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Week 18:
Thrice
Artist Introduction
A band so nice, they named them Thrice! Over the years Thrice has quietly become one of my favorite bands. After putting together this week’s selection I can say with confidence that they are one of the most underrated rock bands of this century. Over the last 26 years the same 4-man lineup has been consistently putting out top-notch music. Creatively Thrice started as a post-hardcore (the high energy and heavy elements of hardcore punk with an emphasis on melodies and harmonies) band in the late 90s and early 2000s. Through the years they have matured their sound to hit a large variety of alternative rock. You don’t have to read my entire review before getting into your listening, it’s a damn long review, but, I want it to be noted that songs 2-7 are in chronological order with the intent for you to notice their development in sound. Overall I’d say they’ve proven to me to be one of the most versatile rock bands of the modern era and I hope you enjoy!
Vin Cascella
Most Popular
Black Honey
2016, A fantastic example of modern Thrice. One of my favorite rock songs of the 2010s up there with “Lydia” by Highly Suspect and “Rope” by the Foo Fighters and it’s one of the few Thrice songs that actually got some radio time. I like the bassline in the verses and the guitar blaring into the chorus. I’d say on an individual level the instrumentals are pretty simple compared to the rest of their work but as an ensemble they work so well together. This song really shows their maturity in song writing and production. Technically the lyrics are metaphorical but it’s about as subtle as a sledgehammer.
The Artist In The Ambulance
2003, Teenager me would be so happy that I’m still talking about this song! Late in high school, we got our driver’s licenses and this song played constantly. Lyrically it’s one of my favorite songs of all time. At face value it's about a man who is saved by a paramedic after a car crash who then decides to make something out of their life to pay respect to their savior. The song hits a little harder for me nowadays for the many reasons I have respect for those who work in emergency medicine. On a metaphorical and symbolic level it is meant to be taken in a few ways. It can be taken as a song of faith: God is the paramedic who helps us even when we can’t help ourselves; The crash is the hard times that make us question everything and that's why we need the “paramedic” to save us. Also according to the lead singer it's also a metaphor for how art can emotionally save someone. “...that a paramedic can pick someone up and fix them physically, while an artist/musician can pick someone up and fix them emotionally.” This song along with the next are the two oldest songs in this selection and obviously leans more into the post-punk sound. Not much going on with the bass, lots of power chords and melodic guitar riffs. The drums are pretty stellar. “My world goes black before I feel an angel steal me from the greedy jaws of death and chance, and pull me in with steady hands, they’ve given me a second chance, the artist in the ambulance”
Stare At The Sun
2003, Same album as TAITA and was actually selected as one of the singles of the album. I read an interview that the band disagreed with the label’s decision for the album’s singles and that if “TAITA” had been the lead single of the album they might have had a completely different sound today. Either way I think it’s a great song that blends their post-punk sound with some alternative rock. Cool atmospheric guitar intro that then leads into an excellent bass riff which the guitar follows in the chorus. Instrumentals kick in even more during the bridge leading into the last chorus. The shortest song in my selection but they make good use of every second. If you have time for some extra credit: Thrice has re-recorded this entire album for its 20th anniversary. It’s a faithful recreation that makes subtle tweaks to the overall sound but largely keeps the original material intact. The only major difference is the change in the lead singer, Dustin’s voice. If you were on the fence about the last two songs these versions may swing you in a more favorable direction.
Personal Favorites
Of Dust And Nations
2005, Conveniently songs 2-7 are in chronological order so you’ll be able to hear their development over the years. I’ll also spare you from the music off their first two albums. It’s so fucking good but I think this group will hate it (extra credit x2 if you listen to “Phoenix Ignition” and “Deadbolt” off their first two albums respectively.) So now onto “Of Dust and Nations”… You’ll notice a bit of a departure from the post-punk sound as they start leaning into building atmospheres in their songs. Everything from here on out will be over 4 minutes and feature instrumental interludes, whether in the intro, outro, or the bridge almost all of their music features a little extra something. Noting his voice, still a bit nasal. Drums are great again, guitar tone is so fun. Lots of little guitar and bass effects going on in the background (tons of delays and reverb). Kind of like a punkier Muse.
