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.
Music Box
Thrice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we're on their hearts and minds, a million heads are bowed to bring us safely home
Hemmed in by emptiness, a million ways that everything could be undone
This hollow in my chest is filled with reasons not to sing but I found one, I know
We are not alone, we feel an unseen love
We are sons and heirs of grace
We are children of a light that never dims
And wipe the tears from your eyes
In sleep we saw ourselves, a million years
We had been waiting there it seems
While someone weaves a spell, a million stars look on in witness to our dreams
We feel an unseen love
We are children of light
Stand ready and tall, reflect the light
Thrice's song "Music Box" is a captivating tribute to the power of hope and the endurance of the human spirit despite life's seemingly insurmountable obstacles. From the opening lyrics, "We move for all mankind, a million miles from everything we've ever known," the song paints a picture of the ultimate journey of humankind-seeking something greater than ourselves. The chorus describes the strength of this unseen love that guides us, as we are sons and heirs of grace and children of a light that never dims. Even in the face of emptiness and potential disaster, the song emphasizes that we are not alone and must keep our heads up to wipe away our tears.
The song's second verse takes on a dreamier quality, building on the theme of timelessness and the power of collective experience. The themes of waiting and being watched by an unseen universe are interwoven into this verse, which ends with the ecstatic image of millions of stars witnessing our dreams. The final stanza of the song urges us all to stand ready and tall, ready to reflect the light of the universe and its love. Overall, the song is a stunning ode to the courage of the human spirit, and its ability to keep pushing forward even when life seems unbearable.
Line by Line Meaning
We move for all mankind, a million miles from everything we've ever known
We are stepping out of our comfort zone and leaving behind everything we're familiar with for the betterment of humanity, even if it means encountering a million unknowns along our path.
And we're on their hearts and minds, a million heads are bowed to bring us safely home
People are thinking about us and praying for our safe return, demonstrating their support as we embark on this journey.
Hemmed in by emptiness, a million ways that everything could be undone
Although we're surrounded by negative possibilities and a feeling of isolation, we're still persevering even in the face of these challenges.
This hollow in my chest is filled with reasons not to sing but I found one, I know
Even though I am filled with doubt and feelings of inadequacy, I have uncovered a reason to sing and am rediscovering my voice and sense of purpose.
We are not alone, we feel an unseen love
Despite feeling disconnected from our surroundings, we sense an intangible feeling of love and companionship that is uniting us.
We are sons and heirs of grace
We have been blessed and have inherited a valuable gift (grace) that will help us through challenging times.
We are children of a light that never dims
We are constantly surrounded and fortified by a light that never fades, which guides and protects us.
A love that never dies, keep your chin up child
We are constantly reassured by a love that never leaves us, which gives us strength and hope in uncertain times.
And wipe the tears from your eyes
We should not allow our tears to bring us down or deter us from our path; instead, we should remain optimistic and hopeful.
In sleep we saw ourselves, a million years
During slumber, we envisioned ourselves far into the future, which anticipates our success and attainment of goals.
We had been waiting there it seems
It feels like we've been eagerly anticipating and working towards this goal for ages.
While someone weaves a spell, a million stars look on in witness to our dreams
As we progress on this journey, it feels as though someone (or something) is guiding us towards success, as evidenced by the countless stars that witness our progress and encourage us.
Stand ready and tall, reflect the light
We must remain alert and steadfast, and radiate our inner light outwards to those around us.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TEPPEI TERANISHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Petey
We move for all mankind, a million miles from everything we've ever known
And we're on their hearts and minds, a million heads are bowed to bring us safely home
Hemmed in by emptiness, a million ways that everything could be undone
This hollow in my chest is filled with reasons not to sing but I found one, I know
We are not alone, we feel an unseen love
We are sons and heirs of grace
We are children of a light that never dims
A love that never dies, keep your chin up child
And wipe the tears from your eyes
In sleep we saw ourselves, a million years
We had been waiting there it seems
While someone weaves a spell, a million stars look on in witness to our dreams
We feel an unseen love
We are children of light
Stand ready and tall, reflect the light
Carlos Ramirez Fabian
we move for all mankind, a million miles from everything we've ever known
and we're on their hearts and minds, a million heads are bowed to bring us safely home
hemmed in by emptiness, a million ways that everything could be undone
this hollow in my chest is filled with reasons not to sing but I found one, I know
we are not alone, we feel an unseen love
we are sons and heirs of grace
we are children of a light that never dims
a love that never dies, keep your chin up child
and wipe the tears from your eyes
in sleep we saw ourselves, a million years we had been waiting there it seems
while someone weaves a spell, a million stars look on in witness to our dreams, I know
we are not alone, we feel an unseen love
we are sons and heirs of grace
we are children of a light that never dims
a love that never dies, keep your chin up child
and wipe the tears from your eyes
we feel an unseen love
we are children of light
we are not alone, we feel an unseen love
we are sons and heirs of grace
we are children of a light that never dims
a love that never dies, keep your chin up child
and wipe the tears from your eyes
stand ready and tall, reflect the light
Ripelyishere
None of you have any idea how long I’ve been searching for this song. I heard it when I was 14 and I could never find it. And by chance it randomly pops up on my music feed. I’ve never been happier in my life
Ryan McKenna
Yay.
Akira Mado
Good. Now catch up and listen to every thrice album
Modern Warrior Systems
The whole album is the best rock ever created. You have some homework to do. Start with this album. Then Artist in the Ambulance. Then Beggars. Then go from there wherever you want. I truly believe he's the best song writer to ever live.
Christopher Marquart
That legit makes me ecstatic. This would be the worst song to not remember. It’s too damn beautiful
Christopher Marquart
@Modern Warrior Systems I 100% agree with you. Such a hidden treasure
Papa Smurfy
This is one of my favorite albums from Thrice I’ve been listening to them since I was little after my dad showed me them and still listen to them to this day
András Csékey
One of the best Thrice song ever... and I love every single one of them!
Argu
How fast the time flies ... Glad you're creating music together again guys!
Petey
We move for all mankind, a million miles from everything we've ever known
And we're on their hearts and minds, a million heads are bowed to bring us safely home
Hemmed in by emptiness, a million ways that everything could be undone
This hollow in my chest is filled with reasons not to sing but I found one, I know
We are not alone, we feel an unseen love
We are sons and heirs of grace
We are children of a light that never dims
A love that never dies, keep your chin up child
And wipe the tears from your eyes
In sleep we saw ourselves, a million years
We had been waiting there it seems
While someone weaves a spell, a million stars look on in witness to our dreams
We feel an unseen love
We are children of light
Stand ready and tall, reflect the light