One of the most talented rock and alternative metal bands right now is likely flying under your radar. Parabelle deserves to be massive, though. The long-running rock band, fronted by original Evans Blue vocalist Kevin Matisyn, is a bit like current Redskins starting QB Alex Smith. That analogy fits because much like Smith, Parabelle puts out solid, consistent records that occasionally (and more often now as they age) have some standout performances. While this metaphor may seem odd on the surface, there’s plenty more to Parabelle, who’ve been peddling their brand of hard rock for around a decade now.
Consider this – after Kevin and Evans Blue parted ways a decade ago, the latter lost basically any remaining relevance without Kevin’s distinct and dynamic vocal styles, while the former thrived on debut album A Summer Borderline/A Drop Oceanic. That album (actually a double album) and its melodic, slow-burning title track really showcased the obvious talent Parabelle has in creating cerebral, modern hard rock with an atmospheric and melodic touch. While never straying too far from their comfort zone, tracks like “In My Soul” make almost any listeners’ jaws drop with the passion and honesty that drip from most of this debut album. One of the only things “wrong” with ASB/ADO was the double record’s poor production – though in our opinion, it only adds to the charm of the album.
Sophomore effort Reassembling The Icons might just be Parabelle’s best work. A more streamlined effort than their debut, the album immediately grabs you with a slicker alt-metal feel on opening track “The Clocks”. A strong candidate for a track that would undoubtedly be massive at rock radio, these moments are tempered by harder-edged material like “Out There”, that might feel at home on a support bill with bands like Sevendust. That song’s heavier feel shows that Parabelle can excel at songwriting in just about any style they try.
Parabelle’s two most recent efforts, The Kill Plan and Your Starry Eyes Will Never Make Us Even, continue down that safe yet effective path. Album closer “My Surrender” displays the poetic nature of Kevin Matisyn’s lyrics, yet never comes across as corny – simply honest and intelligent. Above all, Parabelle’s newer material shows the band being one of the few that can effectively balance heavier, guitar-centric passages with more atmospheric touches. It’s on these last two records where vocalist Kevin Matisyn has really come into his own, both as a songwriter and as a lyricist. In a genre of music where lyrics often take a back seat to the music, it’s nice to see some creativity injected into the mix.
It’s hard to say that a band “deserves” any measure of success. But in a perfect world, Parabelle’s alternative metal excellence would have the band playing the festival circuit and topping the rock charts with Deftones and Sevendust. While that’s sadly not the case, Parabelle’s music should not go unheard by you, the reader. They’ve cemented themselves as a true gem – just listen to “The Clocks” for proof of their songwriting prowess.
