Thrice
The Artist in the Ambulance

THE REVIEW

If the Nobel for the most ingratiating and flashy band in the emo and related realms were to be awarded almost equally to Aiden and The Used, it becomes very difficult to elect a chapter as the genre's progenitor, especially considering the numerous secondary branches that have led to further confusion.

It is certain that, if entire specialized magazines, both in the field and not, read praises and significant certainties, even across different time frames, the doubt and curiosity to verify the facts personally arise. And I can confirm that the multitude of positive reviews on the Irvine combo are definitely agreeable. I don't know, in a possible ranking within its tag, what position the band would occupy, but the Three Times (this is the translation of the moniker) know how to do their job and in a decidedly original way, like few others.

A perfect mix of emo, punk, hardcore, and metal: that's what's inside "The Artist In The Ambulance." This is one of those few albums where the label emocore/hardcore is perfectly fitting and not misleading as it is for most bands to which it is "given." This is also the first album under the major Universal for the Californians and follows "The Illusion Of Safety" from the previous year. However, afterwards, following another breakthrough album in every sense, namely "Vheissu," the band would return to recording for an underground label.

Let's add that the album's content and the way Kensrue and company conceive music could provide significant insights and spark various discussions, themes, and many reflections on why Epitaph now produces From First To Last and I Am Ghost, why Good Riddance (historic act of '90 Californian punk hc) disbanded and the post-breakup declarations of their leader, why many melodic hc bands that emerged in the early '90s are in crisis and so on and the topics could continue, but I'll stop here to talk about music, since after all it's a review and not a forum.

Power, energy combined with speed and melody, that's the sum of the pieces in the opus. It ranges from splendid melodies such as that of the eponymous "The Artist In The Ambulance" with a tasty riffing to pieces that literally tear strings and pure violence "Paper Tigers" (this practically all in screaming from start to finish) with a decadent and dramatic mood, where the combo's darker and heavier soul and notable metal influences emerge and "Abolition Of Man." In these two tracks, Teranishi's guitar work shows that the guy is a great admirer of bands like Metallica and Pantera and grew up with them.

From the mood of the single "All that's left", one immediately intuits two things: that the guys are Californians and that they must have grown up, as they themselves declare, on bread and NOFX, as this is a pure piece of new school hc.

Perhaps we should add that the other single "Stare At The Sun" with its splendid rarefied atmospheres and calm, and a stunning hypnotic bass line that adorns it, is the only one that fits the ballad criteria on the album and perhaps the least suitable to reflect the decibels and illustrate well the contents of the platter. Since the other tracks are configured at higher power levels.

The opener "A Cold Cash And Colder Hearts" is a nice composition that blends powerful and fast parts well with a slower bridge like poetry with goosebump-inducing violin breaks and a more screamed finale, and the magnificent killer moon loaded with meanings of "Under A Killing Moon", "Blood Clots And Black Holes", and "Hoods On Peregrine" continue along this path with drums at a hundred per hour, granitic riffs, and melodic vocals alternated with screams, sometimes even continuous. There is also room for one last ride with its wide instrumental expanses namely "Don't Tell And We Won't Ask".

Let's say that perhaps a single piece is not up to the CD's level, but this does not undermine the great quality of this gem, which remains at high levels. In short, not all 12 pieces are at the same level, as is logical, but forget about the smell of plastic and the solid waste of The Used: our guys recycle like few others.

Usually, in my reviews, I love to analyze various aspects that go beyond mere judgment and subjective taste, like this is beautiful, this is boring, and this is too long-winded, to see beyond and provide other insights. In this case, let's calmly say that in terms of analyzing the band members, there would be many lines to fill.

After all, having Dustin Kensrue in your ranks, in this CD in great shape, considered by many to be one of the best singers around, having that very technical Japanese guitarist Teppei Teranishi, having a good bassist who weaves simply sublime bass lines among the best I've ever heard and a drummer who gives a remarkable acceleration and impact to the rhythm section, is something, to be sure. Thrice in terms of technique have a lot to sell, perhaps making more than one metal group turn pale.

We might want to act fancier and pretentious, maybe even I am uncertain, putting this substantive emocore (and it is clear that this is one of the few bands where one would not go wrong at all) and attaching it like a stamp that no longer comes off certain acts. But if we say that this is simply the hardcore of the 2000s and a further evolution compared to that of the '80s and '90s, to the face of those who see it in constant decline? No, we are not wrong at all.

An approach to the subject different from that of NOFX or Lagwagon, more varied, more sophisticated, more technical, perhaps more interesting, mixing the classic riffs of the punk genre overlaying them with significant screaming, as a complement to clean vocals, a splash of emo melody and ending with references in rhythm and guitar work traceable to various genres like heavy-metal, nu and metalcore and with that drums at a hundred per hour as a common and unstoppable denominator.

However, the album is not one that is assimilated on first listen, but after a careful listen, one cannot help but appreciate this masterpiece. The difficulty arises from a songwriting as dynamic as ever and sublime, with varied song structures that greatly increase its value.

Let's conclude with some curiosities. The name of the album derives from the social support function the artist and musician should have towards society. Part of the monetary proceeds from the sale of this and other Thrice albums, as always, goes to charity for various associations dealing with patients and care.

For all those who were disappointed by Lagwagon's latest, for all those who wanted to smash bottles in their genitals over Millencolin's pop/rock shift (and I include myself), for those who simply want to hear good music and possess an open mind, not conditioned by labels: "The Artist In The Ambulance" is for all of you. It deserves a chance.

Absolutely to discover.