Thrice - The Alchemy Index Vol. III and IV - Air and earth

Vagrant Records . release date: 08/28/2007 . written by Oliver

When Dustin Kensrue of Thrice came up with the idea to create a new concept of using the four elements (wind, fire, water, earth) and seperating them all to the feels of people normally come up with, the decision became clear: A major label is not willing to support a band, that has such great - but confused - sort of ideas. The band has totally changed it´s route on it´s past releases I & II and The Alchemy Index III & IV. The raw and fury aspects, that you once found on The Artist In The Ambulance and The Illusion Of Safety have totally decreased on the last records. Dustin, Teppei, Eddie and Riley have re-created themselfes. The most distinct sign was their last major label record Vheissu – an experimental, spheric and silent record, that had nothing to do with the foregoer records. Well, to me Vheissu was hard to take in the beginning, especially because I was missing the great melodies and the raw power. It has taken me a month to accept the record – but then I started to love the result. I am not sure, why the band has Island and got signed to Vagrant. I´ll just guess, that Island Records was not willing any more to release such a strange and atmospheric album again. Luckily Vagrant does. On The Alchemy Index I – IV the band is doing something that´s of the opposite of what a producer is supposed to do on a record, which is make everything make sense, says Teppei Terenishi, who plays electric guitar and piano in Thrice. He is also an producer, for interesting acts, among The Out_Circuit and others. Thrice has found a new home on Vagrant – a label, that allows them to try everything out what they have in mind. The Alchemy Index I & II was really an amazing experience in music. The first part of the two-piece-release was so haunting and cold, but also interesting, mindblowing and at least so very different in comparison to all their foregoer records. Now in 2008,Vagrant makes the Alchemy Index complete with the outtakes Air (III) & Earth (IV). The new release contains twelve intersting songs - six songs each on every CD. I like the fact, that every element – or better – every CD contains six totally different songs. Dustin Kensrue´s calming voice fits so perfectly into the new kind of music, that I may describe as experimental or ambient music, that got filled out with synthesizer, drum computer, hard edged guitars and monster basslines plus some extraordinary drumming. Every song on Index III and IV tells a different story. Some are based on movie scenes, others are based on personal experiences and feelings. The last record I & II was more silent and thoughtful, while the new record contains a few more harder songs, among the opener track “Broken Lungs”, that reminds me to the classicWhite Pony album by the Deftones. The next song is called “The Sky Is Falling”, which is also a driving Rock tune, with an amazing refrain. I like the strange noises and the clapping hands in the back. Me especially adore “Deadalus”, which is a sad Rock ballard with driving guitars and a beautiful refrain. Dustin really does good here vocals here. He sounds pretty raw and mature on that track. The next CD (Earth) starts with a solid country tune, which reminds me a lot to Dustin Kensrue´s solo project on Equal Vision. I have to admit, that die hard Thrice fans may have problems to accept the newer stuff, especially the newer releases starting off with “Vheissu”. Thrice has proofed on Alchemy I & II, that they have grown together as a band. They have new ideas and they found new creative ways. The times are over, when Thrice was known as aggressive Rock band. Their new stuff could probably speak to fans of Dustin Kensrue´s solo project, Deftones, We Are The Fury and The Mars Volta. To sum up the record, I have to admit, that it is not simple to accept the new stuff from the beginning. It is really very exciting and intersting to listen to The Alchemy Index I – IV, but it takes a lot of concentration and an open mind, to accept and to love these songs, which turned out so different and so very ambitious in comparison to all their foregoer releases.

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Rank: (5 out of 5)

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