Parkway Drive released their fantastic new album ‘IRE‘ last week on Resist Records, and are currently wowing audiences on their album launch tour which tonight has them at Riverstage in Brisbane followed by two nights at Byron Bay High School over the weekend. Next week is Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra’s turn.
Ben from the band took the time to answer our On The Record questions to tell us about the album. Take a read of his answers below.
The title ‘IRE’ came about pretty organically and easily really. About halfway through the writing process we started talking about titles and Winston said he liked the word ‘Ire’ which basically means anger or hate. It sounded a little weird at first but it eventually grew on us. Now we love it, it’s concise and powerful.
Tell us about the artwork.
We had the artwork handmade out of driftwood and tiles by our good friend and art guru Callum Preston. I like the idea of having physical tactile piece of art rather than just a digital cover done on photoshop. The idea was just to have a simple and classy looking cover that can be recognized instantly which I think we’ve achieved.
What format/s will it be released on and how will it be packaged?
It is available on iIunes, double Vinyl, CD and there are also different packages available.
Who will it be released through, and when?
Resist Records in Australia, Epitaph records everywhere else. World wide release date was September 25th.
Tell us about the studio and why you chose to record there?
We actually recorded in 2 different studios, drums were recorded in Metalworks studio in Ottawa and everything else was recorded at All Buttons In Studio in Toronto. We recorded in Canada because that’s were our producer and engineer is from.
Tell us about the producer / engineer and why you chose to record with them?
We actually took a huge gamble on this record and decided to record with our live sound guy George Hadjichristou and his brother Dean who owns a studio in Toronto. We thought it was more important having someone we are super comfortable with and that knows our sound, knows what works live and is passionate about what we are doing rather than having a big named producer that might not be as excited or put as much effort and love into it.
Did you go into the writing process with a clear direction in mind?
Not at all. All we knew was we wanted to expand our sound more than we have previously done before because writing the same stuff in the same way was becoming unsatisfying to us. It was a challenge stepping out of our comfort zone and experimenting with different ideas, structures and concepts that we weren’t familiar with.
Were you listening to anything in particular during the writing / recording process that influenced the songs at all?
The 3 song writers in the band are Jeff, Winston and myself. We all listen to different stuff so each of us were influenced by different music in different ways which bring in a lot of varied ideas. I was listening to the new Slipknot a lot for a while during the writing process so that might have rubbed off a little on the record.
Were there any albums you were referencing in the studio to aim for a certain type of sound production wise?
Not really. We just wanted a fat heavy sound that was also clear and dynamic.
How long did you spend in the studio recording?
A total of 3 months which is double the longest amount of time we’ve ever spent before.
Basically the biggest thing we wanted for the recording process was time, but because none of us wanted to be away for 3 months we did a lot of it separately. First we did 2 weeks of pre-production in Australia to finalize the songs with the full band, then I went over to Canada solo to record the drums which took 2 weeks, then I left and the guitarists came over to record the guitars which took a month, then finally Winton came over to do vocals and final touches which took close to a month. It worked well because no one was burnt out by the time they had to start.
Was this any different to previous processes you have used?
Yes. Usually we just all record together for 5-6 weeks which has been much more stressful in the past as there is pressure due to time constraints.
Any guests involved? if so, who.. and what did they do?
We had a 3 string ensemble play pieces on ‘Writings On The Wall’ and ‘A Deathless Song’ which was amazing to watch. It’s inspiring to see true musicianship!
When it comes do naming the tracks, is there any particular approach or process to it all?
Winston usually comes up with the track names, either from a line derived from a the lyrics or something pertaining to the song.
Any particular equipment outside your usual live gear used in the process?
There were lots of different little instruments that we’ve never used before but my personal favorite was when I played a Djembe on Fractures. The Byron hippies will be proud!
Any memorable studio moments?
I recorded the drums in Ottawa in February which happened to be the coldest February in 50 years. We would go outside for lunch and it would instantly feel like your nose was about to fall off cause that was the only body part not covered up. It was a far cry from the usual Byron Bay weather i’m used to!
Any additional tracks recorded that didn’t make the cut but may see the light of day sometime?
No. We aren’t a band that writes 50 songs and picks the best, we just try to write good songs from the start. If they aren’t good they usually just get scrapped before they are finished.
What track/s are you most looking forward to playing live?
I’d say I’m looking forward to playing ‘Crushed’ the most live. It’s pretty simple musically but I feel like it’s going to be enormous live because it’s so open and heavy. A headbangers paradise.
How would you compare the final product to previous releases?
In my opinion ‘IRE’ is the best album we have ever released. It’s got the best production, has the most diversity, catchiest songs and also is the heaviest album we’ve ever made. I just feel it’s an overall more mature and professional album.
Anything else you want to say or about the release?
The best part about these songs will be playing them live. Check out tour dates [Here].
PARKWAY DRIVE
With guests THY ART IS MURDER, MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, THE WORD ALIVE
OCTOBER
2nd – Riverstage, Brisbane [Lic/AA]
3rd – High School, Byron Bay [AA] SOLD OUT
4th – High School, Byron Bay [AA]
9th – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney [Lic/AA]
10th – UC Refectory, Canberra [Lic/AA]
11th – Panthers, Newcastle [18+]
—> Tickets available now.
—> For more information, visit [Here].
1. Destroyer 4:47
2. Dying To Believe 3:12
3. Vice Grip 4:23
4. Crushed 4:36
5. Fractures 5:32
6. Writings On the Wall 4:23
7. Bottom Feeder 4:20
8. The Sound of Violence 3:24
9. Vicious 4:21
10. Dedicated 3:23
11. A Deathless Song 5:53
