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)
Picture Perfect Pathetic
Parkway Drive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You would be a fucking shot gun.
Against my head so fucking cold.
Picture perfect and pathetic.
I would so love to hang you.
Cat got your tongue?
Selling yourself short again?
Your selling you’re self short again.
I want to see you cry.
I want to see your tears.
Why did you throw your heart away.
Why did you let yourself down?
Why did you throw your heart away.
Why did you let yourself down time and again.
Why did you throw you heart away.
So taste the skin and let your heartbeat slow.
Feel you bleeding away.
Lifeless.
Why did you let yourself down.
Why did you throw your heart away.
That cheap fucking smile carries you to bed.
And those lips are social suicide but I just want to see you dead.
You’re like a shotgun baby.
Pointed at my head.
And those lips are suicide but I just want to see you dead.
In Parkway Drive's "Picture Perfect Pathetic," the vocalist is addressing a person who is selling themselves short and throwing their heart away on something that is not worth it. The title of the song refers to the person in question as "picture perfect and pathetic," implying that, despite their good looks, they are still disappointing in some way. The lyrics further imply that the person is putting on a facade, with their looks being described as a "cheap fucking smile" and "social suicide": They are aware of their beauty but lack substance.
The singer expresses a desire to see the person break down and cry, "bare[ing] their insecurities." In doing so, he hopes to understand why they keep making the same mistakes and letting themselves down. The song ends on a dark note, with the phrase "I just want to see you dead" repeated twice. The use of violent imagery adds to the bleak mood of the song, with the vocalist seemingly at a loss when it comes to helping the person in question.
Line by Line Meaning
If looks could kill.
If your appearance could cause physical harm, you would be like a lethal weapon.
You would be a fucking shot gun.
You would be as deadly as a shotgun.
Against my head so fucking cold.
Your presence makes me feel cold and uncomfortable.
Picture perfect and pathetic.
You may appear perfect, but in reality, you are weak and pitiful.
I would so love to hang you.
I despise you so much that I would love to see you suffer.
Cat got your tongue?
Are you speechless and unable to respond?
Selling yourself short again?
Are you once again undervaluing yourself?
Your selling you’re self short again.
You are undervaluing yourself once again.
Bare your insecurities.
Show me your vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
I want to see you cry.
I desire to witness your emotional pain and suffering.
I want to see your tears.
I desire to witness you shedding tears.
Why did you throw your heart away.
Why did you give up on love and abandon your emotions?
Why did you let yourself down?
Why did you disappoint yourself?
Why did you throw your heart away.
Why did you give up on love and abandon your emotions?
Why did you let yourself down time and again.
Why do you continuously disappoint yourself?
Why did you throw you heart away.
Why did you give up on love and abandon your emotions?
So taste the skin and let your heartbeat slow.
Experience the intimacy and allow yourself to relax.
Feel you bleeding away.
Sense yourself losing your vitality and energy.
Lifeless.
Without energy or vitality, as if dead.
Why did you let yourself down.
Why did you disappoint yourself?
Why did you throw your heart away.
Why did you give up on love and abandon your emotions?
That cheap fucking smile carries you to bed.
Your insincere smile helps you attract partners to bed.
And those lips are social suicide but I just want to see you dead.
Your actions and words are damaging to your reputation, but I wish you harm regardless.
You’re like a shotgun baby.
You are just as dangerous and lethal as a loaded firearm.
Pointed at my head.
Directly targeting and endangering me.
And those lips are suicide but I just want to see you dead.
Your words and actions are harmful, but I desire to witness your demise regardless.
Contributed by Hudson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@YaBoyJRock42069
Killing With A Smile is a great example of a perfect heavy album. It's almost 2021 and this album holds up amazingly.
@HansFlamme
Well said
@mrdurp2u
One of the best metal albums ever idc what anyone says.
@jonathanwickett7028
I have never had a band impact me the way they have..I like things like killswitch,I. Flames, soikworl, dark tranquility, children of books, August burns red, we came as Roman's, after, lamb of God.....
@alexiluffy216
@@jonathanwickett7028 children of books lmao xD
@carlossalazar4168
LIFELESS!
@Matt-yj1lz
So taste the skin and let your heartbeat slow until your fading away...LIFELESS
@williamkneeland5833
If you pause at 1:14 exactly, infinite silence. Press play to unleash the rest of the song at your leisure 😈
@engineeringuniverse4268
@parkwaydriveofficial put this song on the next tour. Please🤘🤘🤘
@CKproduktions
why arnt these on spotify? :(