The farther away I get from mainstream rock, the closer I get to Thrice. Sometimes they seem to be the missing link in my record collection between the glory days of alternative rock gone by and the threatening pace of the college/indie scene. Always inventive but not necessarily progressive, the post-hardcore band has taken on two large-scale projects in the last two years: a set of EPs themed around the elements, and a live double-disc surveying most of the band's work since 2003.
The EPs, packaged in pairs, hit the mark when it comes to sticking with a theme. Rather than grouping their newest material into vaguely associated batches, Thrice seem to be taking this experiment rather seriously. I use the term "experiment" because the identity of the band is altered, turned inside out, and sometimes even compromised as they take an additional step past the digital tweaking and power choruses of Vheissu.
Fire comes closest to representing the Thrice of "old", perhaps exploiting the edgiest of timbres the band can produce to characterize the subject of the EP. "Burn the Fleet" deserves a special mention as being a perfectly crafted pop song, usually out of place in the music of Thrice, that stands mightily and clumsily at the back end of this otherwise vicious disc. The cool electronic vibes of Water are where the overarching problem with the Alchemy Index EPs begins to surface: while the musical terrain pulses with timbres that keenly represent each of the four elements, the lyrical subject matter starts to get contrived and a bit troubling to the listener. As achingly beautiful as the music can be over the second EP, especially in the haunting "The Whaler," there are times that these tunes become a group of sea shanties for the 21st century.
Air finds a much less cringeworthy batch of songs balanced on rather light textures, impressive for a band that normally packs an intense aural punch (yes, that is actually a celeste you're hearing!). The third volume certainly achieves the most in a sense of flow and connection among its six tracks, an area where the other three EPs are not as strong. While the first two volumes seem to perplex Thrice at times, Air is constantly creative and resourceful: the band sounds like they are careful in just how much they dig into the digital toolbox and keep the sound of the rock band in primary focus. Like the other EPs, this one ends with a startling amount of inward contemplation, perhaps a brief glimpse at just how vulnerable the next Thrice full-length could be.
The most reaching of these experiments, and ultimately the only one that can really be viewed as a failure, is the final volume of this collection. The band's conception of what would make the earthiest sound, "backcountry" instruments like mandolin, acoustic guitars, and a piano they seem to have pulled from a western saloon, comes off as a parody of a hokey indie act. It isn't a strong look for Thrice, although it is worth mentioning that the cover of "The Earth Isn't Humming" saves the EP for a flickering moment, especially in hindsight of hearing the boring version presented on their new live disc. Ultimately, the EP finds a queasy rally cry in "Come All You Weary" before sputtering out in the vocally over-layered "Child of Dust".
If nothing else, the Alchemy Index EPs are telling of the varied talents of Thrice as a band that seeks a new sound each time they retire to the studio. Almost five years removed from the tunnel-vision hypermelodia of The Artist in the Ambulance, they are due for another record of such strength and weight. Which of the various directions explored in these past few records hold the future of Thrice is yet to be seen.
Thrice - The Alchemy Index, Vol. 1: Fire
3 1/2 breadsticks (out of 5)
Thrice - The Alchemy Index, Vol. 2: Water
2 3/4 breadsticks
Thrice - The Alchemy Index, Vol. 3: Air
4 breadsticks
Thrice - The Alchemy Index, Vol. 4: Earth
1 1/2 breadsticks
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