Live Review: Parkway Drive, Northlane, Relentless

I must confess that I am miles away from being in any way, shape or form (this includes musical collection and knowledge) a part of the hardcore music scene, although I once stopped to listen to the night's headline act on my way to get a cup of traditional lemonade at a mid-2000s Homebake. It's also ironic to feel as if you stand out because you and your mate are the only dudes sans arm, leg and neck tatts. Despite this, it was captivating observing a mostly male subculture which borrows from both heavy metal and hardcore punk.

First up, the local Sydney hardcore group Relentless kicked things off with a heavy, gritty set to a steadily building audience, before handing over the stage to Northlane (originally hailing from Bankstown), who appeared to have more of a following despite having been a band for fewer years. The latter group looked to have improved on the former's sound, and played a measurable closing before an almost capacity audience.

It's been a fascinating and relatively quick ten years for Parkway Drive, the metal band whose beginnings as a bunch of surfers is more fascinating given their hometown is the blues and roots capital of Australia. Four albums and 54 countries later, the band didn't muck around, getting straight into an extended set with a bunch of songs that spanned their relatively short career, played in chronological order. As one would expect, the shit was heavy and very, very screamy, commencing with the first song they ever wrote, I Watched, and eventually leading into songs like Gimme A D and Pandora (off Killing With A Smile) and later Horizons, Deliver Me, and Old Ghost. The guys never really let up and judging by the sweat-soaked, often limping bodies being squeezed like pimples from the crowd, there were many devoted fans who were equal in stamina. Rounding out a rather long set and clearly spent, the band finished with Wildeyes and Carrion to an equally munted but rapturous cheer.