Album Details

• Artist: Thrice
• EP:
The Alchemy Index Volumes 1 & 2
• Label: Vagrant
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: blackxdan on 2007-10-19

The Alchemy Index Volumes 1 & 2 by Thrice have finally been released.  This specific EP is split into two different elements, Fire and Water.  Each EP is only six tracks long, that songs like a short time for an album, but after listening you realize that it wasn't only a safe move by Thrice, but a smart one.  It's not possible to just review the album as a whole, try all you might, but you need to split the review into two seperate parts.

The Alchemy Index, Volume 1: Fire

There is a reason why Thrice decided to call this album the Fire album.  That has to be the hardest hitting album that has ever been released by Thrice to date.  The track literally oozes out passion and aggression.  The first track that Thrice had let out to the public, Firebreather, is an amazing opening track.  Volume 1 of the Alchemy Index carries a lot of intense guitar riffs with beautiful and hard hitting vocals.  This EP contains more screaming than I have ever heard Dustin Kensrue do before.  The song that I must say has to stick out the most to me, is the track Burn The Fleet.  It sounds like it could have been on Vheissu and made it to a single.  The Flame Deluge is the perfect ending to The Alchemy Index, Volume 1.  It is quite possibly the hardest song on the Fire EP, and definitely has a darker feel to it.  Overall, the Fire EP is extremely impressive, and definitely worth all of the hype.

The Alchemy Index, Volume 2: Water

The Alchemy Index, Volume 2 is based on the element of Water.  And if you couldn't guess, this EP is more of the soothing, relaxing nature.  More of the songs are electronic based, for example, the opening track Digital Sea.  This album just proves that Thrice can accel in many different styles of music than just the ones they were previously known for.  Open Water is a beautiful song. It's a different change of pace for Thrice because of it's slow nature, but don't skip over it for that reason alone.  Thrice just continues to impress with this release.  Even fans of their older work [ie. Artist In The Ambulance, Identity Crisis] could get into this music with a little time.  There are no possible words to explain this album, except for the obvious.  Beautiful, astounding, and mesmerizing.

It's clear how much work and dedication it took for Thrice to complete The Alchemy Index, Volumes 1 & 2.  They are both very well thought out, and put together a very thought provoking concept of using the elements to determine what style of music will be on the EP's.  If you were able to jump straight into Vheissu, then you will have no problem jumping into The Alchemy Index Volumes.

User Reviews and Comments

on 2010-11-29 Rosseroo Said:

I liked Thrice's earlier stuff more but the Alchemy Index is still well done, I've always been a fan but there's something about this that didn't hit home with me.
Rating: 6/10

Review:

on 2010-11-14 kevin234 Said:

The Alchemy Index, Volume 2: Water

From the gentle beats of the electric drums to the soothing vocals, Thrice has taken an obviously softer approach to their newest EP. The second edition to the Alchemy Index, Water carries a calming tonic through your headphones as six pulsed tales of the sea are told. They anchor with the murky yet mellowed out track Open Water. It intros slowly with Dustin Kensrues whispery voice floating over electric beats then opens up to a beautiful breathing melody. Its captivating yet controlled leading their most picturesque collection of songs. Thrice is able to perfectly combine the dark abyss and relaxing foaming waters of the oceans and parallels to the two brilliantly from beginning to end. Finally, with this album the instrumentation and lulling vocals will have you drifting in the tide.
Rating: 7/10

Review:

on 2007-11-14 kev_stev Said:

The fifth full-length release from the post-hardcore band Thrice is the band’s most experimental work to date: “The Alchemy Index: Volumes I & II.” This two disc CD explores two elements of nature and is partitioned into two halves: fire and water. Fire is relentlessly heavy; it has a volcanic attitude that conjures up choirs, winding guitars, propulsive drumming, and the shrill screams of lead singer Dustin Kensrue. These elements flicker from song to song, appearing in intermittent bursts, as violent and heated as the band’s imagery of fire.



While Fire was familiar territory for the band, they venture off into the precarious zone of experimental, where electronic drum-beats and echoed vocals evoke the gentle flowing of water. The result is a fluid (pun intended), melancholic, and cohesive counterpart to Fire, revealing Thrice’s maturity from a notoriously labeled “screamo” band to a group with maturity and musical depth. The poignant “Lost Continent” emphasizes this change, a hauntingly desolate piano ballad, where the volume of the drums gradually increases until the sound is “swallowed by the sea.”



I highly recommend this album; its joining of intensity and serenity—of burning emotion and flowing passion—is well worth the listens.

Rating: 9/10

Review:

on 2007-10-21 kev_stev Said:

yesss. good review Dan! can't wait to pick this up and see them in december!
Rating: 9/10

Review:

on 2007-10-21 Symphony Said:

I'm holding out until Earth and Air and I'm listening to them all at once.
Not Rated