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.
Like Moths To Flame
Thrice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The perfect compliment to all your cryptic words
I nod but don't know what to say, but I know you
And I believe you're who you say you are so I
I will follow you, lay down my life
I would die for you, this very night
But it seems the meanings may be deeper still this time
And you surprised me when you said I'd fall away, don't you know me
I could never be ashamed of you, no I
I've never been this cold, the fire's gravity compels
Like planets cling to sol, I feel my orbit start to fail
Like moths to flame I come, too close And all my oaths are burned
As stars begin to run, all my accusers take their turn
And calling curses down, from my lips lies like poison spill
And then that awful sound, the sound of prophesy fulfilled
And then I met your eyes, and I remember everything
And something in me dies, the night that I betrayed my king
The lyrics of Thrice's song "Like Moths To Flames" are filled with religious symbolism and imagery, showing the band's intense connection to Christianity. The first verse begins with "Once again these bitter herbs," a reference to the bitter herbs eaten during Passover, a Jewish holiday. This verse is also speaking to the sense of confusion and uncertainty that the singer is feeling, saying "I nod but don't know what to say, but I know you." The singer trusts in the person they are speaking to, and believes they are who they say they are.
The second verse moves on to the "bread and wine," which are symbols of the Last Supper, a Christian event that also takes place during Passover. The singer is again feeling unsure and somewhat betrayed, as they are told they will "fall away" from their beliefs. However, they know they will never be ashamed of their beliefs, and are determined to follow them no matter what.
The chorus of the song uses the metaphor of moths to flame, a classic image of destruction through attraction. The singer feels compelled by a force they can't resist, and even though they know it will be the end of them, they still come closer and ultimately fall victim to their own desires. The lyrics towards the end of the song show the singer's regret and devastation at having betrayed their beliefs and their king.
Overall, "Like Moths To Flames" is a deeply religious and introspective song, exploring the complicated emotions that come with faith and devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Once again these bitter herbs
The singer is reflecting on bitter experiences they have had in the past.
The perfect compliment to all your cryptic words
The singer suggests that the person they are addressing is being intentionally vague and mysterious in their speech.
I nod but don't know what to say, but I know you
The singer is acknowledging that they don't understand what the person they are speaking to is saying, but they trust that person nonetheless.
And I believe you're who you say you are so I
The artist trusts the person they are addressing, and is willing to follow them despite their uncertainty about what lies ahead.
I will follow you, lay down my life
The artist is making a vow to follow the person they are addressing no matter what the risk, even if it means sacrificing their own life.
I would die for you, this very night
The singer is repeating their previous vow in a more intense way, stating that they are willing to die for the person they are addressing without hesitation if necessary.
Once again the bread and wine
The singer is referencing the Christian tradition of communion.
But it seems the meanings may be deeper still this time
The artist is reflecting on the possibility that the person they are addressing may be trying to convey a deeper message through the communion ritual.
And you surprised me when you said I'd fall away, don't you know me
The artist is expressing hurt that the person they trusted is predicting that they will betray them, questioning whether that person really knows them at all.
I could never be ashamed of you, no I
The artist is affirming their loyalty to the person they trusted, stating that they could never be embarrassed or regretful of following them.
I've never been this cold, the fire's gravity compels
The singer is describing a physical sensation of coldness, brought on by the intense pull of their loyalty to the person they trusted.
Like planets cling to sol, I feel my orbit start to fail
The artist is metaphorically comparing their loyalty to the person they trusted to the gravitational pull between planets and the sun, implying that their devotion is starting to falter.
Like moths to flame I come, too close And all my oaths are burned
The singer is referencing the idea of moths being attracted to light, and is implying that their loyalty was misguided and has now led to their downfall.
As stars begin to run, all my accusers take their turn
The singer is suggesting that they are being persecuted or judged by others, who are taking pleasure in the singer's downfall.
And calling curses down, from my lips lies like poison spill
The singer is describing their own actions, which they regret, and comparing their speech to venom or poison.
And then that awful sound, the sound of prophesy fulfilled
The artist is referring to a negative prediction or prophecy coming true, which they are experiencing first-hand.
