Picture: ETHAN ZAHORODNYJ
ROCKING out on stage for hundreds of fans at one of Australia’s biggest heavy music festivals – UNIFY Gathering – was a dream come true for two former Millicent residents.
Josh Cory and Mason Bunt were given the opportunity to perform at the festival with their five-piece metal band Pridelands after winning the Triple J Unearthed UNIFY Gathering competition.
The metalcore band joined the likes of Karnivool, Underoath, In Hearts Wake, Taking Back Sunday and Every Time I Die when they starred as the opening act on the Saturday of the festival, which was held in Tarwin Meadows, Gippsland last month.
Josh and Mason, who are both the vocalists of Pridelands, said the experience was “incredible”.
“It is the only thing I have ever wanted to do in my entire life,” Josh said.
“I felt I could die happy when it was over.
“Just the fact that so many of our friends – and even my Mum – were there to support us on the day and came out early despite probably having heat stroke and being hungover.
“It just felt amazing to be a part of something so much bigger than us.
“It was straight up incredible, especially because we expected a handful of people to turn up given how early our set was, but there were well over a thousand there for it.
“That moment gave me so much life.”
Josh said Machina, which was released last year, was his favourite song to perform on stage.
“I think Machina was the best one, just because it was at the end of the set,” he said.
“By that time I think we’d shaken the nerves and we were just up there doing what we always do.
“Hearing people singing the words was the most incredible feeling I have ever had.”
UNIFY kicked off a big year for Pridelands which is currently working on its debut album, which the band hopes will be completed by June.
“Most weeknights for the next few months will consist of eating pizza, drinking beers and sitting in Liam’s bedroom to write some songs,” Josh said.
