Parkway Drive are poised for world domination as one of the most significant purveyors of heavy music with their enthralling fourth album, Atlas, set for release via Resist Records on October 26th. The announcement comes as the band unleashes a brand new video for the debut track “Dark Days” which can be found below.
Recorded in Los Angeles with esteemed producer Matt Hyde (Slayer, Hatebreed), the soon-to-be-released Atlas sets the standard in musical progression by pushing musical boundaries and drawing from a wider scope of influence. From heavy, technically advanced riffs and rapid fire blast beats, to haunting death growls combined with fervent vocals and symphonic melodies, Atlas’s ferocious mix of metal and hardcore reaches new horizons with songs such as “Darks Days,” “Old Ghost/New Regrets” and “The River”.
Yet another creative leap forward, Atlas boasts some of the most up front and confrontational material Parkway has ever released, while at the same time taking several unexpected turns into lush sonic terrain, redefining their trademark sound while reinforcing their position as leaders in their field.
“Everything has been enhanced,” says Parkway vocalist Winston McCall. “People don’t have to kiss the old parts goodbye. When you think of change, you think of things being taken away, but there’s not a case here where anything has been taken away. This is just more on top.”
The new record is positioned to be the most highly anticipated heavy album of the year and follows-up 2010’s phenomenally successful Deep Blue, which debuted #39 in the US on the Billboard 200, #2 in Australia, as well as reaching Gold sales and winning the ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock and Metal Album.
"Atlas is a culmination of ten years," says McCall. "Ten years of Parkway Drive, ten years of travel, ten years of being alive and watching our world spiral out of control. We're not holding anything back, we're not pulling any punches, and this world deserves nothing less."
Atlas comes hot on the heels of PARKWAY DRIVE’s platinum-selling DVD, Home is for the Heartless, a unique travelogue that follows the band’s adventures touring to many obscure destinations including Colombia, China and India. According to Winston, the DVD gives an additional insight into the album’s lyrical themes, which are closely related to exploration and discovery.
“Reading the lyrics to Atlas after watching the DVD, I think you will have more of a sense of where we are coming from,” he reveals. “The album is called Atlas because it’s a combination of the travelling we’ve done over the past year, while also playing on the idea of Atlas, who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.”
Asked if he feels as though he and the band are anything like the mythological Greek titan, bearing the weight of the world on their shoulders, Winston replies: “I think everybody feels that way at one time or another. It’s a heavy place to live, and it’s a heavy time to be alive. Some people watch the DVD and go, ‘Man, it makes me jealous of your life.’ But I think with every expanse of your horizons, you go into another bubble of society where you see that others in the world ain’t doing so good. It’s one of those things, the more your horizons expand, the more negative things you see. For that reason there is a lot of stuff on this record that is more confrontational than anything we’ve written in the past.”
Fans are invited to pre-order a limited edition Parkway Drive beach towel and CD bundle here and limited coloured vinyl from here.
Parkway Drive “Atlas” CD / LP / Digital available October 26th.
Track listing:
1. Sparks
2. Old Ghost / New Regrets
3. Dream Run
4. Wild Eyes
5. Dark Days
6. The River
7. Swing
8. The Slow Surrender
9. Atlas
10. Sleight of Hand
11. Snake Oil and Holy Water
12. Blue and the Grey
"Dark Days" video
Parkway Drive "Atlas" Australian Tour
with special guests I Killed The Prom Queen, Northlane and Survival.
Thu December 13 High School, Byron Bay
Tickets from Afends (Byron Bay), Oztix outlets, www.oztix.com.au
Fri December 14 Riverstage, Brisbane
Tickets from Ticketmaster 136100, www.ticketmaster.com.au
Sat December 15 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Tickets from Ticketek outlets, www.ticketek.com.au
Sun December 16 UC Refectory, Canberra
Tickets from Ticketek outlets, www.ticketek.com.au
Mon December 17 Panthers, Newcastle
Tickets from Panthers Box Office, Moshtix outlets www.moshtix.com.au
Wed December 19 Challenge Stadium, Perth
Tickets from Ticketmaster 136100, www.ticketmaster.com.au
Thur December 20 Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Tickets from Venue Tix outlets www.venuetix.com.au
Sat December 22 Festival Hall, Melbourne
Tickets from Ticketmaster 136100, www.ticketmaster.com.au
All shows, all ages.
Tickets on sale now.
