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.
Under A Kill Moon
Thrice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Carves craters from my eyes
They said,"Breathe deeply son
Or be the next to die"
Beneath the falling night
And heaven's shutting gate
Pray keep your tongue held tight
The blood on our black gloves
It is none of your concern
If you want to call our bluff
"Get in line and wait your turn
And watch the witches burn"
Don't flinch when innocents
Are dancing with the flame
If they wanted to live
They'd learn to play the game
You can still walk away
If you just hold your tongue
If you'd just walk away
You'd live to seen the sun
Under this killing moon
Under this burning sky
The fire's shining groom
I hold my breath and close my eyes
The blood on our black gloves
It is none of your concern
If you want to call our bluff
Get in line and wait your turn
And watch the witches burn
We'll watch the witches burn
The lyrics of Thrice’s song “Under a Kill Moon” paint a dark and oppressive picture of a society where conformity is key, and those who do not follow the rules will face brutal consequences. The verses speak to the idea that the air that once sustained the singer now burns his eyes, implying metaphorically that the current state of society is no longer something he can tolerate, and opening oneself up to it will lead only to destruction.
The warnings and forebodings continue in subsequent stanzas, with the listener or reader being reminded that speaking out against the injustices will not be tolerated, and those who do will “suffer the same fate” as those whom they speak up for. The lyrics suggest that there is no such thing as true innocence when dealing with a society that values adherence to its laws above all else.
The chorus repeats the idea that one can survive by staying quiet and keeping one’s head down. In the end, however, the singer cannot help but acknowledge the futility of such an approach, suggesting that even walking away isn’t truly an escape, as the blood on their “black gloves” will always be a part of them.
Line by Line Meaning
The air my lungs first loved
The atmosphere I was born into is now the reason for my pain and suffering
Carves craters from my eyes
The sadness and pain I have experienced has left a physical mark on me
They said,"Breathe deeply son
Or be the next to die"
I was given a warning to either survive or suffer the consequences of not doing so
Beneath the falling night
And heaven's shutting gate
Pray keep your tongue held tight
Or suffer the same fate
In this dangerous and closing world, it is best to stay silent or face the same consequences as those punished for speaking out
The blood on our black gloves
It is none of your concern
If you want to call our bluff
"Get in line and wait your turn
And watch the witches burn"
The actions we take are not up for discussion, and if you question them, be ready to face the same fate as those we have punished
Don't flinch when innocents
Are dancing with the flame
If they wanted to live
They'd learn to play the game
Do not show mercy when even the innocent suffer, they should have known better than to be a part of this dangerous world
You can still walk away
If you just hold your tongue
If you'd just walk away
You'd live to seen the sun
There is still a chance to escape if you keep quiet, leaving this dark world behind and live to see brighter days
Under this killing moon
Under this burning sky
The fire's shining groom
I hold my breath and close my eyes
In this dangerous and fiery world, I am forced to close my eyes and let time pass, as it seems the only way to survive
The blood on our black gloves
It is none of your concern
If you want to call our bluff
Get in line and wait your turn
And watch the witches burn
We'll watch the witches burn
The same message is reasserted, as we are reminded that our actions are not to be questioned or opposed
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TEPPEI TERANISHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Corey Motionless
One of my favorite Thrice songs. 2021 Let's go.
Alina Hurtado
Astonishing that I haven’t listened to this album in years and my mouth can still recite the lyrics as if it were just yesterday ⭐️ Glad to see they’re back
LowKey Liberty
I was there.
Quantify Crypto
Same, so good
MarcccTV
ah the old days
Jacob Wiebenga
I have only ever grown fonder of this album since its release
muddy hotdog
@David Sanchez-Orta haha, right on !
David Sanchez-Orta
@muddy hotdogheehee yes of course. Sorry just a random burst of meaningless ignorant sarcasm. Thrice was a preteen thing for me that’s all. When I hear it I cringe but it indeed slaps ! :)
muddy hotdog
@David Sanchez-Orta Huh? People can't be fond of music they listened to whilst young? My parents still listen to Pink Floyd, zepplin, Lynrd skynrd ect like they did when they were young too
David Sanchez-Orta
Damn y'all don't grow up Lmao