Post-hardcore band Thrice have for long been considered the pioneers of their genre, with singles such as "All That's Left" and "Stare At The Sun". However, with every release, they seem to be shedding the post-hardcore label and showcased newfound songwriting talents, evident on the sound change on every album. The Illusion of Safety introduced the world to post-hardcore, The Artist of the Ambulance featured odd-time signatures and fist-pumping anthems, while Vheissu saw the band working with a pop producer and produced some of the most diverse material for a post-hardcore band ever. Then, around 2006/2007, the band left Island Records and came up with a grandiose idea: To record a series of EPs representing the four classic natural elements: Fire, Water, Air and Earth, and to completely self produce the EPs. To top that up, the last track of each EP is a specially written sonnet representing the view of each element on the world. But can a band once known for songs as brutal as "The Abolition of Man" pull this off? The answer is an astounding yes. The first trailer they posted last year turned a lot of heads. And today, I'll be reviewing the first half of their latest album/EP set, The Alchemy Index Vol. I and II: Fire and Water.
When writing something to represent the element fire, the things that come to mind will be utter heaviness, dark textures and grinding riffs. The band did just that, but with many twists along the way, among them is the usage of unusual instrumentation. Opening track "Firebreather" starts with a highly dissonant siren-like synth and a crowd chant at the end, "The Messenger" sees the band incorporating Kid A-esque electronic beats, while "Backdraft" features rather shockingly the country musician's favorite, the lap steel. Even on first listen, it's evident Thrice did a lot to make this EP heavy. The riffs definitely sound like they were tuned way lower than they used to, and Dustin's voice, even when he's not screaming, really hits you in the guts. And the band doesn't seem content with playing things in straight 4/4 either. Bands usually just add an additional hi-hat, cymbal crash or snare drum to signify an odd-time signature, but on the track "The Arsonist", the 7/4 time signature doesn't feel awkward, but instead gives a really dark, twisted feel, which is a really hard thing to pull off. But the standout tracks on this EP is "Burn the Fleet", which is in a major key (aka happy sounding), and "Flame Deluge", the sonnet of the EP, which is the heaviest song they have ever recorded to date. The guitars and synths engulf the already unfathomable 'singing' on this track, giving the impression of being in an actual flame deluge, but towards the end, everything drops out and the listener is left with a very gentle synth melody (which is a recurring motif in all 4 sonnets in this opus) that gives the feel of being completely burnt out. Overall, Thrice has succeeded in recording a worthy representative of the Fire element.
Next is the Water EP. On every listen, there is an impression that somehow the sounds are being drenched underwater due to the way every sounds attack comes out. This EP is definitely different from anything Thrice has ever done. Guitars take a sidestep here to electronic beats, synth treatments, processed vocals, and DJ-like sounds. Opening track "Digital Sea" is surprisingly danceable for a Thrice song and certainly wouldn't sound out of place in a night club! But it's from the song "Open Water" onwards that Thrice makes the listener really feel like they're being taken on a journey underwater by the band. The songs features some of Thrice's best songwriting and arrangements ever. Standouts are "Night Diving", the only guitar driven track and Thrice's first instrumental which is also an achievement in a way that it makes prog elements highly accessible to listeners, and "The Whaler", which really makes you feel like you're in the deepest trench in the ocean. In my opinion, the Water EP really shines on this first installment.
Thrice have definitely proved themselves as able songwriters. The way I see it, Fire is their "Master of Puppets"; heavy and revolutionary, but still not definitive, yet. Water, on the other hand is Thrice's answer to "Kid A". This album could is a total sleeper and could be one of the best and most ambitious albums of 2007.
Overall, I give it a 4.5/5
