Northlane w Invent Animate, Thornhill, Windwaker at Granada Theater, Lawrence KS (2024-07-21)

The Mirror's Edge revealed not one, but four heavy hardcore bands, with no less than three coming all way from down under–

Australian heavyweights Northlane headed up this four-band extravaganza, in support of their new EP, The Mirror’s Edge and the tour touched down in the heart of Lawrence KS at the Granada Theater.

The aural devastation got started with Melbourne, Victoriaband Windwaker, whose second full-length, Hyperviolence came out earlier this month (via Fearless/Cooking Vinyl) and is reborn in a sense, after their original singer left two years ago, with duties now fulfilled by previous guitarist and background vocalist, Liam Guinane.

We like that the band took their name from the Legend of Zelda game of the same name, and features self-described “sickly sweet pop hooks, bouncing hip hop moments and slick riffage.”

2023 single, “Sirens” has been their highest performing track to date, cracking over 1.5 million Spotify streams in the first and the band successfully toured Australia with Caskets (UK) and sold out nearly every date. Previous tour mates have included Beartooth, I Prevail, Motionless In White, and Enter Shikari (UK),so the band is making themselves known both back home and on these shores.

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The name Thornhill sounds elegant, calming, and regal, but the alternative prog metalcore band also from Melbourne can turn things up in an instant. The ARIA-nominated band released a single, “Obsession” in February, following “Viper Room” from last fall, hopefully signaling work is being completed on what would be their third full-length, after 2022’s Heroine. A recent Live on Tour! record (via UNFD Music) was also released last month

The music is driving but strives for a cinematic edge, via band leaders Jacob Charlton (vocals/lyrics) and Ethan McCann (guitar/production) and is not afraid to stretch traditional boundaries of the genre. The band has musically grown since 2019 debut album The Dark Pool, now sounding more expansive and it will be worth a listen to see how they continue to grow.

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Next up was the lone American act on the bill, (perhaps not coincidentally also on UNFD Music) Texas prog metalcore band, Invent Animate, in support of new single, “How We Used to Say Goodbye” from an expanded and definitive edition of their fourth full-length, Heavener, initially released last March.

The band comprised of vocalist Marcus Vik, bassist Caleb Sherradan, writing member Trey Celaya, drummer Brody Taylor Smith and guitarist Keaton Goldwire is not afraid to bare their own pain and tragedy to create a musically safe and familiar place for listeners to process, which in turn, has flowered into a very loyal and growing fanbase.

“Life is weird, life is hard – but we’ve come to understand how important it is as artists to be there with our listener, to be vulnerable ourselves so they might be able to say, ‘thank you, you guys helped me articulate this’ or, ‘you guys helped me walk through this journey’ because of what we’ve created.”, bassist Sherradan has said about the band’s music.

In recent years, they’ve toured with the likes of Silent Planet, ERRA, Like Moths To Flames, and Void Of Vision (and with Alpha Wolf, The Devil Wears Prada, and then The Plot in You later this fall) their blend of ambient metalcore, djent and prog, is making a singular impact of its own.

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Sydney progressive aggressors Northlane would close the evening, the band as mentioned out in support of their new Mirror’s Edge EP and latest melodic single, “Afterimage” (featuring Irish singer Ian Kenny) which was performed late in their set, with guest live vocals complimentary of Thornhill’s Charlton.

Previous single, "Miasma" with guest assist from Parkway Drive’s Winston McCall also made into the setlist, played early on.

The band have released six acclaimed albums, including ARIA Chart #1 records Obsidian (2022) and Node (2015), alongside Singularity (2013), Mesmer (2017) and Alien (2019) which all debuted at #3. the band has also won three consecutive Aussie ARIA Awards for Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Album, as well as two AIR Awards for Best Independent Heavy Album.

The band had also recently reconnected with longtime collaborator / producer Will Putney, who was instrumental in producing those mid-decade enduring releases, including Singularity and Node, so anticipation is high to return to that energy on any upcoming new music.

As for the performance, it was the perfect soundtrack to foment a controlled chaos as the venue’s floor shook, bodies were tossed above everyone’s shoulders (in the friendliest possible way), heads bobbed and hands were raised, and pent-up aggression released- in other words, an ideal metalcore night.

Northlane wraps the North American leg of their Mirror’s Edge Tour at the end of this week in California, but there’s plenty of time for our European and Japanese readers to catch the band in their area, coming this fall.