Doublespeak
2009, Hey look at that, some piano! The piano and drum intro is so damn good, almost funky. Lead and rhythm guitars rip in the chorus and then the second verse adds in another funky layer with some prominent bass work. Off their self-produced seventh studio album Beggars this song is a great example of the band moving further from the punk sound and more into a progressive jam-oriented rock band. I wasn’t sure if this song was going to make my list but I felt it necessary after choosing “The Resistance” by Muse. I had to choose another George Orwell “1984” themed track. It's my favorite.
Words In The Water
2011, Where did that nasal voice go!? It took him a little over a decade but you can hear the maturity in their sound. Major/Minor is their most grunge (post-grunge) album to date. This is a nice slow building song and is the first song I listed that is overtly lyrically religious. I looked into it a bit more. Lead singer Dustin Kensrue is indeed Christian, lyrically there are themes or Christianity, spiritualism, and philosophy but the band itself is not an overtly Christian band. A little long in the outro but like I’ve said before I like that they let their songs breathe. They aren’t afraid to have an extended intro, outro, or bridge. Like “Black Honey”, no major standout instrumentals outside the drumrolls but a great ensemble. It’s a standout vocal performance from Dustin, and probably the best out of this selection.
Unique Songs
Blood On Blood
2018, I wouldn’t say this song is entirely unique from the previous selection but it does show their continued progression in sound. There’s also that strange harp interlude that I think the song could use without, though it is unique! The bass in this track is so damn good, especially in the back half. The way this song builds REALLY reminds me of “The Remedy” by Maynard James Keenan’s side project Puscifer. Throughout my research I would hear influences of Tool and Deftones, especially in their newer progressive material that would blend melodic, gentle sections with intense, heavy, and complex arrangements. It really was a struggle to figure out what song to put in this and the next spot. I thought about adding some even newer material to keep with the chronological order bit but I needed to mix it up. If you liked these last few tracks you’ll like their newest releases.
Come All You Weary
2008, Concept album time! Off the “Earth” Volume of the Alchemy Index this four volume album features tunes representing the elements of nature: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Fun fact. Everyone, get out your high school English textbooks! The last song of each of these volumes is written in the form of a sonnet, written in iambic pentameter, with a concluding rhyming couplet. The final couplets all contain the same vocal melody and chord progression although in different keys. Okay! Now everyone put away your high school English textbooks and open up your Sunday school Bibles! Come all You Weary. This one is pretty chock full of religious themes. It’s a stripped down song for the first half with a Bluesy Americana, foot-stomping sound. Kicks in a bit with the harmony vocals but overall it's a pretty simple song. Fits the theme of "Earth". Speaking of Earth…
The Earth Will Shake
2005, Joe’s going to hate me for not putting “Image of the Invisible” on this selection. It’s a great song but this track off the same album is so much better in my opinion. I did say that I was going to spare you from the hardcore music of the first two albums but I never said that there would be no hardcore music! Off their 4th album Vheissu, many Thrice fans consider this to be their greatest work off their best album. It’s a transitional period for them as they move away from their Post-Hardcore roots and move into a more progressive alternative rock sound. This song has it all! Great bassline and guitar riff. Heavy and soulful vocals and then the organ (keyboard) kicks in during the second verse *chef’s kiss*. The best of all the Thrice worlds. The chain-gang bridge leading into the drumroll culminating in the “prison break”. A ridiculously heavy last minute reminds me of Tool’s Aenima. We’re tearing down the walls to complete my selection! This song absolutely rips and sounds even better live (still the four-man, guitarist plays keyboard too).
Check out their live recordings from back in the day and a few months back, they're excellent.
Conclusions
I had so much fun with this review. I really need to take it easy with my deep dives though, this one took me weeks. A little insight into my process: I make a playlist of all the songs that I think would work and then whittle it down until I have 9. I started with over 30 songs for Thrice! That being said I have a new found respect for these guys. My deep dive shows that they are all around good guys, who just love music. They make a point to donate some proceeds from each album to a unique charity, even when they were no-names out in Irvine California. All four musicians crush at their respective instruments and their group song writing ability is on a level that is rarely seen in the rock world nowadays. Another big score!
