when parkway drive released their first album 'killing with a smile' in august of 2005, it was a few month later when a friend of mine played it to me while driving from a show. i thought, man, this is pretty damn good. i bought the cd and listened the shit out of it. two years later came 'horizons' and i got the cd as soon as it was out. expectations weren't fully met but it's still a real good record, which by the way has never got the vinyl treatment. someone needs to fill that void!
three years later 'deep blue' was released and this is where i lost them for a while. 2010 was a troubled year for me with some big changes along the way. money was short and so i stood away from everything that wasn't totally necessary. 'deep blue' fell through the cracks back then. in 2012 'atlas' was unleashed and i struggled to get a copy. it took me another two years to finally pick it up.
listening to that record, i had to admit to myself that i was an idiot for ignoring them. 'atlas' is a powerful record from start to finish. so when parkway drive announced their new album going by the name of 'ire', i knew i would be there right from the start. well, not straight because i didn't pre-order but i knew that there would be plenty of options available, so no real pressure to order fast.
in the end i even got hold on one of the most limited colour-ways. this transparent red should have only been available to people on the pwd mailing list. well, i am not but through some links of the kingsroad merch eu shop i got directed to the offer and so i took the chance. with a few spins under my belt i must say that these aussies really amaze me. the band is experimenting quite a lot. pwd got a bit catchier and more hymnal on 'ire' but also more intense.
boy, just listen to 'writings on the wall'. vocalist winston mccall gives me the goose bumps with his batman voice here, haha! the record sounds like it was made for the big halls, the big summer festival stages. it might push them further and they are standing on the edge to become a real big name. we'll see. the artwork is quite cool, even though i don't think i understand it. the vinyl looks ace. somehow pinkish. the d-side etching looks sharp as well. very good release all around. 300 made. epitaph records. 2015.
