Reviews

Thrice is amongst the pack of ambitious bands releasing concept albums this year. The Alchemy Index is a four-volume collection in which Vol. 1 & 2: Fire & Water was recently released but Vol. 3 & 4: Earth & Air will not be unveiled until spring. Thrice has always been a band that experiments with different musical styles and not one of their records sounds like a carbon copy of the previous. The Alchemy Index intertwines bold and heavy with melodic and calm.

True to earth's elements, Fire is a blistering assault and the intense opening track, "Firebreather," sets the tone for the rest of the disc. The music is detailed and layered, however, a little bit overwhelming. "The Messenger" and "The Arsonist" continue the audio attack along with "Burn the Fleet". I've always thought fury and angst were what Thrice did best yet; Water puts out the Fire without a doubt.

Water is captivating and takes you on a dark, aquatic, and highly synthesized journey that makes you feel as though you actually are out on the open sea. The music is complex, somber and brilliantly crafted. "Digital Sea" is haunting while "Open Water" is quiet, beautiful, and evokes melodies that remind me of Explosions in the Sky and even Radiohead. "Night Diving" is the serene instrumental track that ties the two discs together. Dustin has always been a brilliant lyricist and he shows off his abilities in the sonnets written for the last tracks "Kings Upon the Main" and "The Flame Deluge" featured on Fire.

I personally love all six tracks on Water and although Fire was a little too severe and overpowering, I do crank it up when I need a fierce work out. Thrice always seem to venture down a different path but they still manage to deliver pretty amazing records. I am very anxious to hear what Volume 3 & 4: Earth & Air will exhibit.