THRICE | Palms | Album Review

Thrice has built a large fanbase and a prominent reputation amongst the post-hardcore scene that they originated in the early 2000's with bands like Glassjaw, Finch, and Thursday also being recognizable tomes of that scene. And after taking a break from the studio for half a decade in 2011, it seems Thrice is a more respected name than ever. Their previous album, "To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere" garnered the band their highest charting single on Active Rock and further proved that Thrice was not just a typical band of its ilk, as if that even needed to be proven in the first place. Even before their return, Thrice was well known for thinking outside the box and played around with several elements of their sound, much to the pleasure of critics and fans who came across it. In 2018, the band has returned again for their tenth overall studio effort, "Palms", and it is seeming like the experimental mindset the band is adept to is ever so present. "Palms", their first album created for new label Epitaph Records, is being sold as a record that holds everything from "viscerally charged post-hardcore to piano driven balladry". There is a respect given to bands who try to reach a wide dynamic of soundscapes in their music in an attempt to make a record sound different than anything they've ever done. The inevitable fact is that it could cause some divisive polarization or make people appreciate the end product and see how well the band has aged. As far as it goes with "Palms" by Thrice, it seems to be the latter idea.

"Only Us", "The Grey" and "The Dark", all of which were released as pre-release tracks before the full record was able to be purchased, showcase the band as a little bit more restrained than their classic albums which is a style we've been getting from Thrice for quite a while now. It's very obvious that with "Only Us" being the opening track, a song that in theory should be placed somewhere in the middle of an album, actually does a fantastic job at introducing the overall vibe of the album and it should come as no surprise that this isn't an album filled with the heaviest riffing and harsh screaming for 40 minutes straight. The three opening tracks are all just as filled with kinesis and power, but it's borrowing a bit more from their last album and expanding upon it. "Only Us" offers a fantastic performance from vocalist Dustin Kensrue and is able to set up an atmosphere with any element that comes into play. "The Grey" is definitely the harder edged of the three but still manages to make this portion of the album a very consistent experience, which bleeds into the next track "The Dark", which is more in line with "Only Us" as being a phenomenally paced rocker that is constructed with a whole lot of care. The end of the track is notable with a third chorus that only consists of chanting, but it's effective and works cleverly to bring the song to a satisfying close. As high of a caliber as these tracks set for the rest of the album, it's difficult to follow it up with an album that consistently engages you, but that is what happens throughout the rest of the album.

If I were to be completely honest, on my first listen, there were several songs that got me emotionally engaged which rarely ever happens anymore with music. Good examples of this are in "Just Breathe" and "Everything Belongs" which are two excellent and well put together songs, "Just Breathe" being more of a sentimental rocker while "Everything Belongs" being one of two ballad tracks present on the album. "Just Breathe" offers a fantastic chorus that is different in tone to the more energized verses but is carried by a fantastic performance by everyone in the band and some passionate female vocals that take this track to the next level meanwhile on "Everything Belongs" we get a rhythm that has been heard several times before in this style of music, but I really appreciate that it is being used in a ballad track that has the capability of choking you up. The same effect goes for the perfect closing track "Beyond The Pines" which ends the album on a chilling and atmospheric note, especially with its quiet and ambient outro that goes on for about a minute. Another element to bring up is the addition of other instruments rather than just the standard used in rock music, notably the harp-like instrument used in "Blood On Blood" which sets it apart from other tracks on the tracklist. It's always a treat to hear bands that break the mold a bit and add some extra instrumentation to make an album stand out, but that's what you get on several cuts of this ten-track album. It's definitely a spectacle in itself. 

Really, the only major thing I have to critique about this album is the way the digipak looks, which is more square than most other digipaks and wouldn't be visible on a CD shelf unless you jud it out far enough. But, when the only thing I dislike about an album isn't even referring to the music found within, that is when an album has succeeded. This year has been somewhat disappointing as a good bulk of albums have been very good, but nothing has had the staying power as the highest quality albums of 2017. Either that or some have been disappointments or forgettable albums. Thrice's "Palms" is the one album so far this year that is the closest to being consistent all throughout its runtime. There aren't any tracks on this record that are bad or even moderate or above average. Sure, the album does have tracks that are better than others, or ones I'm more inclined to revisit repeatedly, but judging all ten tracks that make this album, there is no weak link to this album. Every element is carefully thought out and masterfully crafted. Is this a perfect album necessarily? Not so, since there are the briefest of slipups that occur. But, this is Thrice at their best to date. Overall, Thrice continue to prove why they are among the top tier in post-hardcore and potentially in rock in general, and for any fan of good music and any fan of Thrice in general, everything on this record belongs in your music library. 

RATING: 10/10

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