Thrice, Vheissu, and Dustin Kensrue

By Nathan Burke

With their 4th full-length album, Vheissu, Orange County’s Thrice have made a record with the kind of depth and attention to detail not commonly found in most contemporary rock releases.

There are some very aurally immediate elements on the record, such as the rock anthem “Image of the Invisible” and the cinematic “Red Sky.” The tunes range from the heavy “Hold Fast Hope” (reminiscent of Seattle’s now-defunct math metal band, Botch), to the elegant, longing, and achingly beautiful “Atlantic” (a song Coldplay wishes they could have written).

In short, Vheissu is a challenging listen in that it demands the active engagement of the listener. There is a wide range of styles, spatial tones, energy and dynamics that only comes together as a cohesive whole through repeated spins. The end result could best described as oceanic. (more…)