Live Review: Parkway Drive @ The GC Convention Centre

Despite all the thunder and rain last Sunday night, Gold Coast’s Convention Centre was jam-packed with hundreds of passionate punters ready for Parkway Drive’s return to the Coast. The Byron Bay metalcore 5-piece, haven’t graced the Coast with their presence since 2013, so expectations of the night were understandably high.

The room was instantly lifted up in a roar as Parkway Drive dove straight into Destroyer. “Everyone put your fists up!” shouted frontman, Winston McCall. The crowd was ecstatic. Hands were raised, the moshing started and you could definitely feel the infectious energy quickly filling the room.

The night’s set list included all the expected hits, including Carrion, Vice Grip, and many more. Every song was met with rapturous applause, every single lyric belted out by fans, while all accompanied with crowd surfing and intense circle pits. Parkway Drive then ripped into Dedicated from their last studio album ‘Ire’, and despite being one of the band’s newer numbers, the track oozes thunderous mosh-metal befitting any Parkway Drive classic.

“They have a unique brand of unabashed brutality and are masters at bringing variety and creativity to their sound.”

The band’s sound is a fresh mix of classic metalcore riffs, growling lyrics and catchy choruses. They have a unique brand of unabashed brutality and are masters at bringing variety and creativity to their sound. There’s no doubt that Parkway Drive have a knack for writing introspective tunes and splicing the grandeur of 80s metal with anger and a bite of contemporary influences.

The inevitable highlight of the night was when 2007’s Boneyards was performed. The raw energy and uncompromising heaviness of Parkway Drive formed the crowd into a mosh pit where bodies went flying. McCall’s vocal diversity was incredible, as he screamed at incredible lows as well as screeched to his heart’s content. The set was then rounded out with Dark Days, Karma, Wild Eyes and finally Bottom Feeder. But with time in hand, there was just enough room for an encore featuring Crushed and Home Is For The Heartless.

Check out the video to Parkway’s Vice Grip, and check out the remaining tour dates below!

Parkway Drive ‘All Aussie Adventure’ Tour

FRI 24 JUNE
Panthers, Penrith
SAT 25 JUNE
Wollongong Uni, Wollongong
SUN 26 JUNE
Entertainment Centre, Sutherland
THU 30 JUNE
The Cube, Albury
FRI 1 JULY
Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo
Sat 2 JULY
The Arena, Geelong
Sun 3 JULY
Chelsea Heights, Frankston

Get Tickets HERE