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Thrice has experienced with a lot of music, but listen to this disc and you will hear the flow. (Credit by wordpress.com)

Thrice in review

By: Joe Buglio/ Online Reporter

Posted: 4/25/08

Six months ago Thrice released the first half of their experimental concept album called "The Alchemy Index."

Volumes I and II of the Alchemy Index, Fire and Water, came out on October 16, 2007.

Each disc of this project is representative of the element of the Earth. Thrice tries to capture the sound and energy of each different element on each disc.

Fire was the heaviest music of the elements, while on Water Thrice experimented with some digital beats and rhythms to capture the effect of being in and/or around water.

For the end of each EP the lead singer/lyricist, Dustin Kensrue, wrote an English sonnet. Each sonnet was written as that element speaking to man about how it has been mistreated, abused, over-looked, etc.

Each couplet at the end of the sonnet ends on the same four musical chords for each disc. This was used to connect all the elements together.

There are some standout tracks on Volumes III and IV of the Alchemy Index.

Volume III: Air, has a mix of all the different sounds of the elements. The disc starts out with the song "Broken Lungs," that slowly builds up in the beginning and then finishes off with a bang.

The one song that brings in all different types of instruments and other sounds is called "The Sky Is Falling." This song has sounds ranging from the smooth sound of the saxophone in the background to the entire group clapping their hands between verses.

The final song on the Air disc is the sonnet, "Silver Wings."

This soothing song sends your emotions all over the place. The band really makes you feel like you are floating in the air. The movements throughout the song show you how far this band has progressed over the past ten years they have been together.

The final disc of the entire "Alchemy Index" is the Earth disc.

The Earth disc is mainly an acoustic set of songs with only the song, "Come All You Weary," having a full drum set in it.

Thrice recorded this disc in an open room, with wooden floors, playing together instead of recording the parts separately.

This really makes this disc the greatest sounding of the Index as you can hear the creaks coming from the wooden floor as the band moves around between tracks as if they are playing all the songs in succession.

It makes you feel as if you were in the room with the band while they were recording.

One of the standout songs on this disc is the song "Digging My Own Grave." This song gives you the feel of Kensrue singing in an old western Salon, full with piano and finger snapping.

The song "Come All You Weary" really sets the tone for the disc. The songs chorus will send chills down your spine upon the first listen and the hundredth listen.

The sonnet on the Earth disc is called "Child of Dust" and is easily the most powerful sonnet and song of the entire experiment of "The Alchemy Index."

Thrice experimented with different sounds to convey the element as well. For this sonnet they recorded the sound of a shovel digging while they buried a microphone underground in a box.

Kensrues vocals create a chilling tone throughout the song. The song is set up as if it's a progression at a funeral. The final two lines of the couplet read, "Now here beneath the wisdom and their feet, here I will teach you truly how to speak." When I first heard this at the end of the song mixed together with the digging of the shovel [associating it with a burial] I almost shed a tear.

The songs on this project are amazing, especially if you know where this band has come from. If you are new to Thrice you will easily be able to dive into this album and enjoy every second of it.

Thrice is a band that makes music for their own personal reasons and don't let music industries restrict them.

They make meaningful music that deeply touches their listeners and have succeeded all expectations on this project.

From here Thrice can dive into any type of musical genre for their next project, and I can't wait to hear it.