By By Mike Fordham

For better or worse, Thrice usually get lumped into the “screamo” genre. That tag generally implies plenty of incoherent screaming, slashing guitars and lots of energy. Certainly, Thrice’s older material has all of those features, but lately the “screamo” label hasn’t been a proper fit. Their last album, The Artist In The Ambulance, showcased a group with a self-aware sensibility. Thrice’s laest release, Vheissu, further indicates a band struggling with its past towards a bolder prospective future.

One skill that Thrice has down is juxtaposing loud and soft dynamics, often in the same song. “Hold Fast Hope,” “The Earth Will Shake” and “For Miles” all contain a mighty thunder (courtesy of some muscular guitar work) buttressed against calm, almost atmospheric instrumentation. “Music Box” restrains Dustin Kensrue’s emotional vocal power, as well as a dual guitar attack from Kensrue and Teppei Teranishi, and sounds better for it. It’s as if Thrice tried to interpret At The Drive-In.

Still, Thrice has not completely lost their heavy edge. “Image Of The Invisible” chugs along with youthful urgency despite the puzzling claim of the title. “Stand And Feel Your Worth,” one of the better titled songs in recent memory, builds up to some well-executed hardcore screaming. It’s rare that a band can use screaming well – Thrice are one of those few. “Of Dust And Nations” and “Like Moths To Flame” sound like tracks from The Illusion Of Safety, complete with soaring guitars and Kensrue’s fast-pace vocals.

The album lets the band stand out of the current “screamo” scene. It’s obvious that Thrice differs from others with a Thoman Pynchon reference for a title and a cover designed by author Dave Eggers – these guys can think. Whether or not it was intentional, the introspective sound on the disc suits Thrice just fine. The band realized what they were capable of on The Artist In The Ambulance, but have begun to utilize that potential with Vheissu.