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.
Hold Fast Hope
Thrice Lyrics
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O'er us, cry for mercy and hold fast hope
Who of us is cursed, or do we have to ask
Search your souls and hold fast
If no one speaks a word, then let the lots be cast
Truth be told and hold fast
Fear and flames of azure climb the crooked the mast
You will yet be baptized, steeped in shattered glass
Sink and sing your answer and hold fast hope
As strong arms grip your shoulders like dead hands of the past
Pray as you're tossed over, this breath could be your last
Quiet and cold, silent and slow
Night black as coal, miles here below
Find your faith and dive deep, through living gateways pass
Lined with death and ivory, and hold fast, hold fast
Deep beneath the black dawn, leagues from lightning's flash
Ribs will raise cathedrals for the morning mass
Steel yourself in sackcloth, roll your heart in ash
Scrape your skin with steel wool and hold fast hope
Cross your heart and hold fast hope
In Hold Fast Hope, Thrice sings about the struggles of life and the importance of holding onto hope, especially during moments of crisis. The lyrics describe a scene of chaos where waves crash down like weapons, and the singer pleads for mercy while holding onto hope. The song then shifts to a scene of fear and flames, with the promise of a baptism in shattered glass. The singer encourages the listener to find their faith and dive deep, going through living gateways, and holding strong even in moments of decay.
Overall, the song is a powerful reminder that hope is essential to survival. The world can be a dangerous and dark place, but it's important to keep faith and find the strength to hold on. The lyrics encourage listeners to search their souls, speak truth, and cross their hearts. The chorus urges to hold fast hope, even in the face of death, chaos, and struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
How can you be sleeping, waves like weapons crash
Why are you ignoring the danger that surrounds us as the waves crash with destructive force?
O'er us, cry for mercy and hold fast hope
Amidst the chaos, pray for mercy and hold onto hope.
Who of us is cursed, or do we have to ask
Do any of us have to be marked by fate to experience hardship, or is it just a natural part of life?
Search your souls and hold fast
Look within yourself for strength and keep fighting.
If no one speaks a word, then let the lots be cast
If no one is willing to take action, then let fate decide the outcome.
Truth be told and hold fast
Always cling to the truth, no matter how difficult it may be.
White death wakes in black skies, mark your maker's wrath
In the midst of destruction, remember that there is a higher power at play.
Fear and flames of azure climb the crooked the mast
Rising flames and fear are as dangerous as the storm-tossed seas.
You will yet be baptized, steeped in shattered glass
The trials of life purify us as if we were undergoing a baptism, breaking us like shattered glass.
Sink and sing your answer and hold fast hope
As you face the abyss, sing out your response and hold onto hope.
As strong arms grip your shoulders like dead hands of the past
Memories of past pain resurface as you confront current struggles.
Pray as you're tossed over, this breath could be your last
In moments of peril, it's important to pray, for the next breath may not come.
Quiet and cold, silent and slow
The darkness of despair approaches subtly, gradually and without warning.
Night black as coal, miles here below
The depth of despair feels as dark as the blackest coal, stretching for miles beneath your feet.
Find your faith and dive deep, through living gateways pass
Strengthen your faith and dive deep, pushing through the barriers that stand in your way.
Lined with death and ivory, and hold fast, hold fast
Pushing past death's grip and reaching towards a brighter future, hold on tight to hope and perseverance.
Deep beneath the black dawn, leagues from lightning's flash
In the darkest moments, remember that hope is still present, despite being miles away from the light that brings it.
Ribs will raise cathedrals for the morning mass
Even amidst the brokenness, beauty can still emerge, as if the bones themselves forge cathedrals for the morning welcome.
Steel yourself in sackcloth, roll your heart in ash
Find the strength to endure, even if that means being harsh on yourself and sacrificing parts of yourself.
Scrape your skin with steel wool and hold fast hope
No matter how much it hurts or how much you're tested, cling to hope as if it's your only lifeline.
Cross your heart and hold fast hope
Remind yourself of what truly matters and be unwavering in your hope.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TEPPEI TERANISHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind