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.
Kings Upon The Main
Thrice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your life could be the one it's wisdom saves
At sea, where you're beleaguered and beset
On every side by strife of wind and waves
Despite the best of maps and the bravest men
For all their mighty names and massive forms
There'll never be and has never been
When kings upon the main have clung to pride
And held themselves as masters of the sea
I've held them down beneath the crushing tide
Till they have learned that no one masters me
But grace can still be found within the gale
With fear and reverence, raise your ragged sail
Thrice's song "Kings Upon The Main" speaks of the dangers of life at sea and the powerlessness of even the mightiest ships and sailors against the force of nature. The opening lines remind the listener that life is fragile and that wisdom can come from unexpected sources. The message is clear: one's life could be saved by the lesson learned from being caught in a storm.
The second stanza highlights the fact that even the most skilled sailors and the strongest ships cannot be prepared for every possible scenario at sea. The ocean is a formidable enemy that can overcome anything in its path. The message here is that no matter how prepared one is, some things are beyond our control.
In the third and final stanza, the singer takes on a more ominous tone, warning that even the most arrogant and powerful kings will be humbled by the sea. The singer claims to have held many a king under the crushing tide until they learn that no one masters the water. However, there is still hope. The singer reminds us that even in the midst of a storm, grace can still be found, and we must continue to sail on, even if our sails are ragged.
Overall, "Kings Upon The Main" is a cautionary tale about the power of nature and the limits of human knowledge and control. It reminds us that despite our best efforts, we are still subject to the whims of the universe.
Line by Line Meaning
The lesson you'd do well not to forget
Pay attention to the lesson being taught, it's important.
Your life could be the one it's wisdom saves
This lesson can save your life. Apply it.
At sea, where you're beleaguered and beset
You're struggling in a difficult situation.
On every side by strife of wind and waves
You're encountering resistance from all directions.
Despite the best of maps and the bravest men
Even with the most experienced people and plans, things can still go wrong.
For all their mighty names and massive forms
Even with impressive titles and grand presence, there are limits to what they can do.
There'll never be and has never been
This is a universal truth.
A ship or fleet secure against the storms
No ship or fleet can withstand a storm completely.
When kings upon the main have clung to pride
Arrogant rulers who believe they're invincible are eventually overcome.
And held themselves as masters of the sea
They view themselves as above the power of nature and circumstance.
I've held them down beneath the crushing tide
But eventually they realize they're not invincible and they're humbled.
Till they have learned that no one masters me
They learn that no one can be above the power of nature and circumstance.
But grace can still be found within the gale
In the midst of the storm, there is still hope for redemption.
With fear and reverence, raise your ragged sail
Approach the situation with humility and respect, and you might just make it through.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TEPPEI TERANISHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pete
Written as if it was written by the sea itself. Brilliant song writings always by Thrice/Dustin.. Cheers
Bo Turner
This lesson you'd do well not to forget
Your life could be the one its wisdom saves
At sea, when you're beleaguered and beset
On every side by strife of wind and waves
Despite the best of maps and bravest men
For all their mighty names and massive forms
There'll never be and there has never been
A ship or fleet secure against the storms
When kings upon the main have clung to pride
And held themselves as masters of the sea
I've held them down beneath the crushing tide
Till they have learned that no one masters me
But grace can still be found within the gale
With fear and rev'rence, raise your ragged sail
I-luv Halloween
This albums special to me...especially since I was tattooed for hours with it on Repeat🌊🎼💙
D Rocks Records
To tears.
D Rocks Records
Thanks for your music. Your depth moves me and calls the best out of me to reach out for more than blindful living. Thanks <3