Album Review — Thrice

Thrice — Horizons/East

Thrice have traveled a winding road on their way to their eleventh studio album titled “Horizons/East”. The band started as a hardcore band in the late 90s and slowly gained success over the next decade. The band took an extended break in 2012 and returned in 2015. “Horizons/East” is their third record since returning from their break.

The band’s sound has always been progressing and changing. They started out as a hardcore band but after a few years their sound became more melodic. The band’s last four or five records are much more hard rock sounding as the band has released some of my favorite albums over the last decade.

Their last record, “Palms”, seemed to signal another change in the band’s sound and we see that progress even more on “Horizons/East” but there are still elements that will sound familiar to fans.

Right from the start of “Horizons/East”, we hear a loop and droning keyboard that signify that this album is a little different. Dustin Kensue’s familiar voice is a welcome sound as “The Color Of The Sky” slowly builds. Eventually the song kicks in to a more familiar sound.

The first single from the album, “Scavengers”, is up next. Right from the start it sounds like a Thrice track that could have been taken off the “To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere” record. That’s a good thing.

“Buried In The Sun” starts with a strong groove with Kensrue’s rasp over the top. A theme for me on this record is that I like parts of every song but they don’t all come together for me. I don’t love the chorus here but the verses are quite good as well as the bridge.

“Northern Lights” features a quick piano intro that foreshadows the piano part that plays throughout the track. This one sounds more like something off of “Palms”.

“Summer Set Fire To The Rain” is what I have been looking for. This is the Thrice that I know and love. It’s aggressive and thoughtful and brilliant. It’s everything I love about this band. The refrain at the close of the song with Kensrue asking “How long?” reminds me of Bono at his best. I’m disappointed that we don’t get more of this on the record but it’s good to know it’s still there. This one track will keep me coming back to this record.

“Still Life” is more melancholy at the start and slowly builds. Like many of the songs, this one has some parts I really like. The final two minutes of the track feature some great guitar work and pay off the slow build.

“The Dreamer” has a strong start but doesn’t quite get to where it could go in the chorus. It’s a solid track that leaves me wanting a little more.

“Robot Soft Exorcism” is the most experimental track on the record. It’s got an electronic beat from the start that I could do without. It’s another slow build track that again has some nice elements.

“Dandelion Wine” continues the theme of teasing us with some strong elements to the track, this time at the tail end, but dragging a little at the start.

The final track, “Unitive/East”, I don’t really get. It’s mostly a piano with faded vocals that I can barely make out. It never really goes anywhere but drones on for three and a half minutes. I’m not much of a fan of this one which is so disappointing as the band usually closes with a memorable track.

This may be a case of my huge expectations not being met, but I’m a little disappointed with “Horizons/East”. There are parts of it I really like, and “Summer Set Fire To The Rain” may be my favorite track of the year, but there are too many parts that lack for me.

To me, this sounds like a band trying to figure out what’s next. The last few albums have a pretty clear theme to them but I’m not picking up on one here, either lyrically or musically.

All that being said, I do truly love this band and all they have to offer. Maybe this is a transitional album that many bands need to make to get to where they are going next? Maybe the band is moving in a direction that I’m not going to like as much? Who knows?

There is enough here to warrant a listen every now and then for me, but “Horizons/East” won’t get anywhere near the amount of attention from me that “Major/Minor” and “To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere” got. If you are new to the band, that’s where I would suggest you start.

It’s a good record from a great band that leaves me wishing it is more than it is.

90 out of 100

Track Listing

1. The Color Of The Sky
2. Scavengers *
3. Buried In The Sun
4. Northern Lights
5. Summer Set Fire To The Rain *
6. Still Life *
7. The Dreamer
8. Robot Soft Exorcism
9. Dandelion Wine
10. Unitive/East

*Best Songs