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.
The Messenger
Thrice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Send someone else instead
I know my world is ending
I can't repay my debt
Can I carry such a heavy burden?
Can I move when I am paralyzed?
I see a fire behind a heavy curtain
Kiss the coals, breathe in smoke
And I say, here I am, send me
Lifts my soul, free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me, send me
Free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me
Mark me with fire and
Send me among the living dead
They cannot comprehend me
I watch the sickness spread
Now, can they hear me when their hearts are hardened?
Now, can they see me when they close their eyes?
So let me tell you I'm an easy target
A wooden saw is quite a way to die
Kiss the coals, breathe in smoke
And I say, "Here I am, send me
Lifts my soul, free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me, send me
Free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me
Here I am, send me
The song "The Messenger" by Thrice talks about a character who is afraid of the end of the world. He pleads to his deity to select someone else who is capable of embracing the fear and danger. He is aware of the fact that his time is up and he cannot redeem himself from his past actions. He is in dilemma if he can handle the responsibility of carrying this burden on his shoulders. He sees a fire behind a heavy curtain, and he closes his eyes as if resigning himself to face what's coming his way. He is willing to take up the challenge and face his own fears by kissing the coals and breathing in the smoke, symbolizing the impending danger that he has to face.
The character is aware of the fact that his message is not being heard by the people around him who are living their life as a routine. He knows he won't be able to reach their hearts because they are hardened hearts. He compares himself to an easy target, and a wooden saw is quite a torture to die. This illustrates the awareness that he is ready to die and is prepared to face the danger. Regardless of the fear that looms over him, he is ready to embrace it with open arms by shouting the phrase "Here I am, send me." The song portrays the message that we should face our fears and take responsibility for our actions, however challenging they may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
Mark me with fear, I'm trembling
I am frightened and insecure
Send someone else instead
I am not confident enough to do this task alone
I know my world is ending
I am aware that my world will soon come to an end
I can't repay my debt
I am unable to pay back what I owe
Can I carry such a heavy burden?
I am questioning if I have the strength to bear the weight of this responsibility
Can I move when I am paralyzed?
I am unsure if I am able to act despite feeling immobilized
I see a fire behind a heavy curtain
I am drawn towards something that seems dangerous and possibly life-threatening
I lean in closer and I close my eyes
I am brave enough to take risks and face potential danger
Kiss the coals, breathe in smoke
I am willing to embrace pain and suffering
And I say, here I am, send me
I am ready and willing to take on the task at hand
Lifts my soul, free and so unafraid
I feel liberated and unafraid in the face of danger
Mark me with fire and send me among the living dead
I am ready to face difficult situations and people who do not understand me
They cannot comprehend me
Others do not understand my perspective or actions
I watch the sickness spread
I observe others succumbing to negativity and despair
Now, can they hear me when their hearts are hardened?
I wonder if those who are closed-minded will be able to understand me
Now, can they see me when they close their eyes?
I fear that those who refuse to see the truth will remain blind
So let me tell you I'm an easy target
I am vulnerable and easy to attack
A wooden saw is quite a way to die
I acknowledge the potential risks and dangers but am willing to face them
Here I am, send me
I am committed and ready to take action
Kiss the coals, breathe in smoke
I am willing to endure discomfort and even pain in pursuit of my goals
Lifts my soul, free and so unafraid
I feel liberated and confident in my actions and choices
Here I am, send me, send me
I am eager and enthusiastic to face any challenge that comes my way
Free and so unafraid
I am liberated from fear and anxiety
Here I am, send me
I am committed and ready to take action
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TEPPEI TERANISHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Krystal Rose
ark me with fear, I'm trembling
Send someone else instead
I know my world is ending
I can't repay my debt
Can I carry such a heavy burden?
Can I move when I am paralyzed?
I see a fire behind a heavy curtain
I lean in closer and I close my eyes
Kiss the coals, breathe in smoke
And I say, here I am, send me
Lifts my soul, free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me, send me
Free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me
Mark me with fire and
Send me among the living dead
They cannot comprehend me
I watch the sickness spread
Now, can they hear me when their hearts are hardened?
Now, can they see me when they close their eyes?
So let me tell you I'm an easy target
A wooden saw is quite a way to die
Kiss the coals, breathe in smoke
And I say, "Here I am, send me
Lifts my soul, free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me, send me
Free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me
Here I am, send me
Krystal Rose
ark me with fear, I'm trembling
Send someone else instead
I know my world is ending
I can't repay my debt
Can I carry such a heavy burden?
Can I move when I am paralyzed?
I see a fire behind a heavy curtain
I lean in closer and I close my eyes
Kiss the coals, breathe in smoke
And I say, here I am, send me
Lifts my soul, free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me, send me
Free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me
Mark me with fire and
Send me among the living dead
They cannot comprehend me
I watch the sickness spread
Now, can they hear me when their hearts are hardened?
Now, can they see me when they close their eyes?
So let me tell you I'm an easy target
A wooden saw is quite a way to die
Kiss the coals, breathe in smoke
And I say, "Here I am, send me
Lifts my soul, free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me, send me
Free and so unafraid
Here I am, send me
Here I am, send me
Nicholas Gathings
“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.””
Isaiah 6:8 ESV
Dan Colageo - Unbound Bodywork
This was one of the theme-songs to my first travel to Russia in 2011, in an adventure that was unparalleled, being in a film as a drummer, and training with the Russian Martial Art masters, thoroughly not knowing what was ahead of me. It was a wonderful song to accompany me on that journey. Thank you, guys.
Rares Macovei
Thanks for this upload. Finally, a high quality version of Messenger.
Rares Macovei
Thrice at their heaviest. Marvelous.
Alex Mott
Is it the best song ever written about Isaiah?
Or is it just the ONLY song ever written about Isaiah? I honestly can't think of any others right now haha
Pirate Aleks
This is glorious to run to
Dimas Kurnia
what kind of metal is this?
Samantha Kist
Biblical 🙏
TheMRB
@Kelli Mckibben Of course, they span most styles. I would honestly almost put them into a Genre of their own, because it all really sounds different from everything else. But my original comment was made when I first "discovered" them.
I do, however, stand by it for this song, and I think that is what you were pointing out.