Parkway Drive sets Europe on fire – 20th Anniversary Tour continuous

“This was never the plan,” proclaimed Parkway Drive vocalist Winston McCall as he stood in the centre of the stage, fire blazing around him, their production unfolding before our eyes like a Matryoshka doll, one epic moment after another. This is how you do a 20th Anniversary Tour: with a fully Aussie lineup, showcasing just how much this continent has to offer the heavy music community. One of the originators of the metalcore genre had lived to see the day their music was finally given the show it truly deserved.

Big venues can be intimidating to fans. Their favourite artist can look like a speck in a sea of people, and you’re often left relying on the venue’s screens just to see them. But Parkway Drive designed their show to bring them as close to the fans as possible right from the beginning. Instead of entering from backstage, they walked through the entire standing area, from the furthest corner all the way to the stage, which was made up of three parts: an island (or so-called Stage B), a bridge, and the main stage, which together formed a giant “T” shape.

During that procession, the band personally greeted fans, not leaving a single hand unshaken along their path. They thanked the crowd because without them, a show like this wouldn’t even be possible. To the sounds of “Carrion”, the festivities began with the whole entourage performing on the tiny island, in a closeness that felt like their first-ever gig on a small club stage. It was poetic in a way, especially after watching some of their old memories mashed together in a nostalgic video on the big screen. Meanwhile, the honorary Banana Man of the night was going wild in the pit. Life was good again.

Their set was packed with theatrical reveals, keeping things exciting across all 19 songs. With each interlude, the crowd gasped; phones were out constantly to capture the spectacle. I was gobsmacked, genuinely not expecting a show with pop-concert-level entertainment. Between songs, we were treated to modern dance choreographies that tied the set together beautifully with intense movements inspired by mosh pits and demonic themes, telling a story through motion.

The guitar solos were given rockstar treatment: at one point, Jeff Ling was raised up on a suspension bridge, fire erupting below him like he was ringing in the New Year. Speaking of the big and bold, we had fire, pyrotechnics, and even rain, which poured down on the B-stage to accompany the more emotional part of the set, during “Wishing Well.” Fan service came in strong with a cool mix of their Killing with a Smile EP, highlighting the best riffs and breakdowns, stitched together into a powerful 10-minute Frankenstein of a track. It was non-stop carnage, a brutal reminder of their roots.

Winston couldn’t stay away from the crowd. For “Idols and Anchors,” he made his way into the standing area again, emerging near the centre of the arena to rally up the biggest circle pit of the night, one so massive it looked like it could swallow the whole floor. He seemed like he was being sucked into a whirlpool of souls, as if the crowd was trying to drag him down into the deepest, darkest depths of hell. It was, without a doubt, the most beautiful moment of the night until, hilariously, it also became the funniest. Attempting to crowd-surf back to the stage, Winston was doing great, but then the people beneath him suddenly moved away, almost as if scared to carry him, and he was dropped straight to the floor. OVO Arena crowd, you had one job! Thankfully, he was quickly picked up, and this time, carried carefully and successfully back to the stage. “Chronos” and “Darker Still” saw the addition of a string quartet, fitting perfectly with the metal band. Their cellist completely stole my heart and the show for a few minutes.

Something none of us were mentally prepared for was the encore. I could sense from everyone in the arena that we could’ve stayed there all night. Parkway Drive ended with a bang, where, during their song “Crushed,” they nearly set the entire venue on fire. The band’s blazing logo lit up the stage, the drummer played inside a burning cage, spinning like gravity no longer applied to him, and explosions erupted as the crowd went wild. The show’s finale captured my heart forever. You truly had to be there to feel the vibrations and echoes of their final song, “Wild Eyes,” which shook the ground beneath us as everyone hummed the now-iconic chant. In those last moments, there was no need for any gimmicks; everyone in the venue had become part of the show. We all joined together in a choir of screams, singing from the depths of our lungs, knowing it was the end, but also realising we had just created some unforgettable memories.

Parkway Drive’s European tour continues in November, so if you haven’t seen them yet, make sure to grab your tickets; you’re in for an unforgettable experience.