Parkway Drive
Tours featuring a multitude of bands are becoming more and more popular, as we now see the returning Imperial Never Say Die! tour sit alongside the Eastpak Antidote Tour, Ozzfest and Give It A Name Introducing… amongst others. This is a complete winner for the fans though, who pay around the same as a normal ticket, but get twice as many bands.
Tonight, no fewer than seven acts sit on the line-up, from new and emerging talent through to established legends-in-the-making. We Came As Romans, Your Demise and War From A Harlot's Mouth kick off proceedings to an already heaving crowd, filling this leisure-centre-turned-venue to the edges, and creating an electric atmosphere.
Despite sitting in the lower leagues of the mega-bucks record industry, none of these bands are new to the audience, and don't garner the miserable reaction many newer bands experience on tour. Everyone here is familiar with all three, and are quite happy to show it as the first crowd surfer of the night comes over the top.
Deathcore outfit Emmure steps this up a notch though, with vocalist Frankie Palmeri who has an XXL personality and the physique to match. Parts of the performance are reminiscent of old (hed) P.E., just less crude and more musically accomplished.
Palmeri, who has enough attitude for all members of Emmure orders everyone into the middle of the floor, to pack as tightly as possible. It's not clear why, as no further instructions appear, other than the grand claim that "we're making history right now" - though again, nobody seems to understand what part of history has just been made.
Anyway, moving on… Bleeding Through should arguably be headlining this tour, given their extensive history and reputation within the scene. This is further proven when they deliver a blinding show, demonstrating technical excellence and reputation in the scene.
Despite entering under dimmed lights to a beautiful melodic track, their hardcore/death metal sound immediately burst through, heading face-first into 'Love Lost In A Hail Of Gunfire" and continuing their assault on the excited crowd through a further five tracks and finishing with 'Kill To Believe.'
Their short set makes way for Comeback Kid, and this is where the increasing mass of hardcore fans get really excited. Not only are Comeback Kid a promising band, but we're a step closer to Parkway Drive. Reviews from other legs of this tour report attendees taking time out to rest their legs before the headliner. Not so in Portsmouth, where obviously the sea air provides more stamina.
Comeback Kid display their expected routine, with vocalist Jeremy Hiebert spending half the show bent double screaming down the mic. Perhaps the only disappointing aspect of the performance was the relatively static as a direct contradiction to the rest of the group.
Adding to the Canadian, British, German and American acts on the tour, Aussie metalcore band Parkway Drive finally start their set, over four hours after the doors opened.
Aside from the music, the band introduced the 'ball of death', which was a rugby ball thrown into the crowd, with the person getting it to the sound desk being able to claim £50. Somebody also broke their leg during the set. Coincidence?
Overall, apart from the guy who is now hobbling around on crutches, everyone seemed to have an amazing night, watching some of the best bands in their respective genre.
Words & Photos By Andy Squire // andysquire.net
