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.
Yellow Belly
Thrice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you don't care, you don't care
And bruises are but shadows of the blackness
That you breathe but you don't care, you don't care
The light that's left inside their eyes is darkened
Day by day but you don't care, you don't care
The presence pulls the color from the world til all is gray
But you don't care, you don't, you don't, you don't
You're less than half a man, yellow belly and crimson hands
You will one day reap your reckoning, maybe then you'll understand
Your hands are made to comfort but they only conjure fear
But you don't care, you don't care
She's in the closet praying Lord please get me out of here
You don't care, you don't you don't you don't
You're less than half a man, yellow belly and crimson hands
You will one day reap your reckoning, maybe then you'll understand
What mercy have they known, from you, from you
To ask that I be shown, to you, to you
To ask that I be shown, to you, to you
In Thrice's Yellow Belly, the lyrics describe a person who was built to bring blessings, but instead only causes harm to those around them. The vocals suggest that this individual does not care about the bruises they leave behind or the darkness they bring upon others. The light that once shone within the eyes of others slowly fades away each day in their presence, leaving the world gray and empty. Despite these actions, the individual is portrayed as remorseless.
The chorus implies that this character is weak and cowardly, labelled as "yellow belly" with hands stained with guilt. The lyrics convey a sense of impending punishment, as the character is informed that they will one day face "reckoning". The song also depicts a character praying for salvation, begging to be released from harm's way.
In summary, Thrice's Yellow Belly is a song that conveys a strong meaning behind its lyrics. It portrays a message of caution, warning listeners of the destructive nature of some individuals around them. The song delivers a powerful message on the importance of treating those around us with kindness and preventing negative influence on those who depend on us for guidance and support.
Line by Line Meaning
You were built for blessing but you only make them bleed
Despite being created to bless others, you only bring harm to them
But you don't care, you don't care
You are indifferent to the negative impacts you have on others
And bruises are but shadows of the blackness That you breathe
The physical injuries you cause are only a small reflection of the darkness that consumes you
The light that's left inside their eyes is darkened
Your actions cause the people you hurt to lose their hope and joy
Day by day but you don't care, you don't care
You are oblivious to the gradual deterioration of those you harm
The presence pulls the color from the world til all is gray
Your negative presence drains the vibrancy and liveliness from the world
But you don't care, you don't, you don't, you don't
You remain indifferent to the consequences of your actions
You're less than half a man, yellow belly and crimson hands
Your cowardice and guilt are evident in your actions and violent tendencies
You will one day reap your reckoning, maybe then you'll understand
One day, the consequences of your actions will catch up to you and you might realize the true damage you've caused
Your hands are made to comfort but they only conjure fear
Despite being meant to provide comfort, your touch only instills fear in those you harm
She's in the closet praying Lord please get me out of here
Your actions have driven someone to seek help from a higher power to escape the situation
What mercy have they known, from you, from you
The people you harm have not received any mercy or kindness from you
To ask that I be shown, to you, to you
The singer is appealing to you to understand the harm you're causing and change your ways
To ask that I be shown, to you, to you
The request for you to see the error of your ways is repeated to emphasize its importance
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TERANISHI TEPPEI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luke Concienne
You were built for blessing,
But you only make them bleed,
You don't care, you don't care
And bruises are but shadows
Of the blackness that you breed,
But you don't care, you don't care
The light that's left inside their eyes
Is darkened day by day
But you don't care, you don't care
Your presence pulls the color
From the world til all is grey
But you don't care, you don't, you don't, you don't.
You're less than half a man
Yellow belly and crimson hands
You're the ones that reap your reckoning,
Maybe then you'll understand
Hands are made to comfort
But they only conjure fear
But you don't care, you don't care
She's in the closet, praying "Lord, please get me out of here"
You don't care, you don't you don't you don't
You're less than half a man
Yellow belly and crimson hands
You're the ones that reap your reckoning,
Maybe then you'll understand
What mercy have they known,
From you, from you
To ask that I be shown,
To you, to you
What mercy have they known,
From you, from you
To ask that I be shown,
To you, to you
The Broski
The most underrated rock song, this song is a true work of art
Luke Concienne
You were built for blessing,
But you only make them bleed,
You don't care, you don't care
And bruises are but shadows
Of the blackness that you breed,
But you don't care, you don't care
The light that's left inside their eyes
Is darkened day by day
But you don't care, you don't care
Your presence pulls the color
From the world til all is grey
But you don't care, you don't, you don't, you don't.
You're less than half a man
Yellow belly and crimson hands
You're the ones that reap your reckoning,
Maybe then you'll understand
Hands are made to comfort
But they only conjure fear
But you don't care, you don't care
She's in the closet, praying "Lord, please get me out of here"
You don't care, you don't you don't you don't
You're less than half a man
Yellow belly and crimson hands
You're the ones that reap your reckoning,
Maybe then you'll understand
What mercy have they known,
From you, from you
To ask that I be shown,
To you, to you
What mercy have they known,
From you, from you
To ask that I be shown,
To you, to you
Dingle Berrymore
I fully came around to this song after watching them perform it live. It has such a killer 90s grunge vibe live. I hope they start playing it more often. It’s truly meant to be experienced live.
George Hugo
Things that keep me coming back to this song:
Opening riff and beat.
Chorus at 02:28 - guitar tones so big!
Lyrics on brigde: "What mercy have they known from you? / To ask that it be shown to you?"
This is also the song that made me want a baritone guitar!
Donathan Carson
Hey man I know this sort of a late comment to reply to but, I had wanted a baritone guitar for ages but I had settled on a 7 string and a few years later I had bought a PRS Baritone, I love the baritone but I use the 7 string more, I find it a lot more versatile and you can usually get one at a better price
Pig Ford
I don’t really know much about Thrice but I do know a kick ass song when I hear it & this def falls into that category….it’s just a all round killer track ….also I doubt it was intentional but the guitars at least the tone of them) sound similar to the Deftones “My Own Summer(Shove It)…..this goes on repeat often 😉y’all be safe 🖤🥶
TallDude Joe
This song is crazy underrated like wtf!
NikIsPompus
My dad would play this song in the car, ive been looking for this song for 7 years straight finally.....
Adam Herrick
I think this is when the version of Thrice I really enjoy began.
Shae Snell
@thrice How long did it take to get the bass part in the section from 2:43 - 3:10? sounds simple but every beat is precisely on with the drums and I can guarantee that must have been hard to nail. respect