With their new album, Vheissu, it's as though Thrice have drawn a longer, thicker line in the sand and refuse to let anyone cross it, further separating themselves from anything trendy, 'core, and common. Vheissu, which takes its name from a work of literature and is pronounced "vee-soo," follows the same stylistic arc as Radiohead's OK Computer or the Deftones' White Pony. And if Thrice and label Island play their cards right, this album could have the same career-defining commercial success as OK Computer and White Pony.

An abundance of trance-y, mellow, and downright melancholic moments dot the Vheissu landscape - hear tracks like "Atlantic," "For Miles," and the haunting "Music Box" - but Thrice haven't completely abandoned the tense bluster of their past. Frontman Dustin Kensrue gives his lungs quite the workout, and guitarist Teppei Teranishi knuckles down on his axe, but these moments are strategically placed, well-written, and not overblown. The hard, charging moments on Vheissu serve to make their points, and move on to more challenging and ultimately more musical, less raging parts.

So Thrice diehards, sleep well, because the group still rocks on Vheissu, namely on "Hold Fast Hope," "The Earth Will Shake" and "Image of the Invisible." With this album, Thrice aren't afraid to take some risks and flex their creative muscles. It's like the cloud of Radiohead's OK Computer hung over the boys' heads when they wrote this record. Lush, pretty, clean singing and atypical textures and structures abound on Vheissu; there is something for all factions of punk rockers, indie rockers, and hipsters alike. Here's to hoping the band can retain their current audience, as well as find a new one, because this is one record that shouldn't go unheard.

-Amy Sciarretto

BACK TO ISSUE FEATURES