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Rating: Do not rest on your laurels, change, take risks, shed skin, try new solutions: all of this is Thrice.
A band that rose to prominence in the underground scene with the second album "The Illusion Of Safety", but especially with the beautiful third "The Artist In The Ambulance" a blend of hardcore, emo, and metal, which at the time of its release sounded original and far from banal.
From then on, there was the legitimization of a genre over time, which gradually became saturated and saw the emergence of a myriad of clone bands, often with improbable names, riding the wave.
Thrice, who were among the first to propose certain sounds along with other bands, had two choices: continue down the same path or take risks by largely renouncing their origins. The answer is found in "Vheissu," a stylistically very distant album from their previous ones, which sees the Californian group, like other colleagues (see Finch), making a decisive 360° turn.
And so, "Vheissu" presents itself as something surprising and at the same time bewildering for those fans still attached to the previous album, which was more direct and immediate, characteristics that this new work does not possess, being more intense and deep, harder to understand, often with very slow tempos unlike the past, with considerable use of instruments never used before such as keyboards, synthesizers, music boxes, xylophones, and violins, creating a rich and multiform musical web.
More than a few have spoken of diverse and distant influences, including those of the Radiohead for the sweeter, subdued, and dreamy parts close to certain alternative rock and the Deftones for the few rougher and shouted parts, recalling only partly the recent past.
Well, often these two souls merge into a single organism, like in the case of the beautiful "For Miles" opened by a sublime piano arpeggio and surrounded by an astonishing instrumental progression, leading to an epic final outburst or "The Earth Will Shake" which starts like a folk sonnet and ends like a nu-metal piece.
Other times, however, it is the more melancholic and intimate side of the band, which had never been heard in these tones, coming forth bringing to light little gems like "Music box" surrounded by the sound of a melancholic music box, equipped with one of the best choruses of the work, the ballad "Atlantic" and the wonderful "Of Dusts And Nations" among the best pieces Thrice have ever written where Dustin Kensrue proves to be an added value. But there is also room for the electronics and epicness of the second single "Red Sky" and the magical and dreamy atmosphere of "Between The End And Where We Lie."
The only invisible thread that ties the previous "TAITA" to this Vheissu serving as an ideal connecting bridge is the opener "Image Of The Invisibile" a straightforward piece endowed with a certain energy, which could easily have come from the previous album.
The lyrics also deserve a read, as they touch on topics worth reflecting upon.
The band's choice not to propose a carbon copy of the previous album should be appreciated, even though perhaps for many, myself included, an evolution and intermediate step would have been more appreciated, as for many this work will be quite controversial.
The same writer, after listening to a few pieces, had discarded it quite some time ago and only recently reevaluated its complexity and entirety, and it is over time that one understands the great work of dedication, sound research, and attention to detail that the Californians have put into an ambitious project like "Vheissu" which gives ample emphasis to Thrice's creativity.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Image of the Invisible (04:14)
We're more than carbon and chemicals
We are the image of the invisible
Free will is ours and we can't let go
We are the image of the invisible
We can't allow this, the quiet cull
We are the image of the invisible
So we sing out this, our canticle
We are the image of the invisible
We all were lost and we are found
No one can stop us or slow us down
We are the named and we are known
We know that we'll never walk alone
We're more than static and dial tone
We are the image of the invisible
We're emblematic of the unknown
We are the image of the invisible
So raise the banner, bend back your bows
We are the image of the invisible
Remove the cancer, take back your souls
We are the image of the invisible
We all were lost and we are found
No one can stop us or slow us down
We are the named and we are known
We know that we'll never walk alone
Though all the world may hate us, we are named
The shadow overtake us, we are known
We're more than carbon and chemicals
Free will is ours and we can't let go
We are the image of the invisible
We're more than carbon and chemicals
We are the image of the invisible
Free will is ours and we can't let go
We are the image of the invisible
We can't allow this, the quiet cull
We are the image of the invisible
So we sing out this, our canticle
We are the image of the invisible
We all were lost and we are found
No one can stop us or slow us down
We are the named and we are known
We know that we'll never walk alone
Raise up the banner, bend back your bows
Remove the cancer, take back your souls
03 The Earth Will Shake (04:29)
We dream of ways to break these,
Iron bars.
We dream of black nights without,
Moon or stars.
We dream of tunnels and of,
Sleeping guards.
We dream of blackouts in the
Prison yard.
Heartbroken we found
A gleam of hope.
Harken to the sound,
A whistle blows.
Heaven sent reply,
However small,
Evidence of life,
Beyond these walls.
Born and bred,
In this machine.
Wardens dread,
To see us dream.
We hold tight,
To legends of,
Real life;
The way it was before
We dream of jailers throwing,
Down their arms.
We dream of open gates and,
No alarms.
We dream of ways to break these,
Iron bars.
We dream of black nights without,
Moon or stars.
We dream of ways to break these,
Iron bars.
We dream of black nights without,
Moon or stars.
We dream of ways to break these,
Iron bars.
We dream of black nights without,
Moon or stars.
Heartbroken we found
A gleam of hope
Harken to the sound,
A whistle blows.
Heaven sent reply,
However small,
Evidence of life,
Beyond these walls.
Born and bred
In this machine.
Wardens dread,
To see us dream.
We hold tight,
To legends of,
Real life;
The way it was before.
Look to the day,
The earth will shake,
These weathered walls,
Will fall away.
