Thrice
Major/Minor

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the new Thrice album which was supposed to be released on September 20th, actually came out yesterday. I was eagerly awaiting and didn’t know what to expect, but this is a new change of style. You listen to "Minor/Major" and the comment is inevitable, "Damn, Thrice did it again!".

Now on their eighth album, they still manage to surprise after 11 years of constant evolution with countless experiments and changes in sound that have not prevented them from getting it right every single time. Major/Minor distances itself from the Post-Hardcore origins of the band to draw elements from the underground Grunge of the '90s and combine them with the typical experimentation of the Californian quartet.

This dive into the past can already be noticed from the first track "Yellow Belly", which brings to mind the Seattle that was, but with a touch of 2011 added to it (as seen through their eyes). Warm and reassuring melodies are combined with dirty riffs and tense, dark atmospheres as in the case of "Promises". But we also find melodic tracks where Dustin Kensrue's splendid voice takes the lead even when the pace picks up, as in "Words in The Water", "Call It The Air", and "Anthology" (of which there is also an acoustic version that, in my opinion, is quite successful).

Other tracks like "Blinded", "Cataracts", and "Blur" which are more lively and old-school oriented will most likely satisfy Grunge lovers who refuse to accept Nickelback and Staind as the heirs of Nirvana and Soundgarden. "Treading Paper" stands out as one of the most atmospheric songs on the album, creating a perfect balance between calm and tension, old and modern, voice and instrumental parts. "Listen Through Me", on the other hand, adds keyboards to a very pronounced bass line and garage-flavored riffs, with Kensrue still proudly showcasing his voice. The gentle "Disarmed" finally closes one of the best albums of 2011.

Thrice have certainly been one of the best bands of the 2010s but with this album, they rightfully earn their place in the history of the newly started decade.