Thrice breathes elements in 'Alchemy'

Talk about progression. Not long ago, Thrice was considered by most to be just another generic, post-hardcore band out of the So Cal scene. However, just within the group's last two releases, they have matured and grown exponentially; 2005's Vheissu was proof that they were a creative force to be reckoned with, and they took such growth to an even further extreme in late 2007 by releasing the first half of a four-part elemental-based concept work, titled The Alchemy Index. While writing an album based on fire and water sounds cliche, Thrice found a way to make it interesting by creating a batch of heavy, ominous rockers for the fire disc and juxtaposing them with the serene Kid A-like electronic textures of the water counterpart.

Thrice clearly wanted each of their four discs to sound as distinct as possible. In this regard, they have only half succeeded on new releases Air and Earth. Earth introduces a stripped-down, folk/blues sound to their repertoire and uses almost no electric instrumentation, while the Air collection, despite adding an entrancing space and post-rock sound, feels more like a mix of the other three discs. While it does feel like somewhat of a cop-out, Air also features some of Thrice's most mature songs to date - the chilling opener "Broken Lungs," which laments the Sept. 11 attacks, and the slow-burning beauty of "Daedalus," which is destined for alt-rock classic status, relating the Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus to the fears of being a parent today. These songs also show vocalist Dustin Kensrue in top form with both his lyrical artistry and his unique, soaring tone. While the fluid arrangements of the Air tracks give the guitars and bass ample room to experiment, they also show one consistent problem in the package: the overall lack of rhythmic drive. Only three Air tracks and two Earth tracks have live drumming, which can add a sense of monotony to the music. The Earth disc stands on its own a bit more than Air, and impresses with the soulful blues of "Come All You Weary" that recall Kensrue's solo work, and the lush piano and haunting refrain of "Child of Dust."

The Alchemy Index may not be the collective masterpiece that the band was aiming for, and the overall softness of this second chapter may deter fans of the group's older style. However, Air and Earth are still impressive pieces of work in their own right. If the band can combine the elements of all these EPs on their next outing, they could truly have something magnificent on their hands. B