The ban… Read Full Bio ↴Parkway Drive is a metalcore band from Byron Bay, Australia.
The band formed in the summer of 2003, their name coming from the street they used to practice on in their home town of Byron Bay, Australia. Not long after they had formed, they released a split EP with Adelaide band I Killed The Prom Queen. Later that year, the band also made an appearance on the Byron Bay Hardcore compilation What We've Built, preceded by their debut EP, Don't Close Your Eyes.
In May 2005 the PwD headed to the USA to record their debut album with renowned metal producer, Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (who is responsible for acclaimed releases from the likes of Unearth, August Burns Red, Underoath and Johnny Truant.)
Since the release of Don't Close Your Eyes, Parkway Drive have rapidly accumulated a loyal fanbase Australia-wide, courtesy of support slots for international acts including Hatebreed, In Flames, Chimaira, Shadows Fall, As I Lay Dying, Bleeding Through, Alexisonfire, and performances at Metal for The Brain 2005 and Australia's Hardcore 2005. They have built quite a strong reputation within the music industry, this led to their signing with Epitaph record label.
In June 2006 they released Killing With a Smile in the United States during August of that year.
In late May 2006, second bass player Shaun Cash left the band for personal reasons with the full support of the rest of the members. The band soon found a replacement in their "merch guy" and long-time friend, Jia "Pie" O'Connor. Now a permanent part of the line-up, he played with them for the rest of their first international tour in the United Kingdom, and Europe, and later dates in the United States.
In October 2006, they were billed as the Australian contingent on the Rockstar Taste of Chaos tour, playing alongside Anti-Flag, Underoath, Thursday, Senses Fail, Taking Back Sunday and Saosin. During November and December 2006, they appeared at the Homebake Festival, Sound Fest, Resist Records' tour, Soundwave Festival and Gravity G Festival before returning to the UK and Europe.
On 3 March 2007, a new song was previewed to a crowd at Underworld entitled "The Siren's Song". The song would later feature on Horizons. They were placed on the bill for the U.S. Vans Warped Tour 2007 as the only Australian band on the tour. On 15 August, Winston McCall appeared in an interview on the short.fast.loud show on Australia's Triple J Radio station in which he previewed a track off Horizons entitled "Boneyards".
Horizons was released on 6 October 2007. The album was generally acclaimed by critics and fans alike; especially Blunt Magazine, who wrote that the album 'simply slays from the get go' and awarded it 10/10, and planet-loud.com, which suggested that it would 'set the benchmark for metal albums to come'. It debuted at number 6 on the ARIA Charts. After the release of Horizons, the band toured through the US, Australia and Europe with such bands such as Killswitch Engage, Bury Your Dead, Darkest Hour and others.
In February/March 2008, Parkway teamed up with Byron Bay bands/friends 50 lions and Word Up!, to complete the Surf Rats Tour of east coast Australia. This tour (travelling to towns not listed on the standard touring circuit) was based around surfing big surf spots on the way.
On 12 December 2008 while performing at UNSW Roundhouse, Parkway Drive announced that they were filming a DVD of the show, which would include footage of the performance and a few songs from other bands featured in the Sweat Fest Tour. On 18 January 2009, Parkway Drive announced their headlining US tour with Stick to Your Guns and Mychildren Mybride. On 28 January to 1 February 2009, Parkway Drive went on a tour in Japan with Shai Hulud and Crystal Lake. Parkway Drive played at the 2009 Bamboozle Lineup at the Giant's Stadium parking lots; as well as being confirmed at 2009's Download Festival.
In May 2009, Parkway Drive announced that they would be releasing a live DVD and an Australian tour was also announced with August Burns Red and Architects in support of it. It was on this tour that the band performed a new song entitled "Unrest."
On 11 January 2022, the band announced a North American tour in May and June, supported by Hatebreed, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Stick to Your Guns. However, on 6 April, they announced the cancellation of the tour, stating that "the relentless nature of being in this band has given us very little time to reflect on who we are as individuals, who we want to be and the toll it is taking on ourselves and our friendships". On 23 May, it was announced that for their mental health, Parkway Drive would be taking a break from activity, but clarified that they "are here to stay".
On 7 June, following a series of teasers released on various social media, the band unveiled a brand new single entitled "Glitch" along with a music video. On 8 June, the band announced that their Fall 2022 European tour with Lorna Shore and While She Sleeps would continue as scheduled with a rebrand, and new music to accompany said tour. On 6 July, the band released the second single "The Greatest Fear" and its corresponding music video. At the same time, they officially announced that their seventh studio album, Darker Still, was set for release on 9 September 2022, whilst also revealing the album cover and the track list.
Discography:
Albums
- 2005 - Killing with a Smile (Resist Records, Epitaph Records)
- 2007 - Horizons (Resist Records, Burning Heart Records, Epitaph Records)
- 2010 - Deep Blue (Resist Records, Epitah Records, Burning Heart)
- 2012 - Atlas (Resist Records, Epitah Records, Burning Heart)
- 2015 - I.R.E.
