Byron Bay’s heavy metal band Parkway Drive have returned home for their 20-year Anniversary Tour. The band, formed in 2003 is one of Australia’s most successful heavy metal pioneers. Performing songs from seven different albums, Parkway Drive performs a 2-hour metalcore masterpiece to a sold-out audience.
The line-up for the night’s show included ‘Void of Vision’, ‘The Ghost Inside’, ‘I Prevail’ and ‘Parkway Drive’. Unexpected production issues pushed the timing of the event back by around 2 hours, and fans were stuck outside the stadium eagerly awaiting to be let in. These issues were present at the Sydney show the night before, which led to two bands being able to perform.
Unfortunately, at 6:15pm after just opening the gates, the announcement was made that Void of Vision and The Ghost Inside would be unable to play due to timing constraints caused by the production issues.
The night opened with a Welcome to Country that acknowledged the importance of trying our best to look after each other, and our land, and by passing this care on so that future generations can continue to listen to more deadly heavy metal music in the future.
The next band, I Prevail has no easy job. Now tasked to warm up a crowd, clearly disgruntled from the unexpected wait times and performance cancellations. They rise to the challenge to perform ten songs from their two most recent albums, including a bonus of their famous cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space”. The band’s constant crowd participation made for an extremely thrilling time for those in the mosh pit. From the stands, crowds could see multiple ‘walls of death’, crowd-surfers, and a sea of headbanging. There was no doubt that I Prevail prepared this crowd for Parkway Drive to take the stage, and boy, were they in for a treat.
I Prevail Gallery
A spotlight appeared in the stands as Parkway Drive makes their entrance through the crowd to descend through the mosh and make their way to the stage. They embrace the interactions of excited fans along the way, who cannot wait to mosh again. The band took to a small, secondary stage, firmly embedded in the mosh. All it took was the opening of ‘Carrion” for the crowd to erupt into an explosion of sound.
Parkway Drive’s set included a good variety of hits from across their albums, including a six-song mashup of their “favourite parts of songs” from their first album ‘Killing it with a Smile’. The band’s infectious energy and killer musical prowess are more than enough to stir their crowd into a frenzy. However, it’s Parkway Drive’s high production value, that makes their event a theatrical experience.
From the moment the show opened, there were multiple uses of wicked pyrotechnics and fireworks, supported with dancers and a string band, and intricate set-pieces; including a suspended bridge that would carry members of the band high above the crowd.
One of the highlights of the evening was the guest performance from ‘I Killed the Prom Queen’s’ lead vocalist Michael Crafter, for the performance of “Boneyards”. The band provided a touching dedication to him, detailing how he “saw in us what no one else did” and gave them their first step, for which they haven’t stopped since.
I can honestly say that before tonight an encore has never left me speechless. Parkway Drive exceeded all my expectations. For the penultimate number, Lead vocalist Winston McCall, was raised above the crowd on a bridge that shot fire in every direction. The other members taking the main stage that is rigged with enough pyrotechnics to burn your eyebrows off from the stands.
In a display that was so jaw-dropping, the drummer Ben Gordon, is strapped into a harness in a circular cage, and rotated upside down in full 360-degree motion as he’s played.
For the final number, the band gathers on the secondary stage, thanking everyone in the audience for their support on their 20-year journey, and urging everyone “from roof to the floor” to sing. With hands to the sky, the belting of “Wild Eyes” from the crowd filled the stadium. For a truly unforgettable experience, Parkway Drive knows how to put on a truly deadly metal show.
Parkway Drive Gallery
Photos by Vidic Images. With thanks to Destroy All Lines for the media access.