8.6/10
…And in case you need even more extra credit: Here is a chronological list of songs I had on my list that didn’t make the cut. If you loved this band as much as I do, I’d recommend:
Phoenix Ignition, 2001 Deadbolt, 2002 Silhouette, 2003
Image Of The Invisible, 2005 The Messenger, 2007 Moving Mountains, 2008
In Exile, 2009 Yellow Belly, 2011 Hurricane, 2016
Beyond The Pines, 2018 The Color Of The Sky, 2021 Vesper Light, 2025
Cascella Family Reviews
Joe Cascella
Thrice, a band I’m somewhat familiar with. They had a song back in the mid to late 2000’s that is just awesome, and because my brother is my brother, he did not include it on the list. Image of the Invisible is the song I’m referring to, and it’s a banger. As far as this list goes, I think I only know 1 song, which is their most popular tune, but I’m looking forward to giving this band a real shot. From what I know, I’m expecting hard rock, big guitar sounds, and aggressive drumming. Let’s see if my perception of them is correct or not.
Black Honey – This is a strong introduction to a band I’m sure most people are unfamiliar with. The lead singer, Dustin Kensrue, has a very edgy modern rock n roll voice. It’s a little rough, in a good way. This song sounds like everything that plays on my FM radio station (yes, I actually do listen to FM radio on my way to work every morning). The station is K-rock and they play a lot of hard alternative rock, and this sounds very similar to pretty much every rock song on that station post 2022 (Theory of a Dead Man, Falling in Reverse, Candlebox, Bad Wolves). I would say that’s a compliment because this song was released in 2016, so perhaps a little ahead of its time, which may be a consistent theme throughout this review. This song is probably better than most of the stuff those other bands play. I like the guitar work quite a bit and the entirety of the band building up to a really strong chorus. I also like the different lyrics in the last chorus, cool touch. Nice start!
The Artist in the Ambulance – Woah, this is the same band? Now this is classic mid-2000s alt rock. The vocalist sounds entirely different. I am actually familiar with the chorus of this song. I like the guitar bridge early in the song that leads into the 2nd verse. Drumming is relatively basic but still good. A bit more punk rock drumming here. As the song progresses, it reminds me of Rise Against, which timeline wise makes sense. Not a bad thing at all. Decent song.
Stare at the Sun – Another mid 2000s alt/punk rock song, sounds like a lot of stuff from that era. Right now, and based on this song and the last, they seem like a normal decent rock band, nothing overly special but for sure pretty solid. I’m excited to get into your personal favorites and see what this band is capable of.
Of Dust and Nations – A long and slow intro that builds towards a pretty explosive entry into some harder rock n roll. This band plays really well off of each other. Nobody is stealing the show, but they’re all playing their part really well to make one cohesive sound, even with so much going on. The off-beat pattern of both the drums and electric guitar creates a really cool sound. As we all know at this point, I’m a sucker for smooth transitions in and out of the chorus, and they do a nice job with that as well. The soft higher pitched vocals in the 2nd verse add a newer element that I can appreciate. Then you have an instrumental outro that you don’t hear too often, pretty neat. My only small critique is that the chorus vocals fall a bit flat for me. Just a little boring and lacking edge, roughness that I’m craving, which is a shame because I know they’re capable (from the Image of the Invisible (I’m a little salty it’s not on this list)).
Words in the Water – Their guitar sound is very distinct. As I continue to listen to them, I think I’d be able to pick out any of their songs from that distinct riff. This was my least favorite song so far. It felt long and repetitive, kind of boring. This may be a stretch, but now they sound like the Goo Goo Dolls to me. Vin has been talking to me about Thrice now for approximately three weeks, and he made me so excited for this listen. And yes, I think they’re good, but so far, I’m not seeing the hype. Also, Image of the Invisible would be the second-best song, maybe best so far…
Doublespeak – Another different sound which is neat. This song is pretty simple, but more enjoyable than the last few. It seems like this is a more evolved version of the band, putting everything together nicely for a good rock song. I see that it’s 2009 so still relatively early. As I continue to listen and recognize the instrumental intros and outros, I think this band may be meant for live shows, especially with each member of the band contributing for the entirety of their performances.
