Thrice - Vheissu

[mitchables]

Believe it, mammals, this CD will change you. Thrice has been one of my favourite bands for quite a few years, and have crafted some beautiful audio showcases in that time. They always had an awesomely unique sound, a threeway combination of punk, metal and post-emo indie rock. Beautifully intricate dual guitar lines and apeggio-heavy basslines, peprpetually backed up by crisp, double-kicked drums. Haunting, melodic vocals and gutwrenching screams. This was Thrice.

"Was" being the operative word here. For "Vheissu", Thrice has taken another evolutionary step. Gone are the Metallica-esque appegio breakdowns of songs like "Kill Me Quickly". Gone are the formulaic structures of "The Artist In The Ambulance" and "Stare At The Sun". This CD is not like anything you've heard from Thrice before.

And I fucking love it.

We're more than carbon and chemicals. We are the image of the invisible. Those of you that know me know I am a sucker for big, epic, gang vocals, and the opening track on the CD, "Image of the Invisible", has them in spades. Every alternating line in the verses is a powerful gang vocal attack, resonating long after the words have finished being uttered. In one of the more powerful drum-related moments, one of the verses is backed up only by a drum roll on the snare. Nothing else. Yet in its simplicity lies its beauty, as it portrays this urgent sense of building energy, and then BAM. The song erupts into its stellar outro. This track sets the pace and tone like all good opening tracks should.

"Between the End and Where We Lie", the CD's second track, floats into the listener's audial spectrum via subdued drums and a haunting xylophone line. The first chorus is even restrained, with still-quiet instrumentation, suggesting the instruments are holding back from coming out guns blazing for the greater good, and it passes without too much fuss, keeping the mood of the song. Until the second chorus, at which point all the instruments come together in one massive rock breakdown, briefly interluded by a haunting female voice, before the whole song shifts back into overdrive and the song concludes with a powerful final chorus.

By the third track, "The Earth Will Shake", you think that you know where Thrice are going with this new sound, but then the muffled guitar and slightly-off-key vocals start, and you start to question just what is going on in this band. The guitar-vocal duo continues for a short period before there is a massive drop into slow, heavy rock, stabbed at by some huge screams. I mean, these screams remind you why Thrice are so fucking good. They are the screams you were longing to hear on the first two tracks. But then, the song maintains its feeling of watching a slow, heavy beast lumbering along, rocking really hard as it walks. A bit of a weak analogy, I know, but a headbanging wooly mammoth makes a great visual, and besides, it is true. It might feel slow but it ROCKS. There is almost a Danzig-like quality to this song, with some decidedly and uncharacteristic low vocals, which continue right through an awesome gang-vocals and drum-roll breakdown, before the song collapses into yet another ridiculously powerful outro. This band never likes to finish quiet, seriously.

Track four, "Atlantic", is a standout. It beautifully brings the mood from the harsh attack of the previous song into a calming, acoustic atmosphere, with resonant drums and pure, angelic vocals and harmonies. The song, remains in this calm spectrum throughout, which was, I actually found, a very pleasant surprise. This aids the flawless transition into "For Miles", easily one of my favourite songs on the CD. At the risk of sounding like every other review of this CD, there is simply no way to describe the choruses and buildups in this song other than "epic". It just floored me. To try and put it into words would fail to do it justice, so I will just summate and say that this song did something to me. It is beautiful, right down to the resonating guitar line in the outro. Sensational.

"Hold Fast Hope": Track six and we're over halfway through the CD. Thrice immediately remind you that doesn't mean that they're losing steam, and this song jumps out and rabidly attacks from its first note. There is beautiful transition between screams and melody in this song. The melody alone holds hidden treasures, with some perfect harmony and dynamic work. "Music Box" follows, immediately back on the other end of the scale, with a haunting (wouldn't you know it) music box line floating seamlessly over the top of Dustin's melody line, the soothing bass and drums, the consistent rhythm. "Like Moths to Flame" changes direction like a feather in the wind, pulling the listener through everything from restrained verses to buildups to powerful choruses, nicely backed up by some very classical piano lines.

Songwriting like this doesn't happen every day, and when it does happen, it stays with you for a very long time. This is my new "Deja Entendu". My new "...Is a Real Boy". My new "Sing the Sorrow". This CD might not have the effect on you it's had on me, but then, most of you probably don't take music quite as seriously as I do. That's not a bad thing, nor am I saying it for any other reason than to make point of saying even if this CD doesn't quite shake your musical world the way it has mine, you will still really, REALLY like it.

"Of Dust and Nations" has a start so haunting you could easily be excused for getting chills. The song is definitely among the less harsh and attacking songs on the CD, really showcasing Dustin's amazing melodic vocal work. There is a lovely instrumental outro too, which I am always a pretty big sucker for. As this CD goes on, my spiels on each song have gotten shorter. Words fail me - I should have sent a poet. "Vheissu" is indescribable.

