Australian band Parkway Drive are set to embark on a monumental tour celebrating 20 years of influence on the modern metalcore scene. This comprehensive tour will enliven major arenas across Australia, representing the band’s most ambitious headline venture to date and featuring groundbreaking production with a post-apocalyptic set.

Under the leadership of show designer Sam Tozer, UK design studio Vision Factory has forged an innovative vision for the tour, reimagining Parkway Drive’s live performances as a dynamic theatrical experience. This initiative marks a significant shift from conventional metal concert formats, highlighting an immersive spectacle that effortlessly integrates the band’s music with bewitching stage design.

Armed with a minimal brief from the band to create “a multi-layered performance space with a physical stage design that referenced a city or metropolis”, Tozer set out on his research and conception.

“I wanted to place the performance in an apocalyptic world where the physical set would frame the performance space with an abstract monolithic and powerful object that was suggestive of a world rather than a literal environment. I drew inspiration from references such as Blade Runner and operatic works,” Tozer recalls.

In a departure from typical arena spectacles that often rely on digital screens, Parkway Drive’s tour embraces an immersive tactile experience, focusing on the physicality of the performance space. The intentional avoidance of video content fosters an intimate theatrical escapade, allowing the band to connect with their audience.

Tozer explains: “We designed a large B-stage with a connecting catwalk between the main performance areas, which allowed us to push the band further out into the crowd. Parkway Drive is very much a band ‘for the people’, and having that thrusting performance space helps create a more intimate connection between the band and the audience. It breaks down the barriers and makes the fans feel like they’re part of the experience, not just watching from a distance.”

Apocalypticism and a 50-foot bridge

Central to Tozer’s vision is a colossal, on-stage steel bridge designed by Flora Harvey, symbolising a forsaken structure from another realm. Serving as both a performance platform and a captivating centrepiece, the expanse cultivates an otherworldly atmosphere that enhances the band’s metal aesthetic. Tozer says he and Harvey developed the structural design together and added tar-like mounds of earth to frame an apocalyptic scene, evoking a sense of grounding and grit that resonated with the band’s music.

The set design resonates with the elemental forces of nature, weaving fire, wind, water and earth into a compelling narrative throughout the performance. At various junctures, the massive bridge ignites while rain cascades upon the band, creating a visceral experience that amplifies the energy for which Parkway Drive is renowned, while challenging the conventions of live metal performances.

“With the earth element established, and knowing fire was already integral to their shows, we explored the incorporation of the other elements – water and air – through special effects to create a theatrical, visceral experience,” Tozer says. “By combining the physicality of the space with symbolic elements like these, we’re able to forge a deeper connection between the band, the performance and the fans, making each show feel immersive and emotionally charged.”

The lighting design, crafted by Vision Factory’s Liam Griffiths, employs a monochromatic palette that enhances the macabre atmosphere while carefully amplifying the natural elements of fire, wind, rain and smoke.

Tozer says the lighting was critical in achieving the overall atmosphere. “I envisioned a lighting design that felt more like a theatrical show but with the raw energy of metal,” he says. “We used traditional techniques like a cyc drape to create something distinct from the usual rock concert lighting. To bring that vision to life, I collaborated with Liam Griffiths, who executed it perfectly.”

Since its founding in 2015, Vision Factory has garnered international acclaim for its visually arresting show designs, collaborating with artists such as Swedish House Mafia and Bring Me The Horizon. This year, the studio further expanded its portfolio by partnering with Australian DJ Dom Dolla, strengthening his performances with innovative designs during his US tour.

With seven dates scheduled across Australia, Parkway Drive’s 20th anniversary tour promises to redefine the landscape of modern metal music through its theatrical artistry and innovative set design. The incorporation of a dystopian aesthetic and elemental motifs offers fans an unprecedented and invigorating live experience.

Tozer concludes: “Every design choice was made to enhance that theatricality. By building a storyline and using visuals like lighting and choreography to support the music, we created a show that feels more like a journey than just a concert.”

Click the link for further details and tickets to Parkway Drive’s 20th Anniversary tour.

Photography by Third Eye Visuals