Blood on Blood – Here’s that grittier, edgier vocal that I tend to like more than his cleaner, smoother songs. I’m running out of things to say with the band. In recent listens, we’ve had clear dominant musicians who made the band special. Aaron Lewis in Staind, SRV amazing guitar work, everything about Alice… so with that, this kinda all falls flat because nobody is the clear reason this band is successful. It’s probably why they’re not at all in the conversation of one of the great bands of their era. It’s fine, but nothing that’s blowing my brain or overly impressive. I can listen to it in the background and enjoy it, but I’m not itching for more of it. Come All You Weary – Mmmm, that’s a really nice sound to start this song. Simple but beautiful. We got ourselves a little spiritual rock here. I can stand by that, good stuff. This would be a lovely song to hear at any outdoor venue towards the summer months.
The Earth Will Shake – Alright, what the fuck is happening here? Now we’re a screamo band. Where was this edge in some of the songs with faster guitars and bass? I understand that the band is versatile, but I think they also have identity issues. This band is like the restaurant menu at One Genny. They have a bit of everything, but none of it is too great. We don’t need mahi mahi tacos at a pizzeria. The second verse of the song turns into rebellious tribal music, and then back into a heavy screaming chorus. Unique for sure, fine overall.
BONUS TRACK (F U VIN): Image of the Invisible: Am I being petty at this point? Yes. Do I care? No. I am also a sucker for a good rebellious song (Rich Men North of Richmond by Oliver Anthony, This is America by Childish Gambino, Killing in the Name of by Rage Against the Machine), and this fits right in that category. Did I recently ask where was the edge to go along with faster paced drums, guitar and bass? I sure did. Well, here it is! This song is awesome, and was wrongly robbed of this flat and boring shit list! Am I exaggerating for the bit? Yes! Do I care? Once again, NO! But in all honesty, this song being left off this list is the biggest flop in music club history. It should have slid into your favorite song category, but it also would’ve worked in the unique section. It has the intensity and grit we’ve been missing, along with powerful lyrics. He uses a vocal box at one point, there’s a whispering section, and has all the elements you need for a great hard alternative rock song. I hate to make this request, but I formally invite the remaining members of the club to take the extra 5 minutes of their day, and listen to this song. I would love to hear all of your thoughts in the zoom call. Thank you for your time.
Overall Review: Thrice has been an interesting listen. I’ll start with the positives. They play some good hard rock music, and they are very versatile in sound. The entirety of the band is used throughout the whole catalog of songs, which we have not seen too much of and is appreciated. At times, the vocals of Kensrue are edgy and raw, making for a really cool listen. Most of the songs I liked, and ranged from overall decent to good. Now to the negatives. This may be a classic case of overselling and under performing. Vin has been talking to me about this selection for a few weeks, which I think enhanced my overall excitement to dive a bit deeper and really get to know this band. When I got there, I found some of the songs to be a bit generic and flat, not overly impressing me at any point. That’s the biggest piece I’m missing. Nothing was great throughout the whole listen (besides arguably my bonus track). I know Vin’s review is long and I have not read it yet, but I’m curious to see what you can possibly say about this band that you are planning to score them so highly. At times, I found it difficult to find things to write about in general. I will score them my official score now, go read your review, and then add an additional comment. For me dog, it’s a 6.8.
Additional Comments: Okay, I have now spent the last too many minutes of my life reading Vin’s review. His review of the Artist in the Ambulance was beautiful, and it was very cool to hear that perspective. The evolution of the band does not hit nearly as hard for me, as I labeled it as an identity crisis. One thing about this club that I can’t deny at all is the overall passion for bands you like. Yes, we didn’t see eye to eye on this one, but Vin writes annoyingly well, and you can feel the emotion he has towards this band, which is what makes this club such a beautiful thing. Our opinions will vary, but it gives each of us an opportunity to describe why we feel a certain way about a band/artist. I hope my take doesn’t deflate Vin’s opinion of the band (I don’t think it will, he’s a brick shithouse). Fun stuff, looking forward to chatting live about them.
Dad Cascella
I know absolutely nothing about this band. Let’s deep dive:
Black Honey: Starts with chords similar to Linkin Park (so I’m kind of excited), switching to lots of power chords throughout and decent rhythm. Lyrics about fighting a swarm of bees (metaphorically drugs??). Basic rock song, not crazy about his singing style. Live versions were mixed (sometimes voice a little edgier). Ok start.