Look to the day,
The earth will shake,
These weathered walls,
Will fall away.
Look to the day,
The earth will shake,
These weathered walls,
Will fall away.
Look to the day,
The earth will shake,
These weathered walls,
Will fall away....
04 Atlantic (04:02)
it's been so long, and tin cans and string for years
is all that we've known, could it be you're really here
'cause my eyes are open, and everything still moves in slow-motion,
breathless and blue, and behind your eyes the sea
oceans of light envelop me
but things can't be as they seem, I'm so far from home
this must be another dream, but my eyes are open
and everything still moves in slow-motion,
breathless and blue, and behind your eyes the sea
oceans of light envelop me
my eyes are open, and everything still moves in slow-motion,
breathless and blue, and behind your eyes the sea
oceans of light envelop me
05 For Miles (04:27)
I know one day, all our scars will disappear, like the stars at dawn
and all of our pain, will fade away when morning comes
and on that day when we look backwards we will see, that everything is changed
and all of our trials, will be as milestones on the way
and as long as we live, every scar is a bridge to someone's broken heart
and there's no greater love, than the one shed his blood for his friends
on that day all of the scales will swing to set all the wrongs to right
all of our tears, and all of our fears will take to flight
but until then all of our scars will still remain, but we've learned that if we'll
open the wounds and share them then soon they start to heal
(as long as we live, every scar is a bridge to someone's broken heart
there's no greater love, than the one shed his blood for his friends)
we must see that every scar is a bridge, and as long as we live
we must open up these wounds
when some one stands in your shoes and will shed his own blood
there's no greater love. we must open up our wounds
06 Hold Fast Hope (04:01)
How can you be sleeping, waves like weapons crash
over us, cry for mercy and hold fast hope
who of us is cursed, or do we have to ask
search your souls and hold fast
if no one speaks a word, then let the lots be cast
truth be told and hold fast
white death wakes in black skies, mark your maker's wrath
fear and flames of azure climb the crooked mast
you will yet be baptized, steeped in shattered glass
sink and sing your answer and hold fast
as strong arms grip your shoulders like dead hands of the past
pray as you're tossed over, this breath could be your last
quiet and cold, silent and slow
night black as coal, miles here below
find your faith and dive deep, through living gateways pass
lined with death and ivory, and hold fast, hold fast
deep beneath the black dawn, leagues from lightning?s flash
ribs will raise cathedrals for the morning mass
steel yourself in sackcloth, roll your heart in ash
scrape your skin with steel wool, Cross your heart and hold fast hope
cross your heart and hold fast hope and hold fast hope.
07 Music Box (04:46)
We move for all mankind, a million miles from Everything we've ever known
And we're on their hearts and minds, a million heads Are bowed to bring us safely home
Hemmed in by emptiness, a million ways that everything Could be undone
This hollow in my chest is filled with reasons not to Sing but I found one, I know
We are not alone, we feel an unseen love
We are sons and heirs of grace
We are children of a light that never dims
A love that never dies, keep your chin up child
And wipe the tears from your eyes
In sleep we saw ourselves, a million years we had been Waiting there it seems
While someone weaves a spell, a million stars look on In witness to our dreams
We are not alone, we feel an unseen love
We are sons and heirs of grace
We are children of a light that never dims
A love that never dies, keep your chin up child
And wipe the tears from your eyes
We feel an unseen love
We are children of light
We are not alone, we feel an unseen love
We are sons and heirs of grace
We are children of a light that never dims
A love that never dies, keep your chin up child
And wipe the tears from your eyes
Stand ready and tall, reflect the light
09 Of Dust and Nations (04:50)
the towers that shoulder your pride
the words you've written in stone
sand will cover them, sand will cover you
the streets that suffer your name
your very flesh and your bones
sand will cover them, sand will cover you
so put your faith in more than steel
don't store your treasures up, with moth and rust
where thieves break in and steal
pull the fangs from out your heel
we live in but a shadow of the real
step out from time, see the dust of nations
step out from time, hear the stars ovation
Saturn will not sleep, until the sand has made us clean
still we stack our stones and bury what we can
but it all will be undone, and nothing built under the sun
will ever stand before the endless march of sand
so put your faith in more than steel
don't store your treasures up, with moth and rust
where thieves break in and steal
pull the fangs from out your heel
we live in but a shadow of the real
so put your faith in more than steel
don't store your treasures up, with moth and rust
where thieves break in and steal
pull the fangs from out your heel
we live in but a shadow of the real
11 Red Sky (04:17)
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
Can you see the sky turn red
As morning's light breaks over me
Know tonight we'll make our bed
At the bottom of the sea
I know the ocean speaks, I've heard her call to me
And smiling in my dreams she whispers this
(The stars retreat behind their veil
The clouds are clinging to your sail
The storm is coming can you see?)
Can you see the sky turn red
As morning's light breaks over me
Know tonight we'll make our bed
At the bottom of the sea
Look and see the sky turn red
Like blood it covers over me
And soon the sea shall give up her dead
We'll raise an empire from the bottom of the sea
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Other reviews
By seifer77
I never would have expected Thrice to pull out of the hat an album of such great intensity, beautifully sung and played, that emanates dreaminess from every note.
The scream is reduced to the bare minimum, so as to reveal the great melodic qualities of Dustin’s voice, here warmer and more alluring, rather than angry and gritty.
