Live Review: REVIEW: Thornhill - 'Heroine' album preview show

The crowd have not heard the majority of these songs, Northcote Social Club is absolutely PACKED with people and it's about to get very exciting in here. On walk Thornhill looking very chic & it's time to start. MVD is missing as he is unwell but they are ready to go. Here are my raw & unedited notes from the evening. But first, a moment of honour for our Kill Your Stereo photographer, Christopher Roese's best pic yet:

Okay lets do this!

1. The Hellfire Club

Moody opening into a banging hard rock style riff. Quite a melodic track and vocals are high pitched and high energy. Traditional Thornhill style chorus. Had you wanting to wave your hands in the air back and forth. If I had to sum this up in one way I’d say ‘moody but groovy’. NICK IS SINGING. I REPEAT, NICK. IS. SINGING.

2. Leather Wings

This is a track that could have fit right into The Dark Pool. Maida is psycho on drums in this track. The song literally ends. Before coming back and delving into an unbelievably heavy breakdown. Like literally the song ended and people started cheering like it was over. Mind-blowing.

3. Blue Velvet

Slower tempo song but still very similar sounding Thornhill. And has a very beautiful build down into truly angelic vocals and Jacob sounded so beautiful. Oh, wait! It builds back up!!!!

4. Arkangel

They asked us before playing who has goth energy and dammnnnn does this track have it in tenfold. I refuse to believe this isn’t a Buffy song, fight me on it. 

5. Valentine

This has a very spooky feel to start with. The boys have been threatening a different sound, truly this is the first shockingly different style. But it somehow fits? Heavy bass to fade out with incredible vocal efforts from Jacob.

6. Casanova

The danciest boppiest track ever. This is too good. Moment to call out that no one, band included, focuses on the post solo/breakdown *clap clap*. This should be mandatory crowd participation and I will not stop until I get it.

7. Something Terrible Came with the Rain

Everyone left the stage, and it was just Ethan playing under a spotlight. Very melodic guitar and then violin tracking came in. Gave me ‘Panic! At The Disco’ vibes which I was NOT expecting to say about a Thornhill song

8. Hollywood

We just got this song a few weeks ago, I think people are still learning it’s this is the third ‘screamy’ moment on the record. A long but beautiful song that to me. Being 7 songs in, this kinda sounds like the perfect child of new and old Thornhill. This is like a transition song if you will.

9. Raw

This is also VERY different but in ALL the right ways. My personal favourite of the unheard songs of the night. Has almost rap-style vocals. This is the kind of song you just wanna jump up and down to. Has a neat little breakdown. Would be fun in a pit if the crowd knew the song

10. Varsity Hearts

2 songs left! Jacob just claimed this is his & Ethan’s fave. This one strangely sounds like it’s the last song. Like it’s building up to finish. Finishes with a string style synth, it’s quite delightful.

11. Heroine

‘Don’t break my heart’ is sung through in the chorus and the song is high tempo and fun. These are the most impeccable vocals on the record. The track changes pace to the most beautiful outro in the final moments. Strings and vocals into gentle keys or maybe a xylophone sound? It’s stunning. I could listen to that final 30 seconds over and over again.

There you have it! You can pre-order 'Heroine' HERE. Out June 3rd via UNFD.

All photos below by Christopher Roese.