Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Parkway Drive is a band that melds some heavy subject matter and riffing with gang choruses, hook laden melodies and quality songwriting. Their album 'Reverence' continues down this path and might be the band's most accessible release to date. Songs like the opener "Wishing Wells" showcases the band ability to craft a heavy track with some pretty serious lyrical content. "I spoke a vow today and asked if god would come and play, I've dug a shallow hole for him to sleep." This track is hands down my favorite from the album as it's just a raw, gritty performance from the band and frontman Winston McCall delivers a very unfettered and emotional vocal performance as well.

The rest of the album is a mix of really accessible tracks that blur the line between heavy and almost borderline pop. "Prey" has this gang chorus that is reminiscent of South Africa's Seether and "The Void" is very anthemic and one I can see being a staple for their live performances. "Shadow Boxing" features McCall rapping which feels a little out of place and a tad misplaced but it is still a pretty solid track. Album closer "The Color of Leaving" has a bit of a subdued country ballad feel to it and is a stark contrast to the way the album started out. The spoken word at the end of the track carries some serious weight to it and really hits you in the gut with the emotion put into the words themselves.

The production is very slick and really highlights everything in a way to maximize the ability for these songs to worm their way into your brain and set up shop there. I was a huge fan of their previous album 'Ire' but I feel that 'Reverence' is an album that will really be able to appeal to a much wider fanbase and will help the band branch out to other fans throughout the metal world.

Recommended for fans of: Metalcore, Architects