Thornhill, Dayseeker, Gravemind, Banks Arcade @ Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide 16/7/2022

‘I’ve seen you move, now let’s dance’ Thornhill vocalist Jacob Charlton teases the Adelaide audience before the band launch into Casanova which ignites the crowd into a supernova.

Dancing is the theme of a wet blustery night outside yet hot and sweaty inside and Banks Arcade are the first to turn up the thermostat with their brand of unique heavy riffs mixed with a hip hip groove.

While the audience start off cold, by the time second song System Failed has cranked the through the dynamic earthquake inducing shift of powerful riffs and emotive vocals, a notorious Adelaide crowd is beginning to warm nicely.

Vocalist Joshua O’Donnell has great chemistry with bassist Harlan Allen-Jones as they move through a set list of new songs such as the hip hop flavoured Used and the softer Drown.

As the last show of this current leg – New Zealand is next before coming back and embarking on a mammoth tour of Australia later this year – the band draw every last ounce of energy out of the themselves during Smile which ignites with a great rock riff and booming beats to a impressed crowd.

This leaves Gravemind, returning with new vocalist Bailey Schembri, to the stage and they explode like a cat on a hot tin roof. The audience have their heads bobbing like a chicken in a coop as tracks like Deathtouch, which has more breakdowns that an office worker on a Monday morning, setting fire to the audience.

Phantom Pain has that delicious stop start energy that forces you to back and pulls you forward involuntary as the circle pits arrive with whirl of firecracker energy and intense heat.

Americans Dayseeker are a band of light and dark with varying different degrees of shade in between. While some couples are compelled to kiss during songs due to the emotional lyrics others are prepared to crowd surf and create anarchy such is the contrast of the bands palette.

Crooked Soul and Neon Grace switch between almighty heavy riffs and angelic melodic vocals as vocalist Rory Rodriguez talks of the importance of the music in dealing with his fathers death which inspires an powerful supportive response from the crowd.

Tonight though is Thornhill’s show. The last show of this leg before heading off stateside and with new album Heroine still fresh on the worlds turn tables, the heat in the venue literally ignites as the band open with The Hellfire Club.

Vocalist Charlton doesn’t appear to harbouring any lingering laryngitis issues that hampered shows earlier this week as the band come out swinging following up with Leather Wings and Hollywood.

The vocals glide over the top of a band squeaky tight in precision and execution. View From The Sun is driven forcefully by the drums that has the place bouncing as Charlton uses the crowd to his advantage as they take over the vocals.

After a pressure cooker start to the set, the band step back into Blue Velvet off the new album which brings a softer, more ethereal feel to the set before the nuclear blast of Arkangel blasts your face off.

Valentine brings the theatre with a old school telephone prop and a bass that vibrates the building before the infamous demand of ‘let’s dance’ and Casanova let’s rip.

By the time Coven is unloaded you become aware that while Charlton’s vocals and way with words may be a focal point, it’s the rhythm section of bassist Nick Sjorgen and drummer Ben Maida that drive this band unabating to the pinnacle that allows the vocal subtleties.

The band play with the crowd like a cat does with a mouse teasing through Varsity Hearts, Where We Go before finishing with Heroine.

By now everyone is drenched in sweat and completely forgotten about the blustery conditions outside. All the bands brought so much heat tonight, that the supernova brought during Casanova was just a pleasant breeze on a blistering and sweltering night.

Live Review By Iain McCallum