Thornhill: From Underground Favourites to Arena Tours
Beloved Melbourne-based alt-metalcore quartet Thornhill have been soaring on waves of ‘Joy’ since the release of their third LP BODIES. An ARIA award, another Triple J feature album acquisition, sensational charting statuses, festival appearances and sold-out shows abroad are just some of the astonishing feats the four-piece have achieved. However, as vocalist Jacob Charlton explains to The Note, a difficult decision put the band ‘under the knife’ of pressure in 2025, but thankfully, they ultimately grew from it.
Words Will Oakeshott // Image supplied
“Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.
The multi-New York Times Best Seller American Author Horace Jackson Brown Jr. was more than likely not discussing the heavy metal universe when he penned the nine words quoted above. To be honest, he was potentially not negotiating the alternative music realm either. Nevertheless, the quote above does relate rather well to Melbourne’s alt-metalcore favourites Thornhill and their remarkable career ascension.
To a degree, the four-piece began their “victory dance” of sorts by winning the esteemed triple j Unearthed Feature Artist in 2017, and with this triumph, were given the opportunity to support progressive melodic metalcore trailblazers ARCHITECTS as part of their Australian tour.
An announcement of the signing to the prestigious record label UNFD and the release of the ‘Hill’s EP Butterfly followed soon after in 2018, which brought with it more touring and festival appearances. On the 25th of October 2019, the Melburnians issued their debut album The Dark Pool, a full-length which would reach the ARIA charts, become their first Feature Album on triple j and take Thornies overseas for their premiere European tour.
Their sophomore record Heroine landed in 2022, earning their first ARIA awards nomination, higher charting numbers, more festival appearances and journeying to the USA for the first time. However, it was Thornhill’s third LP, BODIES, released in 2025, where the celebration dancing properly moved the quartet into a more elevated echelon. Another triple j Feature Album achievement unlocked, they also secured the ARIA award for Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album and sold-out numerous showcases during their recent headlining European tour in commemoration of the full-length.
Thornhill were glowing on the dancefloor, and then the real opportunity twirled its way into their proximity...
The UK’s Grammy-nominated progressive soul-pop metal iconic outfit Sleep Token wanted Thornhill as their support act for their sold-out North American arena tour, which was to take place during September and October of 2025. Understandably, this brought the “opportunity” dancing to a halt; the dance was now to ascend to an immeasurable, illustrious limelight.
“Pretty much we got an email being like: ‘He [Vessel, vocalist] wants you.’” Thornhill frontman Jacob Charlton explains from his home in the midst of his breakfast, still in disbelief about the whole situation. “And we were like: ‘Oh my God, but we're on another tour. What the fuck?’ And then we had a bit of a crash out, because we were like: ‘I don't want to be the band that ditches a band, for another band, that sucks!’” he states with the utmost sincerity.
“It's bad business, it's rude, it's this, it's that. But then I think in the end, we were like: ‘But how do we let this pass us by? We can't.’ I think any band in our position would make that switch. You just have to; you would be stupid not to. So, once we kind of tried to smooth that over, we were OK, but it [the offer] was pretty much just an email saying: ‘The big dog [Vessel] says you're on. You better be on’ (laughing).”
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The tour that Charlton is referring to, which resulted in Thornhill departing the line-up, was a jaunt across North America with France’s nu-metalcore prodigies Landmvrks, a group who are also on a very impressive upward trajectory. It then plagued this writer to ask Jacob how stressful the decision was. As well as how much sleep the Victorians collectively lost, and how many meetings took place to make this beyond complex decision?
“Maybe not losing sleep per se, but we were stressed! We felt really bad, because there's only so much you can do. There's only so many ways you can be like – ‘I'm sorry’,” Charlton expresses with heartfelt melancholy, then elaborates further.
“Like, this sucks. But, I think in the end, our management and even the people around us were like – ‘Well, you'd be an actual idiot to not do this’. And I think…” he pauses, and reflects as if remembering a rather comical revelation about the whole situation, which he then reveals – “It's really funny too, because my girlfriend, she does not know heavy music or really care about heavy music that much. So, when I tell her this stuff, she's just like – ‘Wow’ [in a confused tone, impersonating his partner]. And so, I'm like: ‘Dude, we're like, playing arenas, like this has changed our lives.’ And she's like: ‘Yeah, yeah! That's awesome. Who's the band?’ (chuckles) It makes me feel grounded.
“This is what we do, though. This is now, recently, our job full-time, so I think there were parts of that where I was just realising, she's so right. Actually, we're just playing shows, and then we're just doing what we normally do. Although I mean, I wish I kind of had that mindset before I walked onto that first arena. I remember walking onto that being like ‘OH! THAT’S a lot of people’ (laughing).”
Prior to the tour with the global cult phenomenon Sleep Token (“It was super SICK! We learned so much from that band. They are lovely people, and they give a lot!” Jacob excitedly recalls), Thornhill unleashed their new single ‘Mercia’. A prog-alt-electronica rock venture with djent-metal detonations that demonstrates immense growth for the four-piece’s artistic ambition. Corresponding to that “cult” implication mentioned previously, the astoundingly avant-garde film clip for the single, directed by Charlton himself, undertakes an imaginative path aligned with Midsommar, the award-winning folk horror movie from 2019.
“I've directed every video, pretty much, that we've done. And I have created the concept - I’ve always been heavy-handed in all of the process and especially with BODIES, and even a lot of Heroine. I was there editing it as well. Well, I mean, more so telling people what edits I want, watching Jon (Pisani, Director) on DaVinci [film editing program], just being like: ‘Actually, I think this part needs to happen here’,” Jacob admits with a smile, then details more.
“But for the ‘Mercia’ shoot, it's actually interesting. There’s a big trail walk in the eastern suburbs [of Melbourne], and my girlfriend and I would, in the mornings, have a little walk and yap for every reason; it's very good for you, and all that. We were walking to the top of the hill, something we hadn't done before. Then, there’s these little sun chairs [at the top], and I sat there with her. We're just talking and drinking coffee, and I saw a dog run down the hill like in the distance. And I was like: ‘Damn! I need to do something with that. That looks so cinematic, I don't know what it is!’ [Anyways] I was starting to write ‘Mercia’ - I had the concept, and I sent it to Ethan (McCann, guitarist), and he was like – ‘Yep, I love this!’”
After nearly a year of waiting, Thornhill will finally embark on a proper Australian headline tour honouring BODIES this February. To ensure that this heavily anticipated jaunt is made extra special, a remix album entitled BODIES X has also been released, featuring incredible acts such as Northlane, Void Of Vision, Running Touch, Zetra and many more. It felt necessary to ask about the excitement JC has for this overdue Australian extravaganza.
“I am! I am, actually! I wasn't, to be honest, because I was like – ‘Oh my God…’ BUT we're back on tour! I am getting hyped. We're starting to figure out more of what that show is going to look like and going into more detail with, like, the production side. So, very excited.”
Put on your dancing shoes.
Thornhill performs at The Gov on Thursday 26 February. Tickets are sold out.
