Source: Album Artwork
Thornhill are Melbourne’s latest offering to the already flourishing Australian heavy music scene. Inspired by metalcore heroes Architects and fellow Aussies Northlane, the five-piece formed in 2016 while still in high school. Despite their youth, they soon gained an impressive following, aided by their debut EP 13 and single ‘Temperer’. After an incredible 2017, which saw them play shows with their aforementioned heroes, they are now set for an even bigger year with the release of their second EP, Butterfly.
Butterfly takes Thornhill’s music to a new level of intricacy, combining their immense riffs with progressive elements, reminiscent of bands like Karnivool and Tool. Like those bands, Thornhill weaves together heaviness and melody to create a sound of their own. Lead vocalist Jacob Charlton demonstrates an impressive versatility, mastering falsetto (such as the haunting “I need you” refrain on ‘Parasite’), harsh vocals (see the aggressive ‘Lavender’) and everything in between.
Rounded out by guitarists Ethan McCann and Matt Van Duppen, bassist Nick Sjogren and drummer Ben Maida, Thornhill display a huge amount of talent for such a new band. In the same vein as UK contemporaries such as Black Peaks, they draw upon familiar influences but also give something new, making them stand out from the plethora of similar-sounding heavy bands out there. With tracks as memorable as opener ‘Sunflower’ and brooding closer ‘Joy’, it seems clear that Thornhill will go far.
