Parkway Drive

Hot on the heels of their album release Something More Split, Perth band Break Even headed east as part of a four-piece Metal assault at the UNSW Roundhouse. Despite the weather being frightfully cold, the youth of Sydney nevertheless braved the freeze to see the lads unleash a furious set incorporating A Long Drive Home, Another Night and Run For Your Life. Singer Mark Bowden’s bopping onstage impulsed others to do the same, turning out to be the best way to stay warm and welcome New Zealand hardcore outfit Antagonist.

The tempo turned up a notch as our kiwi cousins roared and growled adding to the agro metal theme that prevailed. Drummer Israel enjoyed himself as he beat his kit whilst tattoo clad Samson belted Show Some Heart adding to a set list including Distance and Hollywood.

The lucky third for the night was Have Heart who probably weren’t feeling so lucky having left summer in Boston for a freezing dismal night in Sydney. Their enthusiasm gave no insight into their feelings about the weather as they conversed with the audience and excited onlookers with their zany mix of vocals interspersed with great fury. Vocalist Pat Flynn was an aggressive ambassador for the straight edge hardcore punk movement as he growled, “Life is hard enough” among nifty riffs from guitarist Ryan Hudson. Tracks from their latest album The Things We Carry were well received such as The Machinist and The Unbreakable.

Despite the weather there were a great number of youngsters in the courtyard who should have been inside getting their money’s worth. As soon as Parkway Drive elevated themselves onstage, all those outside flocked to the stage and the venue reached capacity.

The ambience was electric as the teenagers who made up this all ages gig let loose and grooved in unison with front man Winston McCall. As I sang along to Siren’s Song and Carrion, I had no idea I’d be nursing a sore throat needing two packets of Soothers. How McCall does such vocals is anybody’s guess! The guitars were lean and mean against Ben Gordon’s drums and Jia O’Connor’s bass. The force was great and reached new levels on songs Dead Man’s Chest and Cold Day in Hell. McCall instigated a mosh as he told the crowd “I wanna see you mosh!”. The semi clad attendees unearthed energy galore as they sang along and thrashed. The set ended on Romance is Dead, as McCall’s greatest fan, 15 year old Mel was wishing theirs would start.

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