There are very few bad experiences in my concert-going history—which, to be honest, is not exactly modest; much of that probably has to do with the fact that I started reviewing shows from that fan perspective that pushed me not to miss any live performances of the bands I follow. Maybe that’s why I tend to always write from a place of applause and pure enjoyment. I once read that someone wasn’t satisfied with the lack of criticism in my reviews, and in my defense, I’ll say that if I don’t experience a show intensely, I probably don’t even bother talking about it.

Let this long introduction serve to justify that, even though I attended Parkway Drive’s concert at Helsinki’s Jäähalli last night more as an occasional follower of their music than a hardcore fan of their career, I ended up deciding I had no choice: I had to write about this! Because… what the hell was that?

As 2025 draws to a close, several concerts by those bands that live rent-free in my heart had already given my brain all the serotonin needed to survive the Finnish winter—but what I experienced with Parkway Drive was something else entirely: an adrenaline shot whose effects, I estimate, will last quite a while.

A midweek concert after a long workday didn’t seem like the ideal scenario. From the moment I woke up, I knew Wednesday fatigue would keep me from getting front row, but I comforted myself by thinking that, from what I’d seen online, it was a show best enjoyed from a distance.

However, the moment I arrived at Jäähalli, I noticed that the meticulous calm with which Finnish audiences behave would allow me a very good vantage point in a second-row side section. I was ready… or so I thought. What followed was an explosion—literally—of emotions I didn’t even know were there.

I’m not exaggerating when I say almost everyone at Jäähalli felt it that way: Parkway Drive hit with a force fueled by a clear ambition to reaffirm themselves as one of the most powerful bands in modern metal.

From their entrance walking among the crowd, flanked by banners, they started building a provocative sense of brotherhood. Opening with “Carrion” announced the brutal precision with which they would advance. Then came “Prey,” “Glitch,” and a “Sacred” that felt like a gut-punch declaration of absolute power.

Winston McCall changed outfits several times; his vocal ferocity contrasted with an almost childlike smile, always full of gratitude. And the physical condition… man.

If we talk about the visual spectacle, words fall short: obscene amounts of fire, a rotating drum kit, a string trio, unexpected choreographies, rain on stage, platforms elevating Winston like a dragon suspended in the air. It was a show that combined theatricality, magic, and raw sensitivity—all in the name of metal.

Monumental. That. An overwhelming intensity that made me pause for a second and think:
Is there any other band today doing what these Australians do?

“Vice Grip,” “The Void,” and “Wishing Wells” gave way to a carefully chosen medley that challenged the Finnish audience to hold ten minutes of multiple mosh pits. The central circle pit convinced Winston that their Nordic reputation as moshing champions is more than well deserved.

The energy was contagious. If someone didn’t feel anything at this concert, they should go claim their death certificate.

The finale, of course, was aptly handled with two massive tracks: “Crushed” and “Wild Eyes,” incendiary anthems that preceded the sudden full illumination of the arena, calling us to leave with our blood still pumping wildly from a chemical high you don’t experience every day.

And I repeat: is there any other band today doing what Parkway Drive does? Tastes may vary, yes, but there is one absolute truth: this band masters everything. Technique, production, charisma, quality, greatness and humbleness.

You are enormous. Parkway Drive.