- 2018 - Reverence
- 2022 - Darker Still
Other Releases:
- 2003 - Split EP with I Killed The Prom Queen
- 2004 - Don’t Close Your Eyes EP (Resist Records)
- 2006 - Don’t Close Your Eyes (Reissue) EP (Resist Records)
- n/a - “What We’ve Built” BBHC compilation
- 2006 - Smoke ‘Em If Ya Got ‘Em (Resist Records)
- 2007 - Boneyards (Resist Records)
- 2009 - Parkway Drive: The DVD
Members:
Current:
Winston McCall - Vocals (2003–present)
Jeff Ling - Lead guitar (2003–present)
Luke "Pig" Kilpatrick - Rhythm guitar (2003–present)
Ben "Gaz" Gordon - Drums (2003–present)
Jia "Pie" O'Connor - Bass (2006–present)
Former:
Shaun "Cashy" Cash - Bass (2004–2006)
Brett "Lagg" Versteeg - Bass & backing vocals (2003–2004)
Alone
Parkway Drive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stranger to the world
Alone in my abandonment
A gaining army of white horses
Stark warning race before the icy front
The deceiving calm betrays all signs of impending change
Damnation or salvation?
As my skin breaks the blackened surface
The cold is rising, yet all embracing
Darkness, erase this lonesome place
From my every existence
An angry sky bares the signs
A distant violence yet to break
The ocean's travelers cry forth across the waves
Lightning cracks across a vast horizon
Reaching out its hands towards an unsuspecting shore
No light to guide
No ties, no ties to bind
Evening tide, what do you hide?
What do you hide?
To the years spent waiting on the winds of change
This is penance paid
This is my penance paid
To the morning Sun
Whose warmth never found this young man's face
Shifting light outlines my battered form
Stranger to the world
Alone!
Evening tide, what do you hide?
What do you hide?
Lightning cracks across a vast horizon
Reaching out its hands towards an unsuspecting shore
With a final effort, I strike out across the swells
Seeking only the answers maybe horizons hold
With a final effort, I strike out across the swells
Seeking only the answers maybe horizons hold
The lyrics of Parkway Drive's song "Alone" convey the feeling of isolation, anticipating change and searching for answers. The singer of the song sees himself as a stranger to the world, battered and abandoned. The approaching army of white horses symbolizes a warning of impending change, while the calmness of the evening tide disguises it. The nature around him reflects an anger that is yet to be unleashed, and lightning cracks across the vast horizon, searching for a way to reach the shore.
The singer, who is desperate for answers, decides to go on a journey across the ocean, seeking what the horizons might hold. The lyrics are poetic and evoke strong emotions of loneliness, desperation, and a longing for something unknown.
Overall, "Alone" is a powerful song that touches upon many themes, including change, the unpredictability of nature, and the search for meaning in one's life. It is a song that speaks to the human experience of longing and searching for deeper truths.
Line by Line Meaning
Shifting light outlines my battered form
The changing light highlights my bruised and injured body
Stranger to the world
Unfamiliar and disconnected from society
Alone in my abandonment
Completely isolated and left behind
A gaining army of white horses
Powerful waves building and approaching
Stark warning race before the icy front
A clear sign of danger coming towards me
The deceiving calm betrays all signs of impending change
The peacefulness of the current moment hides the danger that is approaching
Evening tide, what do you hide?
Questioning the unknown dangers that the tide may bring
Damnation or salvation?
Wondering if relief or punishment is on the horizon
As my skin breaks the blackened surface
Emerging from the dark depths of the ocean
The cold is rising, yet all embracing
The numbing chill is wrapping me up entirely
Darkness, erase this lonesome place
Hoping for the despair to disappear
From my every existence
From my entire being
An angry sky bares the signs
An ominous storm is on the horizon
A distant violence yet to break
A violent storm brewing far away
The ocean's travelers cry forth across the waves
The sounds of distressed sea creatures are heard in the distance
Lightning cracks across a vast horizon
A bolt of lightning illuminates the vast expanse of the sky
Reaching out its hands towards an unsuspecting shore
The lightning strikes the land with sudden force
No light to guide
No source of direction or comfort
No ties, no ties to bind
No connections or responsibilities to keep me grounded
To the years spent waiting on the winds of change
Reflecting on the past struggles and hopes for the future
This is penance paid
This is the punishment I must endure
To the morning Sun
To the beginning of a new day
Whose warmth never found this young man's face
Whose comfort and happiness were never experienced by me
With a final effort, I strike out across the swells
With a final burst of energy, I move forward through the waves
Seeking only the answers maybe horizons hold
Looking for hope and answers in the unknown future
Alone!
Utterly and completely by oneself
Contributed by Daniel F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@marcla76
The thing I love about this band is the love they get from the comments. I watch a shitload of YouTube videos and there is so much hate out there. These guys are so brutal and down to earth guys. Every song they release gets so much praise from their fans.🤘
@junaidmoody8342
Well we finally see all the fake fans now..more than I thought
@nxzector
Just purchased the vinyl!
I remember how much I listened to this back in high school when it released and I remember I would have this album on repeat on the 720 metro bus on Wilshire Blvd. So nostalgic!!!
Love you guys!
I will never stop listening
@als.688
can't believe I forgot about this band....Still one of my favorite
@NanShanker69
Lightning Cracks across the vast horizon! This was my favourite song when I first got into metal, so so glad I started at the best(IMO). Parkway are a big reason I have the motivation to grind for the family. Love coming back to this album in particular and remembering the first time I listened to it start to finish. Wow
@ArtSnob101
I usually am in to more positive lyrics but for some reason I just love parkway's poetically depressing and dark lyrics and the way Winston delivers them .
@DVRcoxa
I can’t believe that every song I listen to by them is fucking epic! Every single one of them are better than the next
@alexiluffy216
i've been humming the riff at 0:29 for some time now in my daily life.. so catchy
@Alex_Hetherington
This song is so underrated
@kyleharris4287
Underviewed, not underrated