Thornhill's ruthless new release "Mercia" alongside Even in Arcadia tour run
PHOTO CRED: Jon Pisani
All the way from Melbourne, Australia, innovative band Thornhill has released their new single “Mercia”. Best known for their ARIA Award-nominated 2022 album Heroine, which debuted at #3 on the ARIA Albums charts and at #1 on the Australian Albums charts. The band also amassed countless Best Of The Year listings for their 2019 release, The Dark Pool. Artfully blending genres and weaving songs that are as ethereal as they are brutal. Combining synth sounds, soothing clean vocals, and sweet melodies, “Mercia” beautifully depicts the endeavor to grow.
“Mercia” proclaims a desire to become something better than you once were. It isn’t all softness and glowing adoration, though. The lyrics are erratically marked with references to teeth and claws. A deeply feral warning that sometimes the more damaged aspects of you dig in deep and mercilessly. They create something darkened and unforgiving.
Jacob Carlton, vocalist for Thornhill, gives a glimpse into the message of the release.
“At its heart, the song is about the futility of trying to heal what resists healing, and the way that struggle leaves you altered, hardened, and haunted. By the close, the speaker admits they are sinking under the weight of their beloved’s spectre. They’ve been hardened by the experience — so much so that they can’t offer mercy anymore.”
The song itself focuses very heavily on the softer side. Jacob’s clean vocals are soft and wistful with these crooning inflections. The backing vocals are hushed, almost humming at times. The song opens with warped synth and strings, adding to the dreamlike atmosphere. Once the band kicks in, they maintain that vibe with Ben Maida’s cymbal-heavy drums. It isn’t until the first chorus that Ethan McCann (guitar) and Nick Sjogren (bass) kick in with this all-encompassing wall of sound. The continuous push and pull of soft clean verses and the choruses makes the breakdown feel even more explosive. The sudden drop to screaming vocals and cacophonous riffs hits like a shattered dream. It perfectly matches the perpetual challenge of trying to rebuild and backsliding along the way. The way it ends on that aggression also feeds into the narrative that some things are far too broken to ever be completely whole again.
The music video accompanying this release, co-directed by vocalist Jacob Charlton and Jon Pisa, maintains this atmosphere as well. The coloring and tone are nostalgic with a grainy effect and romantic typefaces. The visuals of women in white, joyous and free, juxtaposed with Jacob’s out-of-place positioning, and the full band playing in a darkened room, feel deeply ominous. With the band being on the outside looking in, that safety constantly feels just out of reach. When the tone shifts to darkness and predatory eye contact, it almost feels akin to a wolf hunting sheep. Merciless by nature and less by choice. It makes for really good storytelling overall.
Watch “Mercia” below
“Mercia” is a testament to Thornhill’s ability to write and perform evocative songs continuously. Their play with beauty and cruelty made for a compelling visual storyline and a deeply relatable song. Especially in a time when all the effort to be better feels somewhat pointless. To release this alongside their participation on the Even in Arcadia tour with Sleep Token leaves this song in good company.
