LIVE: PARKWAY DRIVE – Perth | Boorloo, 1 August 2026

LIVE: PARKWAY DRIVE – Perth | Boorloo, 1 August 2026
with Oceans & Omens, Blush – Metropolis, Perth, Western Australia
Reviewed by Josh Ainsworth  
Photography by Luke Baker

As any long serving PWD fan from Perth would attest, Parkway gig announcements in our sleepy little city have been a rollercoaster of emotions in the last couple of years. The 20th anniversary tour, which steamrolled through Aus in 2024 almost burning RAC Arena to the ground, followed by the anticipated but cruelly denied Park Waves open air festival tour, to this year’s bombshell drop of planned small venue shows for a national “Killing Horizons” anniversary tour. As those intelligent enough to have nabbed tickets in recent times have seen; this band have proved the quintet of Aussie metalheads ain’t slowing any time soon!

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Whilst the 20th Anniversary tour showcased just how deservedly ‘big’ this band has become since the early wild child days, with stadium melting pyrotechnics, mind blowing stage production and five figure crowds, the prospect of a more “intimate” show seemed almost too good to be true. Backed nationwide by Australian made bands, in Perth’s case Oceans and Omens and Blush, the tour gives us a return to grass roots music in local venues, just as we once had it. As someone who attended their own first PWD show in 2005, backing Shadows Fall as they toured the backwoods pubs and clubs of Australian band venues, the opportunity to once again get that close to the lads and be a tangible part of the show was a no-brainer; I am there. The possibility of high-fiving Winston mid song like I did at Monkey Bar when my knees still had cartilage and my spine had full functionality the next day still had me chomping at the bit to get rowdy, and the gig did not disappoint.

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Expecting to hear the KWAS album from go to woah, which literally happened, looking at my watch as Cold Day in Hell came to a chugging stop and knowing there was still half a set to go could mean only one thing; we were getting more than we paid for. “Ten more songs, ten more songs!” was chanted through the Metro’s City crowd, and surprisingly we weren’t far off! Gifted with icons from the Horizons, Deep Blue, Atlas, Ire, Reverence, and the latest single… it felt like a whirlwind live discographic reminder that Parkway has been doing this shit for a long time now, and you better believe there is more to come. The sound was tight, the visuals enough to add value, but as far as performances go Parkway Drive showed that all they need still comes down to five mates, their tools of the trade, and an audience ready to get absolutely rowdy.

The crowd was an honest mix, but you were definitely aware that the majority of punters were long term listeners, as pretty much every song was returned verbatim including the musical chants to Jeff’s crowd controlling single note sirens. Jai, somewhat cornered by the limited stage real estate, was clearly having a ball; stage romping and spinning like the teenager of old. Luke, dressed like he just walked off a 2003 skate park, didn’t falter all night, his signature series ESP ripping through every song like the professional he is and smiling ear to ear. Ben must have enjoyed the return to a kit that doesn’t spin or have the potential to give him full body 3rd degree burns, as he took every opportunity to stand and interact with the front rows, chatting with the other members between songs in what one can only assume was nostalgic banter amongst best mates. Winston, in camo battle clothes, wildly arm and leg swinging in his own on-stage mosh pit, paused multiple times in the set to let everyone know just how much fun he was having. The lads clearly enjoyed the return to their roots and the proximity to their loyal black tee soldiers. And this was only night one…!

If you are even remotely undecided if you should go see the Parkway boys on this Australian only tour, remember one thing: No mercy, no peace, you can’t escape now snap your neck to this!

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries