Album Rating: 3.0

objectively, from a musical and technical merit standpoint, Hold Up A Light is worse. but my god if the chorus on Branch in the River isn't physically nauseating. Hold Up A Light at least has energy and is kinda fun if you don't think about it too hard

Album Rating: 3.0

I would like to express how annoyingly out of place the harp is on Blood on Blood. This trying to be serious song is interrupted by the fairy fountain music from Zelda.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

A Branch in the River isn’t bad, but it’s not a highlight either. Their heavier side has been declining compared to Vheissu and the Fire EP. When they experiment and try new things it usually results in their best material. Just Breathe, My Soul, Blood on Blood, and Beyond the Pines are the best on here.

Album Rating: 2.5

Everything Belongs is some Coldplay-lite bullshit

Their best album to date.

Album Rating: 2.5

Everything Belongs and My Soul being back to back almost kills this album dead in the water. Both are so unbelievably boring, and I'm saying that as someone who loves Thrice's more mellow stuff like The Whaler, Digital Sea, Atlantic, etc...

Album Rating: 2.0

I actually really like My Soul but having it sandwiched between Everything Belongs and Branch in the River/Hold Up a Light is just awfulawfulawful sequencing.

Album Rating: 2.5

Such a poor follow up to the last one.

Album Rating: 3.5

I actually really like Everything Belongs. That run from My Soul to Hold Up A Light is the glaring weak streak here imo

Album Rating: 2.5

Everything Belongs is basically a stock piano ballad that turns into a Coldplay song. Bums me out considering all the cool shit Teppei did with the piano on Vheissu.

Album Rating: 3.5

my first thought was post-rock more than Coldplay, but either way, if Coldplay did that shit, I'd be excited for it



considering their simplicity, it's still got one of the better sets of lyrics on this album too, though that's not exactly saying much I guess

Album Rating: 3.0

I think it's really weird that you think Thrice is proselytizing with their religious beliefs. There is a difference between expressing your perception for a general audience, and trying to get someone to convert just because your God said so, and until I looked up the lyrics to specific songs, I wasn't under the impression they were specifically representing Catholicism as much as being morally accountable. Now if you don't feel guilt out of empathy of the rest of the population while we allow incel types into political office and forfeit responsibility over the well-being of our friends, family, and neighbors, you should definitely work that out outside of the form of an album review.



Also, you just made up that thing about the Weight. Kind of weirded me out. Not one mention of religion in that song; You literally just ruined it for yourself by focusing on something else.



Kind of wish I could downvote staff reviews because I just don't think doing that is exactly professional standard. No offense.

Album Rating: 2.0

^

Gotta agree with this. That religious part of the review is complete nonsense and never should've made it to the final write up.

Album Rating: 2.5

I wrote 'lol' as the first comment itt specifically because of that (and the rating + album summary) and it was deleted twice, presumably by Chan since he has something against me. I am biased tho, in that I think incorporating too many anecdotes and religious or political ideologies in reviews is poor form. Chan has a tendency to drone on about himself and dig for subtext that usually isn't there IMHO

Album Rating: 3.0

i didn't delete your fucking comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Well someone did, and given your apparent contempt for me every time we interact on Sputnik, I don't think it was so unrealistic for me to assume it was you. But my bad all the same.

Album Rating: 3.0

i don't think i have addressed a comment to you in like three years



if you don't like the review, that is fine and valid. however, i think you are misrepresenting this particular piece. there are really no personal anecdotes to be found, despite the 'i' pronouns. everything has to do with the album and my interpretation of thrice's music/lyrics over the years.

Album Rating: 3.5

"Over the years, a few of their songs have seemed almost proselytizing in nature"



Everything in the second paragraph after this sentence fails to persuasively support that point and reads more like a childish digression than anything meaningful to the review of the album at hand. I think that's what they're getting at. I didn't mind most of this review fwiw, but I too felt that bit wasn't exactly helpful or professional

Album Rating: 3.0

perhaps proselytizing wasn't the right word. i had debated using it which is why i have qualifying language in there. i have changed it to 'preachy' which probably works better

Album Rating: 3.0

I think I'm gonna end up liking this a little bit more than their previous one, really don't get where some of the hate is coming from