Search - Thrice :: Vheissu (Dlx) (Dig)

Admittedly, it takes time.

Brian A. Renner | Los Angeles, CA, USA | 12/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since seeing Thrice at the Palace in Hollywood playing with AFI, I have since seen them five times in concert. And further in high school, I anxiously awaited Identity Crisis and The Illusion of Safety, snatching both immediately for my collection of rather varied musical tastes as they were released.



But this isn't the story of my Thrice fandom. This is the continued writing on the fresh pages of a band wishing nothing more than to refine and refind itself amongst the waves of musical ambiguity and banality so ever present in today's atmosphere.



The Artist in the Ambulance is arguably my favorite CD of all time, and given that precursor, I knew Thrice had the daunting task of impressing its fans following some of the most poignant and emotionally charged songs ever written for the genre of punk/metal/rock.



When first listening to Vheissu, I, like any good Thrice fan, expected to be immediately enveloped in thousands of evoked emotions, not to mention a thoroughly needed headbanging and air-guitar riffing session. But past Image of the Invisible, I set my air guitar up for the day, and waited for the "old Thrice" to roar out of my speakers. It wasn't until Hold Fast Hope that this happened again. But I listened through the album, and aside from the instant hits of Music Box and the previously mentioned Image of the Invisible, I didn't feel comfortable with what Thrice had just so eloquently tried to pass to me as a mature, new style. I gave it a week.



I decided to listen to the album all the way through once again, hoping this time to find something beyond the immediate gratification of hearing loud and angry noises in my ears. After letting go of my inhibitions, and possibly adhering to rather melancholy emotions, I began to hear what Thrice had in mind all along. The album left me stunned again, but this time, in an unexplainable bliss.



Listening to songs such as The Earth Will Shake, Like Moths to Flame, and Red Sky virtually were good transitions between a much softer side of Thrice, and the more rugged, hardcore image they have always portrayed. But where the CD really apexed was during the climactic For Miles, whose almost deceptively soft fluttering piano intro coalesces with a relatively slow melodic guitar, progressively pulling you in more, defying every notion one has about the song, and the band. This can really be said about the album as a whole.



As a summary, I would heartily recommend Thrice to any fan of new millenium rock, old Thrice, certain hardcore punk, and more. Everyone can find something to listen to on the album, if not the album in entirity.



But for longtime fans of Thrice, take my advice: don't throw it away just because you didn't hear exactly what you expected to hear. Your ears will thank you when you listen to it again."

A labor of love.

Nic | 02/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is fantastic. I've been a fan of Thrice for so long, and I've picked up I think pretty much all of their CDs. I have to be honest though...it took a few play-throughs for me to find a liking for it. I honestly despised it at first. I could hardly believe it was Thrice. Gone was the raw energy, the thrashing, and...well...its more obvious now than it was then, but all the cliched lyrics. But if you look a little deeper, you see a polished, solid album. All the way through, its brilliant. There's so much depth, and such a great sound. I just couldn't get over how refined everything sounded, including Dustin's voice, compared to their older efforts. Its a whole new Thrice, but its Thrice done right. Very seldom do these sort of bands get to complete their visions and get everything exactly how they want it, but they did. I can't recommend a specific track, but just go pick up the CD as soon as you can.



This particular edition includes a nicely done (and somewhat thick) accompanying booklet with some extras in it, including information about the making of each song on the album. And along with the special case, is worth the extra money if you're into collecting or just...knowing as much about Thrice and this album as possible. It was well worth the little bit extra for me (it was only a couple more dollars when I got it)."

A must-have for a Thrice fan (or Vheissu fan)

elaine grace | southern California | 11/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you loved this amazing album, then you should probably own the limited edition of it. Done in the same style as the limited edition of TAITA, the booklet gives a well-written introduction by their manager (Nick Bogardus), insight to all of the songs by each of the band members, as well as album notes by them to conclude the booklet.



It's a good read--a great supplement to the album--and explanatory for why Vheissu is what it is and not just another Illusion of Safety or The Artist in the Ambulance."