Parkway Drive – Darker Still

Label: Epitaph
Released: 9th September 2022

‘Darker Still’ is a master-class in modern metal. Cohesive and cinematic, each song paints a violently vivid scene, with the album playing out like the soundtrack to an anti-hero’s final battle.

Gorgeously gothic, it takes a clear influence from 90s metal. Despite the rawness of the vocals, this album is noticeably polished. Multi-layered with a string quartet and some absolutely magical work from lead guitarist Jeff Ling; the near seven-minute epic ‘Darker Still’ acts as the perfect title-track, while ‘Soul Bleach’ is a collision of chaos so intense you’ll get whiplash.

Parkway Drive once again prove that they do nothing by halves. Massively impressive. ■ Kelsey McClure