[Review] Parkway Drive @ Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney 21/09/2024
Parkway Drive transformed Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena into a melting pot of heavy music and explosive spectacle for their 20-year anniversary tour this past Saturday evening. It was a day of immense activity in Sydney’s Olympic Park, with not only Parkway Drive drawing 21,000 fans to a sold-out show but also the Bledisloe Cup at Accor Stadium and Comic Con in full swing nearby. Despite the logistical chaos outside, the moment fans entered the arena, their focus shifted entirely to the stage, as the band and their fans made it clear that this night belonged to them.
What began as a four-band lineup quickly shifted to a two-band bill, as Void of Vision and The Ghost Inside both had to cancel their sets due to unforeseen production issues. The disappointment was palpable, especially for fans eager to see Void of Vision celebrate their latest release, What I’ll Leave Behind, and those looking forward to The Ghost Inside’s long-awaited return to Australian soil after almost a decade.
However, the night was far from lost. Hailing from Detroit, I Prevail broke in the stage with tracks like There’s Fear in Letting Go and Body Bag quickly getting the crowd warmed up. Their reluctant but well-received cover of Taylor Swift’s Blank Space had the crowd screaming along, while songs like Choke inspired insane mosh pits. Their set was a rollercoaster of emotions, particularly during Hurricane, where frontman Brian Burkheiser touched on mental health struggles. By the time they closed with Gasoline, the arena was crackling with anticipation for what was to come.
Then came Parkway Drive.
The atmosphere shifted to a new level as the big screens flickered to life, showing nostalgic footage from their early days. The moment felt personal, almost intimate, as if the band was letting everyone in on the journey that brought them to this massive stage. The band emerged from the back of the arena, vocalist Winston McCall led the charge, draped in a white hoodie, resembling a boxer making his walk to the ring, flanked by two flag bearers.
They navigated their way through the crowd, building anticipation with every step handing out hugs and hi5’s. As they reached the center, the band assembled on a boxing-ring-sized stage in the middle of the arena, launching straight into their opener, and crowd favourite, Carrion. The small stage gave an intense, close-quarters feel, the band playing almost face-to-face with the audience. The energy was relentless as they followed up with Prey and Glitch, the floor of Qudos Arena heaving with at least 90% of the crowd jumping in unison. Mid-set, the band transitioned to the main stage via a walkway.
And that’s when the pyro kicked in. The sheer scale of the fire and explosions made it clear—the pyro budget for this tour must have been astronomical.
Highlights of the night included Vice Grip, during which a girl in a wheelchair was crowd-surfed from the back to the front, as if one ride wasn’t enough she would return 2 more times throughout the night. It was a pure, unfiltered moment of unity and celebration. The band tore through Boneyards featuring special guest Michael Crafter from Carpathian and I Killed The Prom Queen. A nod to the old school Australian hardcore fans in attendance. Winston’s thorn-adorned mic stand added a touch of symbolism to the visceral emotion in Wishing Wells, I sure hope that becomes a mainstay!
For long-time fans, the true peak came with a medley of tracks from their 2005 album, Killing With A Smile. Dubbed “Killing With A Medley,” the band shredded through Gimme a D, Anasasis (Xenophontis), Mutiny, Romance Is Dead, and Smoke ‘Em If Ya Got ‘Em, delivering an old-school breakdown mashup that left long-time fans grinning from ear to ear. The crushing weight of those early songs still reverberated in us all, even in a massive stadium, taking fans back to sweaty gigs at community centres and Seniors Halls. The old-school breakdowns hit just as hard, proving they’ve lost none of their intensity over the years. Next year will be the 20th Anniversary of Killing With a Smile, excuse me while I manifest a tour to hear that album in its entirety once again!
Midway through Idols and Anchors, Winston plunged into the crowd once more, orchestrating a massive circle pit before crowd-surfing back to the stage. Ben Gordon‘s drum solo tonight was mind blowing. It began with a soft, syncopated beat, perfectly in sync with the dancers’ sharp movements. As the tension built, mock Molotov cocktails flew, igniting the stage. With his rotating drum kit, Ben unleashed a powerful, aggressive solo that left us all in awe, showcasing just how far this band has come. The set flowed seamlessly into Chronos, a breathtaking number that featured a stirring strings intro and a guitar-cello duel, before the lights dimmed for Darker Still. The flaming Parkway Drive logo lit up behind him, casting an almost mythical glow over the stage.
The band brought the night to a momentus close with Wild Eyes, as the crowd united in chanting the “woah ohh ohh ohh” that echoed throughout the arena, cementing the night in memory. Winston reminded the audience that this was their biggest headline show to date, and it felt every bit as monumental.
Parkway Drive’s 20-year anniversary tour was more than a concert—it was a visceral, communal experience that left no fan untouched. The band’s sound remains as heavy and vital as ever, bolstered by production that was nothing short of mind-blowing. From nostalgic nods to their beginnings to the blistering energy of their latest material, Parkway Drive proved why they are still at the forefront of modern heavy music.
Flames, fury, and unforgettable moments—it was a night that will be talked about for years to come.
