For more than two decades, Parkway Drive have built their reputation on crushing heaviness, explosive live performances and an unwavering connection with their fans. But even for a band that has never been afraid to push boundaries, their latest project, HOME, represents something entirely different. Capturing Parkway Drive‘s ambitious orchestral performance at the Sydney Opera House, HOME documents not only the spectacle itself but the creative journey, challenges and personal stories behind it.
Speaking with HEAVY‘s own Angela Croudace, guitarist Jeff Ling admits the idea of bringing Parkway Drive‘s music together with a full orchestra had been floating around for some time before the project finally took shape. “We had the general idea that our music would be really cool accompanied by an orchestra,” he explains, crediting Hype Republic with helping bring the concept to life.
Despite the band’s confidence in their music, the scale of the production presented an entirely new set of challenges. “This is literally probably one of the biggest things we’ve ever taken on,” Ling says, reflecting on the enormous financial, creative and logistical undertaking required to bring everything together for a single performance.
Performing inside one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks also meant stepping outside their usual comfort zone, from trading their customary stage attire for suits to playing in front of a seated, formally dressed audience. However, Ling eventually decided there was little point trying to contain the band’s natural energy. “I said to myself, okay, you’re in a suit. You’re in the Opera House, behave yourself,” he laughs. “I started playing and noticed I wasn’t performing or playing how I thought I would. So I’m going to switch gears, and I’m just going to perform and be myself.”
Perhaps the most meaningful element of HOME, however, extends beyond the orchestral arrangements. Ling highlights the inclusion of stories from Parkway Drive fans around the world, many of whom share how the band’s music has helped them navigate some of life’s most difficult moments. “People and the fans that are enthralled by the music, it changes their lives. It saves people’s lives, it gives people’s lives meaning,” he says.
Also incorporating Indigenous Australian collaboration and special guest appearances, HOME offers a broader representation of what Parkway Drive value as a band. For Ling, that is ultimately what the title represents: “It’s basically just a showcase of what we value and what we believe in.”
And while the orchestral performance is undoubtedly a major attraction, Ling believes HOME offers something even longtime fans might not expect. Even those who witnessed the original performance should make time for the film, with Ling insisting it brings together so many additional elements of the experience.
HOME arrives in theatres November 12.