And then I met your eyes, and I remember everything
The artist is implying that they have had a moment of clarity or realization, possibly realizing that their trust was misplaced.
And something in me dies, the night that I betrayed my king
The singer is proclaiming their guilt in betraying a leader or authority figure, and expressing despair or remorse for their actions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TEPPEI TERANISHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Atticah
Once again these bitter herbs
The perfect compliment to all your cryptic words
I nod but don't know what to say, but I know you
And I believe you're who you say you are so I
I will follow you, lay down my life
I would die for you, this very night
Once again the bread and wine
But it seems the meanings may be deeper still this time
And you surprised me when you said I'd fall away, don't you know me
I could never be ashamed of you, no I
I've never been this cold, the fire's gravity compels
Like planets cling to sol, I feel my orbit start to fail
Like moths to flame I come, too close And all my oaths are burned
As stars begin to run, all my accusers take their turn
And calling curses down, from my lips lies like poison spill
And then that awful sound, the sound of prophesy fulfilled
And then I met your eyes, and I remember everything
And something in me dies, the night that I betrayed my king
Luke Concienne
Once again these bitter herbs
The perfect compliment to all your cryptic words
I nod but don't know what to say, but I know you
And I believe you're who you say you are so I
I will follow you, lay down my life
I would die for you, this very night
Once again the bread and wine
But it seems the meanings may be deeper still this time
And you surprised me when you said I'd fall away, don't you know me
I could never be ashamed of you, no I
I've never been this cold, the fire's gravity compels
Like planets cling to sol, I feel my orbit start to fail
Like moths to flame I come, too close And all my oaths are burned
As stars begin to run, all my accusers take their turn
And calling curses down, from my lips lies like poison spill
And then that awful sound, the sound of prophesy fulfilled
And then I met your eyes, and I remember everything
And something in me dies, the night that I betrayed my king
Luke Concienne
Once again these bitter herbs
The perfect compliment to all your cryptic words
I nod but don't know what to say, but I know you
And I believe you're who you say you are so I
I will follow you, lay down my life
I would die for you, this very night
Once again the bread and wine
But it seems the meanings may be deeper still this time
And you surprised me when you said I'd fall away, don't you know me
I could never be ashamed of you, no I
I've never been this cold, the fire's gravity compels
Like planets cling to sol, I feel my orbit start to fail
Like moths to flame I come, too close And all my oaths are burned
As stars begin to run, all my accusers take their turn
And calling curses down, from my lips lies like poison spill
And then that awful sound, the sound of prophesy fulfilled
And then I met your eyes, and I remember everything
And something in me dies, the night that I betrayed my king
Sergio Ortiz
"And then that awful sound, the sound of prophecy fulfilled"
I love this line so much, it gives me chills.
Berol Bong Su
Same
Rosalinda M
It is a crime that this doesn’t have more views. Masterfully arranged song. The ending... epic is an overused word, but it truly is.
Bmo
Vheissu, what a incredible piece of music.
CJ Doyle
Agreed. Probably their best next to Artist in their discography. I have been playing this album a lot late the last month.
Alexander Luderer
This is glorious, like a metal hymn
Atticah
Once again these bitter herbs
The perfect compliment to all your cryptic words
I nod but don't know what to say, but I know you
And I believe you're who you say you are so I
I will follow you, lay down my life
I would die for you, this very night
Once again the bread and wine
But it seems the meanings may be deeper still this time
And you surprised me when you said I'd fall away, don't you know me
I could never be ashamed of you, no I
I've never been this cold, the fire's gravity compels
Like planets cling to sol, I feel my orbit start to fail
Like moths to flame I come, too close And all my oaths are burned
As stars begin to run, all my accusers take their turn
And calling curses down, from my lips lies like poison spill
And then that awful sound, the sound of prophesy fulfilled
And then I met your eyes, and I remember everything
And something in me dies, the night that I betrayed my king
Da Ka
Have been listening to this for yearssss and this is still one of the most powerfully lyrical song in my opinion to date.
Modern Warrior Systems
Greatest rock album ever written.
Stump Drummer
don't think so, but anyway that's one of the best tho
Or I have listened to it NOT enough yet x)