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THORNHILL
+ Ocean Grove + Paledusk
+ Heavensgate
@ The Tivoli, Brisbane,
21st February 2026
(Live Review)

Review by Tanith Penfold

Photos by Carlie Tanithskye (@cts_photography_)

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THORNHILL / Photo – @cts_photography_

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The first night of the BODIES tour at The Tivoli 21st of February, 2026, felt less like a concert and more like a pressure cooker waiting to explode. With Thornhill, Oceangrove, Paledusk, and Heavensgate on the bill, Brisbane understood the assignment.

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HEAVENSGATE / Photo – @cts_photography_

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Heavensgate wasted absolutely no time. They opened super heavy, within the first 30 seconds the command rang out: “Open the pit,” and the circle pit was already in motion. No easing in, no polite warm-up, straight chaos.

“GINSICK” hit hard, and when the vocalist yelled “Spin this f**king room,” the crowd obeyed instantly. The floor moved as one heaving mass. At the end of their set, the singer walked offstage while the remaining members played out a crushing outro; a sharp, dramatic finish that left the room buzzing.

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PALEDUSK / Photo – @cts_photography_

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If Heavensgate brought the weight, Paledusk brought the athleticism. From the first karate kick to the spinning guitarists, their stamina was unreal. Huge kicks, relentless movement — it was as much choreography as it was metal.

Guitarist DAIDAI ripped his shirt off during the first song, revealing an electrical tape star across his back, foreshadowing his ability to hold the crowd’s attention for the rest of the set. By the fourth song, “SUPER NATURAL HIGH,” the entire crowd was jumping in synchrony, the floor literally bouncing beneath us.

“SUPER PALE HORSE” delivered massive riffs, as did “DIVE INSIDE FOREVER IN THE DARK,” complete with more kicks and ripping guitar solos. At one point the lead singer KAITO laughed, “In Japan, it’s winter; here it’s f**king hot,” which Brisbane absolutely agreed with. The Tivoli had officially turned into a sauna.

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OCEAN GROVE / Photo – @cts_photography_

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Ocean Grove hit the stage with swagger, the vocalist rocking a grey Nike jumpsuit. “CELL DIVISION” triggered huge jumping waves across the crowd, while “ASK FOR THE ANTHEM” had the entire room chanting the bridge back at the band. A full crowd- surfing chain started – including someone dressed as Luigi… followed shortly by Mario.

“FLASHLIGHT” had the crowd singing the chorus word for word, and during “RAINDROP” a man dressed as a banana made multiple laps in the circle pit. Pure chaos but pure joy.

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THORNHILL / Photo – @cts_photography_

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By the time Thornhill took the stage, the energy was feral. “DIESEL” had the crowd cheering straight through the verse. “ROVER” opened up another huge circle pit, with a choral singalong on the chorus that echoed through the venue. “MERCIA” turned the pit into a sweaty wall of bodies pushing forward, voices raised in unison.

Crowd surfing returned immediately, and basically never stopped. At one point frontman Jacob Charlton casually admitted, “I ate two pizzas before this,” before racing into “LILY& THE MOON” without any further context.

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THORNHILL / Photo – @cts_photography_

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I noticed two under-18s on the mezzanine that matched the pit’s energy beat for beat, itching to be old enough to join in. During “HOLLYWOOD,” the lighting design was meticulous, moody, cinematic, before snapping into a death-metal breakdown that blindsided the room.

“BLUE VELVET” sent a full crowd rowing on the ground chanting. The Melburnians finished off their first leg of the tour with hits “OBSESSION” and “NERV”. The first night of a tour can sometimes feel cautious, this was anything but. It felt hungry. Sweaty. Unfiltered. Brisbane showed up ready, and every band matched that intensity.

If this is how the BODIES tour started, the rest of the country better brace itself!

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THORNHILL / Photo – @cts_photography_

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Check out Carlie Tanithskye’s (@cts_photography_) full gallery of this event HERE

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THORNHILL / Photo – @cts_photography_

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Follow THORNHILL
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THORNHILL / Photo – @cts_photography_

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Press Release 5th February 2026 (below) HERE

Destroy All Lines, Future History Management & triple j Presents

THORNHILL
BODIES
Australian Headline Tour
kicks off this month

OCEAN GROVE SET TO SUPPORT NATIONALLY ALONGSIDE PALEDUSK (JPN) + HEAVENSGATE

LIMITED TICKETS REMAINING FOR SYDNEY

BRISBANE, PERTH, ADELAIDE & MELBOURNE SHOWS ENTIRELY SOLD OUT

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AMNPLIFY – DB