Close your eyes and press play—Heroine, the epic sophomore full-length from Melbourne’s Thornhill, transports listeners into the golden glamour of classic Hollywood. Driven by a creative wave of cinematic inspiration, vocalist/lyricist Jacob Charlton and guitarist/producer Ethan McCann crafted Heroine as a vivid anthology of musical stories that feel more like film scores than traditional rock tracks.
The spark came in the middle of lockdown. “'Arkangel' was the first song that really got the writing process rolling,” shares Ethan. “Once I had the intro, verse and chorus down, it created this mood that instantly brought visuals to mind—it reminded me of the Buffy intro credits with that glossy late-'90s vibe. I even laid the demo over the credits, and that pairing helped me shape the entire song like I was scoring a scene.”
That filmic approach proved contagious. With Jacob’s long-held love of storytelling and screenwriting, the duo began writing every track as if they were composing a cinematic scene. From the She’s All That-inspired melancholy of “Varsity Hearts” to the Bond-like intensity of “Casanova,” Heroine evokes a rich, stylistic universe. Elsewhere, the album nods to classics like Singin' in the Rain, American Beauty, and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet—albums as much as experiences.
“Each lyric became my screenplay for the score Ethan created,” Jacob explains. “They reflect how I’d shoot or direct the scene, how I feel, what I imagine—almost like writing mini-movies.”
Thematically, Heroine explores love, lust, self-reflection, and self-loathing—emotionally intimate without wallowing in sadness. “It’s not sad, but it’s melancholy in a very cinematic way,” Jacob says. That emotional nuance is amplified by a sound that breaks beyond metalcore confines. Where 2019’s The Dark Pool leaned into atmospheric heaviness, Heroine ventures confidently into alternative and rock territory, drawing on influences as varied as Smashing Pumpkins, Silverchair, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Deftones, while maintaining metalcore roots.
For Jacob, the album also marked a transformation in identity and performance. Inspired by the charisma of artists like Elvis, Gwen Stefani, and Justin Timberlake, he embraced the role of frontman not just in sound, but in style and persona. “I realized I couldn’t just sing or scream—I had to emote, to match Ethan’s instrumentation with a performance that pulled listeners into the world we were creating.”
Channeling a full spectrum of masculinity, femininity, vulnerability and confidence, Jacob and the band pushed themselves to become “whole-package” performers. Supported by a tightly unified group, Heroine is as much a visual and theatrical experience as it is musical—a work that proves Thornhill’s creative reach extends far beyond the expected boundaries of their genre.
Elevated, cinematic, and fearless, Heroine is a bold step forward for Thornhill—a tasteful, timeless piece of modern rock storytelling that invites repeat listens and rewards deep dives. Like the films that inspired it, Heroine is destined to be a classic.
Access Information
The Union building – although challenging, is accessible with lift access across all floors of the venue and accessible gender-neutral WC’s available in each venue.
The Union building is set-out on six levels but there is either ramped or lift access to every level with the distance from the main entrance to the furthest part of the venues approximately 200 metres.
We have drop-down bars in all of our venues.
Bookings & Ticketing
The LUU Stylus venue has limited space for accessibility. Accessibility tickets are only purchasable through the LUU Stylus website and once these tickets have been sold, we cannot accept any further accessibility requests. If you require Accessibility tickets and these are no longer available, please do not purchase a GA ticket and expect to be accommodated as these will be refused. This is a strict policy to make sure the venue is safe for all customers. Tickets will be verified on the door so please be aware that if you have bought an access ticket and do not have access requirements, you will be refused entry to the venue.
Accessible Viewing Platform: All of our venues have a designated accessible viewing area.
Please note: there is limited space in this area, and it is reserved on a first come, first served basis.
Wheelchairs: We have space for 4 wheelchairs per event in our venues. Please note: there is limited space in this area, and it is reserved on a first come, first served basis.
Priority Entry: This will allow you access 15 minutes early entry prior to doors, so you can find a suitable position that is comfortable for you. We also provide this for all seated and wheelchair spaces.
Seated Spaces: We can provide seated spaces for anyone who needs them. Please note that any companions will not automatically be provided a seated ticket, as these are of limited availability, we always reserve these for those with accessibility needs. Companions are however welcome to stand in the seated area.
Customers With Medical Needs:
We welcome attendees who need to bring medicines, food or drink to manage medical conditions, or medical equipment. Please contact our access team if you have any concerns.
Assistance Dogs: We are proactive on the use of assistance dogs and can provide water and other facilities should you require them.
Strobe Lighting: The venues do include strobe lighting and other ‘flash-based’ effects as standard. In addition, as many of our events include aspects of ‘toured production’ – which are outside of the venue’s control, we urge you to contact us for more information on an event-specific basis at the earliest opportunity.
Toilets:
We have an access toilet on almost every floor of the building.
All of our toilets are accessible by lifts, which means whichever venue you’re in, you’re never far from your nearest accessible toilet.
Baby Changing Facilities: Our accessible toilets are equipped with baby changing facilities. We also have a dedicated changing place.
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