Parkway Drive - Bring Metalcore to the big stage!

June 30th 2013

Graspop Festival, Belgium

***

A drive of Metalcore through the heart of Belgium!

Parkway Drive *** (Main Stage) after the last time the band played Graspop Festival the orgenisers thought they needed to put the band on the main stage after people struggled to get in the big Marquee 1 ten to see them. I remember seeing them and they brought big inflatable waves with them and guitarist Luke 'Pig' Kilpatrick had to play in a wheelchair because he had broken his leg.

Opening with 'Sparks' off their new album 'Atlas' which has been one of the most well recieved to date, but todays performance in general doesn't have a patch on the onslaught they started last time they played at this festival in Belgium. They continue on with the brutal 'Old Ghost / New Regrets' that blasts out in the sun as the band scream into the sunlight, this track comes from the new album as well and is one of the bands most brutal new songs. The bands biggest selling record 'Deep Blue' contained favourite tracks like 'Sleepwalker' and 'Karma' both played one after another and not really hitting the spot like they used to. I like how this band always have some killer Metalcore riffs that really get you moving.

New song 'Dark Days' is one of the best today and my high point in the set, It's an evil little song with a simple riff that just works. I really like this song, it verges on Deathcore and I really love that genre. Ending on old track 'Carrion' that has really stood the test of time and they have put in a solid performance, just the band have seem to lost their edge. All style without the live substance, but i will be checking them out in the future. This band still have some really good albums left in them.