Halifax’s pop-rockers Quiet Parade have not been staying quiet with the release of their new album The Will to Weather The Storm. Some changes have come along with this record which have shifted the band from their former folk-rocker portrayal to what we now hear as their new pop-rock identity – and it’s good!
This blend of familiarity and newness is refreshing and establishes the band’s ability to perfectly showcase their new style. The songs are strong and well thought out featuring memorable choruses that coincide with a real truthfulness weaved within the lyrics.
Other than “Young Hearts”, which was produced and recorded by Colin Buchanan in Charlottetown, PEI at The Hill Sound, the rest of the album was recorded by Thomas Stajcer at Dartmouth’s New Scotland Yard.
This album also marks Trevor Murphy’s switch to taking over bass duties, although not his first time playing the bass, he returns to his roots, with Katelyn Bonomo taking over guitar during live performances and playing on the track “Nervous All The Time”.
“In every other band I’ve ever played in, I’ve been the bass player. Bass is my alma mater of instruments,” explains frontman Trevor Murphy. “I started Quiet Parade 13 years ago as a solo side-project to Sleepless Nights, so I was writing all the songs on guitar and that’s how the music came together up until this record. Jumping over to bass was really out of necessity. Our long-time bassist Anthony moved, so as we started the writing sessions for The Will To Weather The Storm. I filled in just so the rehearsals would have some low-end in the mix. That led to me starting to write songs on the bass, and then eventually to a place where I was now fronting the band and playing bass.
“When we played our first few shows in this new format I was surprised at how easily it came. For the first time, I wasn’t really thinking about the chords or the placement of my fingers – I was just… playing. That was a good feeling.”
Among the album’s standout tracks is “Don’t Put It On Me.” Cheery chords wrap around the true meaning of the climate change-inspired lyrics, drawn from a presentation that had been featured at Sappyfest. Murphy says the song emphasizes that recognizing the wisdom of our elders can teach us more about how to care for the future. This song does a great job of embodying the bands lean to their new pop-rock style.
“I think we each drew a lot of inspiration from each other – working as a group of four people to really hone in on the songs, and to let everyone’s skills and influence drive the final product. Even though the lyrics all come from me, the music is all a result of collaboration and trust,” says Murphy.
Throughout the entirety of the nine tracks Murphy’s vocals are welcoming and confident. The instrumentation from the fellow band members flow together seamlessly and the production on the album heightens the overall listening experience. We suggest you weather the pandemic by giving this record a listen.