Once Thrice's new double disc album, the third and fourth part of the Alchemy Index, is released, a review will be posted in a short amount of time. For this review, I will be trying something new. I have collected and printed out all lyrics for this double disc release and therefore will analyze the lyrics even more in depth, not only in context of the song, but as a singular form of art in themselves. Get ready for tomorrow. I'll be picking up the new album around 1 o'clock. I suggest you support the music industry as well as great independently run band and do the same.
Presently.....
Thrice's second half of their four part element inspired came out on April 15th. Although a natural element inspired project would seem daunting for most, Thrice's writing abilities as well as self production execute well. Along with the first half of the project, this is a great way to complete it. Overall this entire project turns out to be an epic adventure, one that few bands could even conceive. One word comes to mind: epic, and on that level, Thrice delivers better than I could have imagined.
The first thing I notice about this album, as well as the first half of the set, is the overall sound a vibe. Coming from a first time, non professional engineer and producer, this album sounds amazing. Teppei Teranishi first crack at engineering without the help of any outside producer or engineer is definitely a success. The sounds are well put together making this album sound like a congruent work of art. I enjoy the deep, layered, and largely reverberant sound I can get from this album even on a relatively treble and dry based speaker system I have been listening with.
Kenstrue's lyrics are very well written this time around, chock full of metaphors and imagery. Topics question and range from morality, the situation in the Middle East, the environment, and Milly Michaelson. The lyrics are amazingly thoughtful and well put together. Printing lyrics out for me personally helps me so much in my analysis and I will certainly continue this habit with any other new albums I review. Read from a Christian perspective, as the writer is, is an amazing journey of questions and thoughts that allow one to dig deeper into many meanings. Although it is written and read well from a Christian perspective, the general public ranging from atheists to other religions can easily relate to the many general, yet deep questions posed and answered in the lyrics. The melodies are typical of Thrice, catchy, and intricate with plenty of reverberant and textured layers of vocals.
The music like the first two volumes are very indicative of their titles Air and Earth. On earth there is only one electric instrument, the lead guitar line in Come All You Weary, thus giving it a very basic, raw, and natural sound. The air disc ranges a little more, but rightfully imitates a sense of atmosphere and three dimensional area, coming from a stereo track. Overall, this is a great way to finish off the journey through all of the elements. Both of these albums are positive growth from Vheissu, and leaves me wondering where they head next. I will be attending their show this Friday in Nashville and can't wait to see their stage adaptations of these songs as well as their older material. I highly recommend this album to any fans of Thrice as well as anyone who is trying to get into their music. While Vheissu might be a better overall representation of their work, these two albums offer a wide variety from Fire and their heavier stuff to their more bare bones songwriter type of music in Earth. In general, this album is an amazing standalone work as well a intricate part of a bigger and much grander work representing the four elements well.
Key Tracks
Daedalus
Silver Wings
Moving Mountains
Come All You Weary
4.5 out of 5 Stars
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