In 2000, Thrice signed with Sub City Records and released two LP's. The first, Identity Crisis (2000), only received 1.5 stars in the AMG review and little buzz. The second, The Illusion of Safety (2002), was widely acclaimed and received attention from major record labels. Even though Thrice's music has always included metal influences, The Illusion of Safety contained a heavier metalcore sound. The album was recorded in Beltsville, Maryland and the track The Beltsville Crucible reflects this.
In 2003 Thrice signed up with Island Records and released The Artist in the Ambulance, which featured more metal oriented songs while keeping true to their hardcore influences. In 2005 a DVD outlining their entire career to date was released under the title If We Could Only See Us Now. It included a CD with live tracks from the Apple Store and various b-sides.
Thrice released their fourth full-length album, Vheissu, on October 18, 2005. The album was characterized by many critics as being experimentally different, using non-traditional Thrice elements in the process. From keyboard melodies ("For Miles") to Japanese music-box undertones ("Music Box") to chain gang chant choruses ("The Earth Will Shake"), Vheissu introduced a new sound to the band's post-hardcore roots. UK producer Steve Osborne, whose past credits include many Brit-pop hits, was sought by Thrice to gain a new perspective on the songwriting process, enabling the band to expand their musical influences and produce a different album. The album garnered widespread critical acclaim and peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200.
The band releasedRed Sky, an EP comprised of various b-sides as well as live recordings, shortly after Vheissu.
Thrice released the first and second volume of The Alchemy Index, a highly experimental project based on the four traditional elements (fire, water, earth, and air), on October 16th 2007. Over the summer Thrice parted ways with Island records and signed with Vagrant. The Alchemy Index Vols. I & II - Fire & Water was released on October 16, 2007, and sold 28,000 copies in its first week. The album consists of the first two volumes, Fire and Water, and features 12 songs, 6 on each disk. The third and fourth volumes, Air & Earth were released on April 15, 2008.
The "Fire" disc features the heavier post-hardcore sound traditional Thrice fans will quickly embrace, harking back to their pre-Vheissu albums. The "Water" disc, however, is comprised of ambient songs similar to those found in Vheissu, Thrice's previous album release. The "Air" disc brings a whole new element of electronic elements and delayed guitar riffs to Thrice's sound. In "Earth", much like Dustin Kensrue's solo album, "Please Come Home", Thrice introduces an indie-folk sound combining intricate piano and acoustic guitar.
Thrice's sixth studio album Beggars was released digitally through Vagrant Records in the UK on August 9, 2009 and in the US on August 11 with a physical release containing bonus material pencilled in for September 15. These dates deviate from the original proposed release date of October 13 because of a leak via Vagrant Records web player, which has meant the artwork for the album has also changed. The first single to be taken from the album is All the World Is Mad and was first made available through Guitar Hero: World Tour on July 23.
Dustin Kensrue has described the album as being "more visceral and more raw - both in the songwriting and in the overall sound. It moves with a different energy than any of our past records. It was born out of us playing together in a room, almost as a backlash to the giant headgame that was The Alchemy Index" and has been well received critically.
The seventh studio album Major/Minor came out on September 20, 2011 through Vagrant Records. Yellow Belly, Promises and a few other songs were made available for the listeners to stream online before the release date. The album received extremely positive reviews from many online websites. Alex Djaferis of Absolutepunk.net gave Major/Minor a rating of 95%. Tracks like Promises and Listen Through Me reflected a natural progression from the sound Thrice created in Beggars, which was widely appreciated by the early listeners.
Thrice decided to take a break from being a full time band on November 21, 2011. In late spring/early summer Thrice announced the 'Farewell' tour for the spring/summer of 2012 , which would be the bands final tour before going into an indefinite hiatus.
In early 2015 it was announced that the band intends to release new music and tour again. Announcements were done via the bands website http://www.thrice.net/ and social media outlets with an accompanying picture with "Thrice 2015" text.
Firebreather
Thrice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me are you free
In word or thought or deed
Tell me are you free
While the gallows stand
And bullets lance the bravest lungs
We fold our hands and hold our tongues
Tell me are you free
When the fear falls on you
Tell me are you free
When the fear falls on you
Tell me are you free
Tell me are you free
In word or thought or deed
Tell me are you free
While the gallows stand
And bullets lance the bravest lungs
Will I fold my hands or hold my tongue
Or let the flames lick at my feet
Or breathe in fire and know I'm free
Flames will rise and devour me
Oh, to breathe in fire and know I'm free
Know I'm free
The lyrics of Thrice's song "Firebreather" express a desire for freedom even in the face of great danger. The repeated question of "tell me are you free" suggests a longing for a sense of liberty that can survive even during times of great oppression and violence. The gallows and bullets referred to in the lyrics symbolize the threats that can suppress individual freedom.
The next few lines highlight the tendency for people to remain silent in the face of danger. In doing so, people end up surrendering their freedom without putting up a fight. The next line reinforces the central question of the song "tell me are you free", which is repeated throughout the song. The final lines of the song present two contrasting options. One can either "fold my hands or hold my tongue" and surrender their freedom or "breathe in fire and know I'm free". The use of the metaphorical phrase "breathe in fire" suggests that one must be willing to fight and take risks to be truly free.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me are you free
Asking the listener whether they are truly free or not
In word or thought or deed
In every aspect of your life
While the gallows stand
Despite the threat of punishment
And bullets lance the bravest lungs
Even in the face of danger and death
We fold our hands and hold our tongues
Choosing to remain silent and do nothing in the face of injustice
When the fear falls on you
Asking if fear controls you
Will I fold my hands or hold my tongue
Questioning one's own response to fear and danger
Or let the flames lick at my feet
Accepting the consequences of standing up for what you believe in
Or breathe in fire and know I'm free
Choosing to fight with passion and fire, even if it means risking everything
Flames will rise and devour me
Acknowledging the potential danger and sacrifice of taking a stand
Oh, to breathe in fire and know I'm free
Expressing the desire for true freedom, even if it requires great risk and sacrifice
Know I'm free
The ultimate goal of the song is to achieve true freedom
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TEPPEI TERANISHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BladesArisen
One of the most powerful tracks I have ever heard, and I have heard thousands and thousands of rock songs.
Panagio
I concur.
Beezy Beez
https://youtu.be/UyTLzUBDzYY
u gotta hear this !!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :)
Adam McCann
Man, that vicious riff at the start is incredible. I'm so lucky I got to see them play this live, though it took going to a few shows to finally see it.
Beezy Beez
https://youtu.be/UyTLzUBDzYY
u gotta hear this !!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)
AJ Martin
Every single Thrice song i hear gives me chills..
Beezy Beez
https://youtu.be/UyTLzUBDzYY
u gotta hear this !!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :)
Cheese Steak
@alexhaskin you got discord?
alexhaskin
right?!
sophia dsanti
This is one of those songs you just don’t want to end! Rock on