From the past: Thrice's memorable album
Brandon Thompson
Issue date: 11/11/08 Section: Entertainment
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Let's step back a few years to an album from the Orange County four-piece, Thrice.
Vheissu, released in 2005, combines elements all around the board to create a beautiful album that goes beyond just a singular genre.
With singer Dustin Kensrue's scratchy voice, the band is able to portray its mostly romance themed lyrics in ways that hearken both heavy metal riffed rock as well as delicate slave songs of way back yonder.
Some tracks on the album remain heavy with everything from screamed vocals to wide open distorted guitars. Other tracks stay relatively mellow, with more delicate vocals by Kensrue as well as soft piano to accompany the already diverse sounds from the album.
On tracks like "The Earth Will Shake," Thrice manages to combine all of the above dynamics into one song evoking such emotion that the hopeful prison escape analogy in the song becomes so real you can almost hear the chains of the inmates shaking in the background as they cry out for salvation.
The album has something for everyone.
The complex rhythm section will astound even the pickiest music critics, as the songs cascade from a metal inclined apex to tranquil instrumental moments in songs that remind the listener of how deep Thrice's roots in classical compostion run.
Other listeners, who may be more concerned with what Kensrue is actually singing about, may find these lyrics to be some of the most meaningful works of poetry ever found in such a hard-edged band's notebook. With lyrics like "We all were lost now 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" from "Image of the Invisible," Thrice tends to lean toward encouragement. In the end of the album, as the songs seem to become darker, the lyrics prove that victory is imminent, further iterating their heartening tone.
Inundated with emotion and symbolism, Vheissu proves to be a great album that has withstood the test of time. Upon its release in 2005, the album was distinctly different from many rock albums on the shelves; almost too different. Now, as music has slowly evolved like it always does, more and more rock bands use similar formulas found in Vheissu in their own creations.
A few years down the road, this album is still worth the listen. You may even have it stuck in your head and constantly playing in your car.