Thornhill, 156/Silence, Fox Lake and Vianova Ignite El Rey Theatre
El Rey Theatre has been on an impressive run of standout headliners, and its blend of midsize capacity with an intimate atmosphere only amplified the scale of Thornhill’s performance. Fresh off a surge of exposure from opening for Sleep Token, anticipation for their headlining run was immense. What unfolded was a show that felt both experimental and one-of-a-kind, while also being meticulously curated from start to finish.
Kicking off the night was the genre bending Vianova. Experimental, jazzy, funky and avant-garde barely begin to describe the Berlin forged band. While rooted in metalcore, they constantly push the envelope without letting their sound collapse under its own ambition. The result is a set of rhythmically infectious songs that somehow make unconventional combinations feel natural. Marking their first North American performance, Vianova arrived ready to prove themselves. Vocalist Alexander Kerski delivered both soaring cleans and guttural shouts with precision. Tracks like ‘Squier Talk’, ‘Oh No (Believer)’ and ‘Uh Yaya’ showcased their full range effortlessly. The crowd responded immediately, erupting into circle pits, crowdsurfing and chaos, rewarding those who showed up early.
Fox Lake followed with a masterclass in controlled aggression. Known for fusing hip hop turntable elements with hardcore, they transformed the venue into a storm of movement. Opening with ‘Go 4 The Throat’ and ‘Cold Hard Truth’, the pit quickly escalated into windmills flying, bodies colliding and energy surging. Nathan Johnson’s vocals and rap inflected delivery were commanding, pushing the crowd into overdrive. A wall of death during ‘Dog Eat Dog’ split the room wide open, while ‘Pure Adrenaline’ kept the momentum surging. By the time they closed with ‘Freestyle’, the venue had become a sweat-soaked frenzy, with the crowd shouting every word before detonating into one final explosive breakdown.
156/Silence wasted no time continuing the chaos. Vocalist Jack Murray immediately dragged the audience into madness with the debut of ‘Unreasonable Doubt’. Their post-hardcore sound created dense, foreboding atmospheres reminiscent of ‘People Watching’, keeping tension high throughout the set. ‘Product Placement’ triggered a massive wall of death that spilled beyond the pit’s edges, while the intensity never let up. The experience felt deliberately uncomfortable in the best way; unpredictable, volatile and immersive. Fan favourites ‘Target Acquired’ and ‘Better Written Villain’ pushed the crowd to its limits, even forcing a brief pause to give the barricade a moment to recover. Debuting ‘No Arms’, the band explored a more melodic direction that the audience welcomed. Closing with ‘Character Development’, they left the room exhausted and primed for the headliner.
By the time Thornhill took the stage, anticipation had reached a boiling point. It’s rare to hear a crowd chanting for a band before they even appear, but El Rey was relentless. Thornhill leaned into the moment, letting flickering blue and white strobes stretch the tension. The stillness lingered just long enough to feel endless until the room dropped into darkness and ‘TONGUES’ erupted.
From that moment on, the energy never dipped. Jacob Charlton’s commanding presence and dynamic vocals ignited constant movement; bouncing, shouting and total immersion. ‘DIESEL’ hit like a second wind, elevating the band’s already massive presence, while guitarist Ethan McCann and bassist Nick Sjogren drove the sound with precision and force. Tracks like ‘Arkangel’, ‘Silver Swarm’ and ‘Lily & The Moon’ delivered the crushing breakdowns and intensity fans expected, while ‘Mercia’ and ‘fall into the wind’ introduced softer, nu-metal textures that offered brief moments of release.
The closing stretch sealed the night. ‘Obsession’ pulled the crowd into its seductive, groove driven atmosphere before snapping into the ferocity of ‘nerv’. It was a whiplash finale – soaring vocals colliding with crushing instrumentation bringing the entire night to a powerful close.
Thornhill’s Mercia tour stands as a testament to their evolution, blending experimentation with precision in a way that pushes the boundaries of modern metal. From the carefully chosen lineup to the seamless flow of the setlist, it’s a show that feels both explosive and intentional. If this tour is any indication, Thornhill isn’t just riding momentum, they’re redefining it.
