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.
Secret of the Easy Yoke
Thrice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
they pealed aloud your praise
the members faces were smiling
with their hands out stretched to shake
it's true they did not move me
my heart was hard and tired
their perfect fire annoyed me
i could not find you anywhere
could someone please tell me the story
of sinners ransomed from the fall
i still have never seen you
and some days i don't love you at all
the devoted were wearing bracelets
to remind them why they came
some concrete motivation
when the abstract could not do the same
but if all that's left is duty
i'm falling on my sword
at least then i would not serve
an unseen distant lord
someone please tell me the story
of sinners ransomed from the fall
i still have never seen you
and some days i don't love you at all
if this is only a test
i hope that i'm passing
cause i'm losing steam
and i still want to trust you
peace be still
peace be still
peace be still
peace...be...still
Thrice's song "Secret of the Easy Yoke" is a powerful commentary on the experience of struggling to connect with faith and spirituality, even when surrounded by others who seem to have found it. The song opens with the singer hearing church bells ringing and watching as members of the church around them praise and worship. However, the singer admits that this didn't move them at all; their heart was "hard and tired," and they couldn't find God no matter how hard they looked. The second verse finds the singer similarly frustrated - they hear stories of others who have been redeemed and saved, but they themselves remain lost and disconnected.
The chorus repeats the singer's plea for someone to tell them the story of sinners ransomed from the fall. They admit to never having seen God and struggling to love Him at all some days. The bridge adds more detail to the singer's feelings of isolation within the church - even when surrounded by others who have found motivation and purpose in their faith, the singer still feels alone and disconnected. They would rather "fall on their sword" than serve an "unseen distant lord." The song ends with a plea for peace, a sense of "peace be still" that the singer hopes will come.
Overall, "Secret of the Easy Yoke" is a challenging and thought-provoking song that speaks to the struggle many people face in trying to connect with faith and spirituality. The song's themes of isolation and doubt are powerful and relatable, making it a meaningful addition to Thrice's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
i can hear the church bells ringing
I am aware of the praise and worship that is present in church.
they pealed aloud your praise
The church members expressed their admiration for God through the church bells.
the members faces were smiling
People in church looked happy and satisfied with their faith.
with their hands out stretched to shake
As a practice, people shake hands in greeting in church.
it's true they did not move me
Although the people in church look happy and satisfied in their faith, I remain unaffected.
my heart was hard and tired
I felt distant and uninterested in God's presence and teachings.
their perfect fire annoyed me
Their zeal for faith and worship irritated me.
i could not find you anywhere
I felt that despite being in church, God's presence was not there for me to find.
could someone please tell me the story
I need someone to explain the tale of sinners who were saved from sin.
of sinners ransomed from the fall
The story of sinners who were saved from the consequences of their sins.
i still have never seen you
Despite being in search, I am unable to receive a sign of God's presence in my life.
and some days i don't love you at all
Some days, I lose faith and do not feel God's love.
the devoted were wearing bracelets
People committed to their faith were wearing wristbands to remind them of their beliefs.
to remind them why they came
The wristbands were meant to provide motivation and a sense of purpose for their actions.
some concrete motivation
A tangible object translated beliefs into actions and motivated individuals to follow their faith.
when the abstract could not do the same
Abstract beliefs were not enough to inspire action or commitment.
but if all that's left is duty
If the only motivation to serve God is a sense of obligation,
i'm falling on my sword
I prefer to sacrifice and suffer than to serve without passion and faith.
at least then i would not serve
If the only motivation to serve is out of duty, then I would rather not serve at all.
an unseen distant lord
God's presence and existence remains unclear and distant to me.
if this is only a test
If my faith and search for God is only a trial or exam,
i hope that i'm passing
I desire to succeed or pass this trial and maintain my faith.
cause i'm losing steam
My faith and passion for God is gradually weakening.
and i still want to trust you
Despite my doubts and struggles, I still hope to maintain my trust and belief in God.
peace be still
May peace reign and calm the struggles within me.
peace be still
May peace reign and calm the struggles within me.
peace be still
May peace reign and calm the struggles within me.
peace...be...still
May peace reign within me and calm my doubts and fears.
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.