Thrice – Identity Crisis

I would first like to open this review by saying, Bobby I don’t see how you don’t love Thrice. Idenitiy Crisis was the first album from Thrice that I picked up in stores and I must say that I have never regretted the $9.00 I paid to find what is now one of my favorite bands. Often people don’t see Thrice as a Christian Rock band, but indeed they are. With lyrics that you would guess refers to girls and romance situations, but the true meaning is their love for Christ.

Phoenix Ignition is a real ear catcher, starting slow with an acoustic mellow riff and soft vocals, which makes it odd because it is one of the fastest and hardest songs on the album. Screaming about crematoriums, guns and friends deaths, you can really feel the emotion of what they are feeling. Fast beats and thrashy quick guitar riffs really drag you in and want to sing along, or should i say scream. To What End, is a really well put together song guitar wise. A fast soloing and slow heavy rhythm section blends together really well and the simple drum beats keep it together, very catchy song which will open your eyes to this album. For those of you that are more on the poppy side, Ultra Blue has everything you need with a real pop punk feel. I don’t really feel this song should even been on this album, it is kind of in a totally different genre as the rest of the album. As The Ruins Fall is a heavy and fast at the beginning with a really awesome breakdown at the end, really just a standard hardcore song, kind of boring, but the lyrics are amazing. Under Par is the song where you really realize how good a drummer Thrice has, using just power cords with the guitars they let the drummer lead the song and its great. His use of blast and gravity beats with sudden breakdowns, heavy ride and poppy snares really bring out the focus of this song. T&C is the last song to sum up Idenitiy Crisis, but I think it is really the worst song, it sounds way to much like a blend of all the other songs on the album. Although its not that great of a song, you will probably find yourself singing the chorus because it is a catchy one. I know Thrice is a love or hate band but if you would like to give them a chance, please listen to this album. It may be their first full length but it will still blow any of their other albums out of the water.