The final two songs are nothing short of anthems. Epic anthems. "Stand and Feel Your Worth" has a beautiful bassline that I could get lost in, just closing my eyes and listening to. The song is one giant crescendo. The faded drums and piano that you are greeted with at the commencement of the song are all but forgotten by the time the ravaging concluding screams have hit your ears. This song is a journey. Listen to this song really, really loud. Don't just listen to it, experience it, seriously. I know it sounds ridiculously stupid, but it is such a good song.

The final track. "Red Sky". When I got here, I didn't want to be there. I didn't want "Vheissu" to end. But as well all know, all good things... and if it had to end, I'm really glad Thrice did it with "Red Sky". This song is amazing. "Vheissu" is definitely a different sound to what you're used to hearing from Thrice. But honestly, it is a simply magnificent evolution of some very talented artists, and my rambling on any more than I already have isn't going to do the CD any more justice. Buy this CD, seriously. It comes out 18th of October. Download it first if you can't wait () but BUY it. This is one of those CDs you will want when you're thirty.

10/10.

[Bad Company]

downloading it now

[Looking for boobies.]

Mitch. I would love to read that, but I don't have the time at the moment.

I am, however, going to download the exact CD you are praising, off a British mate of mine. Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. He promised me it, so I'll follow up with him before I get a torrent or something.

[Looking for boobies.]

I read the review anyway.

EDIT: Image Of The Invisible is on purevolume, and it sounds fucking sweet! Honestly, you can kind of tell from just that song that this CD is a lot different from their others. At least this song anyway. IOTI sounds more punk, which is definitely not a bad thing.

I only have "The Artist In The Ambulance" so far and I thought that was good.

[Silent]

Their first 2 CD's were more punk then Artist in the Ambulance, which was more Metal influenced I'd say.

[The Destroyer]

The album automatically rules since bits of it (especially The Earth Will Shake) sound rather influenced by Isis.

[mitchables]

I was just BLARING "The Earth Will Shake", and it was right in the middle of a massive screamed section, when some Jehovah's Witnesses came to the door. They looked pretty surprised I wasn't some kind of devil worshipper

[mitchables]

Originally Posted by The Destroyer The album automatically rules since bits of it (especially The Earth Will Shake) sound rather influenced by Isis.

God, that song is so good. I love the (single vocal->STOMP->gang vocals) interlude before that final chorus.

[mitchables]

I have listened to this CD pretty much non-stop in my car since getting it, and I love it more every time. The lyrics (something I didn't particularly take note of first time around, since I was so floored by the dramatic instrumental changes and improvement of the band) are amazing. They get you right in the heart, and in some cases, the small intestine.

I know what lies beneath.
I've seen the flash of teeth
conspiring with the reef
to sink our ship.
The wind's a cheating wife,
Her tongue, a thirsty knife.
And she could take your life
with one good kiss.

- "Red Sky"

[Looking for boobies.]

I just got home. I'm going to listen to it AGAIN, Mitch.

[Bad Company]

Oh god, I hate it, terrible. And I loved their other albums... This is a HUGE letdown to me.

[mitchables]

How can you hate this CD? It's not like they're playing bubblegum pop. Despite the change in sound, it is still intrinsically Thrice. I honestly cannot see a single thing about this CD that you would hate.

[Blitz]

Album Of The Year, plain and simple. "Atlantic" is the best thing they've ever done.

[mitchables]

Atlantic is fucking amazing. That song floored me the first listen, I put it on again and again.

[el fregadero]

Dunno who they are, other than I don't care for their fans (sorry, mitch) but I might download this if you guys say it's that good.

[Bad Company]

Originally Posted by Blitz Album Of The Year, plain and simple. "Atlantic" is the best thing they've ever done.

Are you serious?

[The Greater Power]

Got the CD for Xmas, but have never gotten around to listening to it.

Image of the Invisible was AWESOME, all I've heard so far.

[mitchables]

You will love the rest of it, seriously. Such a good CD. Music Box and Of Dust and Nations have really, really grown on me, more than I already loved them.

[Silent]

Originally Posted by mitchanthropic How can you hate this CD? It's not like they're playing bubblegum pop. Despite the change in sound, it is still intrinsically Thrice. I honestly cannot see a single thing about this CD that you would hate.

I'm guessing because they aren't really playing the punk-rock sound anymore, and I think that's BC's favorite style, as far as I remember.

I finally picked up the album yesterday, it's pretty good. I like all the songs but haven't really found any specific tracks I love.

[Smitty]

First two CD's are the only ones worth buying IMO. I've listened to the other CD's and they seem watered down.

[Bad Company]

Originally Posted by Silent I'm guessing because they aren't really playing the punk-rock sound anymore, and I think that's BC's favorite style, as far as I remember. I finally picked up the album yesterday, it's pretty good. I like all the songs but haven't really found any specific tracks I love.

Silent knows

Also, I've warmed to this album with a bit of thrashing. It's OK.

[Silent]

Originally Posted by Smitty First two CD's are the only ones worth buying IMO. I've listened to the other CD's and they seem watered down.

I dunno, I love the first two CDs, but I think Artist in the Ambulance was good too. The new one, listened to it like 5-6 times now, it's pretty cool but a lot of the songs kind of blend together, it's hard to tell them apart if I'm not paying really close attention. Not sure if I like that.