Manny King John
Thrice has been at it for two decades. Kicking off their careers with their self-released EP First Impressions back in 1999, the band went at it non-stop for almost a decade. Since then, the California four-piece has become synonymous with the post-hardcore movement of the early to mid-2000s, which influenced a wide array of modern acts. In fact, award-winning EDM artist Skrillex traces his roots to the post-hardcore genre— which, at the time of its peak, had Thrice smack bang in the center of it.
However, this all came to a screeching halt in 2011, when the band declared that they were indeed going on an indefinite hiatus. In a statement, lead singer Dustin Kensrue made it a point to assure fans that they were not breaking up, which left the possibility of a comeback up in the air. Kensrue cited the strains of touring on his family life as the main reason for the break. At the time, he had three daughters under the age of five, and being on the road wasn’t as sustainable as it was in his younger years.
This possibility of a reunion was then realized when the band abruptly released To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere in 2016, ending the group’s five-year hiatus. Thrice silenced any questions on whether they could still do it by releasing their most successful record to date. Billboard reports that To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere ended up being their highest charted album since Vheissu in 2005. The album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Rock Album charts.
Three years removed from the band’s hiatus and on the heels of their latest album, Palms, it’s safe to say that Thrice truly has come a long way. The latest record, while still undoubtedly a Thrice album, follows suit from To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere by sticking to a more minimalist approach. This is a stark contrast to the band’s sprawling concept album Alchemy Index (2007-2008), which was an idiosyncratic musical exercise that tried to convey the elements of fire, earth, wind, and water via sound. In this regard, Palms has Thrice stripped down, as is most evident in the band’s current rig setup.
In their earlier albums, Thrice used to use a Line 6 DL4 delay pedal, but now use Strymon Timeline. They’ve also cut down on a lot of the excesses of their rig. Fewer frills has given Thrice the opportunity to zone in on what they do best: Guitar-led pure rock. From the first track, ‘Only Us’ to the last track ‘Beyond The Pines’, Palms is a masterclass in what a band fully committed to their sound can achieve.
If you want to check out more of Thrice, they’re currently on a world tour that encompasses the United States and goes all the way Germany until November 17.