The Artist In The Ambulance: I’ve heard this song before. More alternative rocker. Outside of singer, music reminded me of Coheed and Cambria. Cool guitar/bass sound throughout. Drummer steady but doing nothing too hard. Not crazy about the keyboard parts. Lyrically cool, was he saved at some point, or another metaphor? Again, not my kind of vocals, and again, ok song.
Stare At The Sun: Harpsichord beginning? (don’t hear that too often). Drums and rhythm guitar rolling along, which is starting to become repetitive, but very short guitar lead following rhythm was good. But the bass line is cool throughout. And hate to be redundant, but his style of singing is just not for me. Am I reading these lyrics wrong or am I sensing there are some Christian elements in this bands lyrics? Not sure, is he asking for God’s help? So three songs in and I want more. Maybe a solid guitar lead, maybe some off-beat drumming. Maybe some acoustic work. So far the Bass guitar is the only instrument standing out for me. And you already know how I feel about the vocals.
Of Dust and Nations: Now that’s a cool beginning. Give me more. Band is rocking hard and fast (better than previous). Drum and bass are standing out. Guitar not doing anything special until 3:25 mark, with almost same guitar work but using distortion and some other manipulation (not sure what) creating a real cool sound. Worked for me. Very cool lyrics, though I really can’t venture a guess on their overall meaning.
Words In The Water: Again a spacey beginning, leaving me anticipating what’s coming (which I kind of like in music). The start of simple guitar and drums really works. Cool sound throughout. Musicians doing very little, but what the band is doing is great (offbeat and haunting). And the singing is so much better and cooler. And when they erupt, the band is cooking. The last minute of light music, barely audible even with headphones, is definitely not needed. And again, cool lyrics, but I can’t keep guessing their meanings. BTW, after listening to this song multiple times, I realized it sounded a bit like a really good song from the Broadway play ONCE called When Your Minds Made Up. Let me know what you think.
Doublespeak: Very cool beginning. Off-beat drumming. Easy piano chords. A monster bass line. And they even leave the feedback distortion in!! All of these are excellent and a big YUP for me. A rocking chorus, they crush the bridge, we finally get a good guitar lead, and the singing is very good. Is this the same band?? Where did this come from?? And I don’t give a shit about the lyrics, I just want this music. Everything I personally look for in music is here. DOUBLESPEAK fuckin’ rocks!! Going on playlist.
Blood On Blood: again a cool beginning (these guys know how to do beginnings) with a raspy voice over both strumming and lead guitar. And again, bass player and drummer are nailing their parts. Yup, it was working real good for me until the 2 minute mark, when they get spacey and artsy until 2:50 mark, and then back to the good stuff. Lyrics again cool, I think it’s a statement about societies ills with some biblical metaphors, but then again, it could be about baseball. Who knows? But overall, it’s a real good rocker.
Come All You Weary: Really like the change to the acoustic sound. A good song with a bigger production, especially in the chorus, than other songs. If I was leaning towards this band being Christian oriented, this songs lyrics reinforces that thinking. Really liked the vocals, his best singing to simple lyrics.
The Earth Will Shake: Again I’ll ask, Is this the same band?? Big production song with power chords followed by a lead guitar, featuring heavy bass work and drumming. Another rock song? Nope, more heavy metalish/thrash, with screaming vocals in parts. The funny thing is I thought without the screaming, his vocals are very good here. And musically, I really liked the band switching from soft to rock to metal. Did not expect this from this band. As for the lyrics, if they are taking a political stance, they lose me. Hope it’s just a dystopian fantasy story. Either way this is a really good rocking banger.
OK, I’m done with THRICE. Through the first 3 or so songs, I thought their sound was nothing special. Reminded me a bit of The Offspring, Incubus, Chevelle, Dance Gavin Dance (thanks guys), just generic kinda rock, and slightly close to Coheed (musically). But they got better for me as the selections moved on. Better musically, better rocking. And I don’t know if the singer had his voicebox operated on, but he sang so much better on the last group of selections. While I didn’t mention Live performances too much, I did watch many of these. They definitely rock harder live, and the band has a pretty cool presence on stage. Are they a Christian band? While not pushing Christianity on us, they do have many lyrics for the Christian faithful (except maybe The Earth Will Shake). Because of those really good rockers, I’ll give them a 7.2
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