BODIES - Thornhill New Album

4.00

PICKMETER

4.00

HMB

4.13

CRITICS

band:

Thornhill

release date: Apr 04, 2025

label: UNFD

type: Full-length

HMB´S REVIEW

The first time I listened to BODIES, the new album by Thornhill, it felt like slipping into a new skin. The Australian band, who had already caught my attention back in the The Dark Pool days, has always known how to blend aggression with dense atmosphere. With Heroine, they explored a more performative and visual side, almost like a film soundtrack. But in BODIES, it feels like they let go of any external expectations and gave in entirely to their instincts.

Right from the start, the album brings something different: it’s raw, direct, and at the same time, captivating in a way that borders on sensual. There’s a seductive energy running through the record, present in both the vocals and the guitars. Each track feels like it's flirting with the listener, building a subtle tension between heaviness and pleasure. And none of it feels forced. It’s as if the band tapped into something primal, pulling us along for the ride.

One song that really hooked me was 'Nerv'. It carries a nearly provocative rhythm, with a groove that seems to glide across your skin. It brings intensity, but in a restrained, teasing way, like something about to break free. The sensuality here isn’t in the lyrics, but in the emotion, in the way melody and rhythm intertwine. Every time I listen to this track, I catch myself making those involuntary faces, a mix of focus and delight, as if it speaks directly to some primal urge.

'Silver Swarm', on the other hand, instantly transported me to the world of the Deftones, and I don’t say that as a shallow comparison, but because of the overall vibe. That same hazy atmosphere, where heaviness and airiness coexist, is present here. The floating guitars and the vocals shifting between whispers and screams clearly show the influence, but Thornhill doesn’t mimic, they absorb that aesthetic and reinterpret it with their own identity. 'Silver Swarm' is hypnotic, introspective, like it’s floating in a stormy sea.

Overall, BODIES feels like the album where Thornhill truly let go. There’s no strict concept tying the tracks together and that’s refreshing. Each song feels like a genuine expression of the moment it was created, making the record unpredictable and alive. You can sense the band isn’t trying to impress anyone. They’re just being honest with themselves. And that honesty creates a real connection.

Listening to BODIES felt like stepping into a dark, comfortable room where every emotion is felt on the skin. It’s dark, it’s sensual, it’s powerful. A reminder that metal doesn’t have to be just intense, it can be deeply emotional too. Thornhill nailed it by creating something that goes beyond labels and genres. BODIES is a full-on experience. And what an experience it is.

Review by Troadie - HMB´s Staff