Darker Still
Parkway Drive · 2022
46 min · 11 tracks · heavy metal
Heavy riffs intertwine with atmospheric melodies, creating a dynamic exploration of fear and resilience.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Greatest Fear — This track encapsulates the album's overarching themes of vulnerability and introspection, blending powerful instrumentation with poignant lyrics that resonate deeply.
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If a God Can Bleed — In this track, the juxtaposition of heavy instrumentals and reflective lyrics offers a raw commentary on faith and humanity's struggles.
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Darker Still — The title track serves as the emotional centerpiece of the album, showcasing a blend of melodic passages and aggressive dynamics that highlight the band's sonic versatility.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends heavy riffs with atmospheric elements, showcasing strong production and thematic depth.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a heavy, driving riff in 'Ground Zero' that sets a dark tone, followed by tracks that alternate between aggressive and atmospheric sections.
- Several tracks feature layered vocals, with harsh screams contrasted by melodic singing, particularly evident in 'If a God Can Bleed'.
- The final track, 'From the Heart of the Darkness', concludes with an extended instrumental section that gradually fades out, creating a sense of closure.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing for focused listening
- existential themes for deep reflection
- cinematic soundscapes for immersive experience
- consistent energy throughout the album
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- enjoy short standalone singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on September 9, 2022, 'Darker Still' is Parkway Drive's seventh studio album, following their critically acclaimed 'Reverence' from 2018. At this point in their career, the band was navigating new sonic territories while maintaining their metalcore roots, marking a deliberate evolution in their sound and thematic focus.
- Stylistic neighbors
- August Burns Red· Killswitch Engage· As I Lay Dying
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Ground Zero 4:09
- 2 Like Napalm 3:45
- 3 Glitch 4:21
- 4 The Greatest Fear 5:28
- 5 Darker Still 6:51
- 6 Imperial Heretic 4:50
- 7 If a God Can Bleed 2:41
- 8 Soul Bleach 3:32
- 9 Stranger 0:51
- 10 Land of the Lost 5:00
- 11 From the Heart of the Darkness 5:09
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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