Parkway Drive/The Word Alive/Veil of Maya/While She Sleeps

Picture Australia: boomerangs, kangaroos, that one Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen movie, and home of one of the best up and coming metal bands of the past 8 years. Fivesome Parkway Drive busted out from down under in 2006 with their debut international release, Killing with a Smile; a punishingly hard album stacked with mosh breakdowns and singer Winston McCall’s throat-wrenching screams. Put simply, it melted metal hearts instantly. As time passed, the boys could have simmered down but somehow they’ve managed to get heavier. Their third album Deep Blue literally throws you to the sharks during its mood shifts breakdowns (be advised: don’t listen to “Sleepwalker” without a lifejacket). The upcoming Atlas, which has already gone gold back in Australia, is considered one of the most anticipated metal albums of the year, and a good excuse as any for a U.S. tour. (Nikki Hunt)