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THORNHILL
+ Holding Absence
+ Thousand Below + Bloom
@ Forum, Melbourne,
20th October 2023
(Live Review)

Review  and photos by Michael Gow (@alchemi_glow_music_phot)

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THORNHILL / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Tonight marked a historic moment for Thornhill in two remarkable ways. Firstly, they graced the stage of the iconic Forum Melbourne for the very first time, and secondly, they delivered their most colossal performance to date.

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BLOOM / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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The evening began, and the room quickly filled with an eager crowd. Kicking off the night were the high-energy Melodic Metalcore band from Sydney, Bloom. They burst onto the stage with ferocious energy, playing songs from their catalogue, including “Sink in the Soil,” “Siren Song,” and “Cold.” Vocalist Jono Hawkey’s dynamic stage presence kept the crowd at the barrier captivated, while other band members spun around with their instruments, fully immersing themselves in the moment of opening for Thornhill at the iconic Forum Theatre. Jono expressed his privilege in opening for Thornhill and noted that it was their largest audience to date. The crowd roared with excitement, forming circle pits and singing along. Bloom also shared their excitement about an upcoming album. As their set neared its end, they returned to their metalcore roots with the second last song and closed the night with their hit, “Cold.” What a breathtaking start to the evening.

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THOUSAND BELOW / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Next up, American Post-Hardcore Band Thousand Below took the stage. By this point, the crowd was thoroughly engaged in the show. They played tracks from their 2022 album, “Hell Finds You Everywhere,” as well as songs from 2017’s “The Love You Let Close” and one from their 2019 album, “Gone in Your Wake.” The lighting display was dazzling, and lead singer James DeBerg interacted frequently with the audience. He declared, “You’re so ready for this,” and the crowd responded with cheers and singing along. Thousand Below already had a dedicated fan base in Melbourne, and it was evident. As they neared the end of their set, they closed with their hit song, “Sabotage.”

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HOLDING ABSENCE / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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HOLDING ABSENCE / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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The night showcased an international lineup, with Sydney’s Bloom, California’s Thousand Below, Wales’ Holding Absence, and, of course, Melbourne’s very own Thornhill headlining. Taking the stage after Thousand Below was Welsh Band Holding Absence. They immediately ignited the crowd with crowd surfing, circle pits, and the usual enthusiastic singing and headbanging. Lead singer Lucas’s boundless energy was evident as he moved around the stage with karate-like kicks, and the crowd couldn’t get enough. At one point, the bass player, Benjamin, disappeared from the stage due to a technical issue, but the band seamlessly continued, much to the crowd’s amazement. Lucas Woodland’s impressive vocal range was a delight to experience live. Holding Absence’s tight musical performance resonated with the crowd, and Lucas encouraged them to show appreciation for Bloom and Thousand Below. The crowd raised their hands and clapped during “A Crooked Melody,” an incredible live experience. The second-to-last song, “Afterlife,” got the crowd hyped as they sang along enthusiastically. As they closed their set, Lucas expressed hope for a future tour of Australia and asked the crowd to light up their phones, creating a magical sight. I look forward to seeing this band again; they were amazing for my first time.

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THORNHILL / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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And then, the moment we had all been waiting for arrived – Melbourne’s very own Thornhill took the stage. Thornhill has a special place in my heart, having watched them evolve from small local venues to headlining the Forum within a few short years. Their set began with their new single, “Viper Room,” and the already excited crowd surfed and sang along with every song.

Their performance was elevated with pyrotechnics throughout, and it was the first time I had seen lead singer Jacob playing the guitar. With the band now a four-piece, it was a natural progression for Jacob to take on guitar duties due to the departure of one of the initial guitarists. Jacob paid homage to the earlier bands, remarking, “How good were the bands tonight, especially Holding Absence.”

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THORNHILL / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Playing to an almost full crowd was a sight to behold, and Thornhill’s seamless handling of a backing track issue showcased their professionalism. The band continued with their set, incorporating songs from both their albums, “The Dark Pool” (2019) and “Heroine” (2022). They also treated the audience to an unreleased track listed as “Obsession” on the setlist.

Tonight fulfilled Thornhill’s dream of performing at the iconic Forum Theatre to a packed house. The night concluded with their closing track, “Where We Go When We Die,” and Jacob encouraged the crowd to raise their hands and clap once more. Most fans, myself included, wished this magical night would never end, but we can’t wait to catch Thornhill on their next Australian tour.

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THORNHILL / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Thornhill’s setlist for the night was as follows:

Viper Room
Arkangel
Views from the Sun
Red Summer
Hollywood
Casanova
Something Terrible Came with the Rain
The Hellfire Club
Leather Wings
All the Light We Don’t See
Lily & The Moon
Coven
Raw
Where We Go When We Die

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THORNHILL / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Check out Michael Gow’s (@alchemi_glow_music_phot) full gallery of this event HERE

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THORNHILL / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Destroy All Lines  & UNFD Presents

THORNHILL
PROM QUEEN CITY AUSTRALIAN TOUR

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
HOLDING ABSENCE (UK)
THOUSAND BELOW (USA) + BLOOM

TOUR DATES:

FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER – FORUM THEATRE, MELBOURNE 18+
SATURDAY 21 OCTOBER – MAGNET HOUSE, PERTH 18+
SUNDAY 22 OCTOBER – UNI BAR, ADELAIDE 18+
THURSDAY 26 OCTOBER – THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE 18+
SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER – LIBERTY HALL, SYDNEY LIC AA

Tickets from destroyalllines.com

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Follow THORNHILL
Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

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THORNHILL / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Press Release 30th June 2023 (below) HERE

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AMNPLIFY – DB