation. Catharsis as heavy as a sledgehammer. Smash everything.
Thy Art Is Murder – Holy War
McCall – Iconic. From the riffs, to the beats, to the lyrics and CJ’s voice. Earworms of pure devastation. World class.
Speed – A Gang Called Speed
McCall – Australia Hardcore at its finest. Heart, message, riffs and hooks. They have it all and they flex it hard.
Alpha wolf : A quiet place to die
McCall – Style and substance. The vision of the band bleeds through the bile with every note.
Redhook – Bad Decisions
McCall – A serious talent for crafting hooks delivered with attitude. Bites like a snake with a mouth full of bubblegum.
Polaris – Mortal Coil
McCall – Surely qualifies as an Australian classic by now. World class at every level.
In Hearts Wake – Earthwalker
McCall – A band that truly walks the walk. Absolute banger of an album and a genuine message.
Make Them Suffer – How to Survive a Funeral
McCall – A genuine talent for marrying beauty and devastation. Neck snapping, ethereal, anthemic bludgeoning.
Honest Crooks – Serpent of Old
McCall – Hits harder than a cement haymaker. More albums please.
Parkway Drive is set to join Slipknot for the inaugural edition of Knotfest Australia set for March of 2023. The three-day trek of the region includes stops in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Knotfest Premium Members will have access to an exclusive pre-sale starting at 8am AEDT on Thursday November 3rd. Early Bird Pre-Sale begins at 9am AEDT Thur November 3rd.
Access the pre-sale – HERE
General on-sale is set for 9am local time on Monday November 7th – HERE
KNOTFEST AUSTRALIA 2023
Friday 24 March 2023 – Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
Saturday 25 March 2023 – Centennial Park, Sydney
Sunday 26 March 2023 – RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane
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