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Rating: Are you familiar with the feeling you get when you get burned by fire? Or, on the contrary, that wonderful atmosphere that can only be found on a beach at sunset, with the sound of the ocean in the background? The Thrice manage to make us feel all this, thanks only to the twelve gems that make up their new album.
The Californian quartet, after leaving their major label (Island) and landing under Vagrant, releases "The Alchemy Index," a surprising concept album centered on the four elements. The first two elements presented by the band are Fire and Water, combined in a double digipack released in October 2007. Thrice are not afraid to experiment with new sounds, new solutions, and they are not daunted by the possibility of disappointing or completely disorienting their attentive fans.
In all these years of activity (now a solid ten), they have accustomed us to the continuous evolution of their sound, starting from a driving Punk Hardcore with significant melodic inserts (Identity Crisis), passing through a potent Emocore (The Illusion Of Safety), and reaching Post-Hardcore shores (The Artist In The Ambulance and Vheissu).
And here we are talking about this new chapter in the Thrice saga. Let’s say right away that expectations were thoroughly met; indeed, although not the most original concept, the twelve songs are excellently arranged and masterfully performed by the whole band, with, I would like to emphasize, an inspired performance by singer Dustin Kensrue. The first element, "Fire," is honored with Deftones-ish guitars, killer riffs by Teppei Teranishi, and a pounding rhythm section by Eddie and Riley Breckenridge. The opener "Firebreather" stands out, where Dustin's voice becomes hoarse and powerful to the point of growling yet knows how to be epic, especially in the final verse "Oh, to breathe in fire and know I’m free, know I’m free!" and the powerful "The Messenger," which takes us back to the glory and speed of "The Illusion Of Safety."
The second disc in the digipack is dedicated to the element of water; indeed, throughout its duration, we are transported into a sea of emotions, sweet melodies, and never banal atmospheres, so dear to seminal bands like NIN (regarding electronic inserts) and Radiohead. "The Whaler" completely sums up what Thrice are capable of doing and only highlights the qualities of a band constantly evolving. "Water," therefore, is even more surprising than "Fire," because it takes the similar experiments already conducted on "Vheissu" to another level, in songs like "Atlantic" or "Between The End And Where We Lie."
Thrice confirm themselves as one of the most interesting contemporary bands in the Rock field. Why let them slip away?
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