@Xing I have a feeling they'll just be carrying on in this direction for the foreseeable future, regardless of what fans think

Album Rating: 4.0

There's a difference between songs about someone's faith and being a religious band.

Album Rating: 3.5

@kingjulian - agreed M/M is by far their most overtly religious, though

a) pretty sure Blinded is also blatantly scriptural, dunno why you skipped over it

b) I always interpreted Yellow Belly as about domestic abuse. Are there specific lines in that one that give it a religious foundation? Genuinely curious

Album Rating: 4.0

yellow belly is definitely about abuse

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Specifically it’s about parental abuse toward their children. Kensrue is even quoted explaining the song: “Being either a father, a husband, or both is a heavy calling and an awesome responsibility. The harm that can be done even by the most unintentional carelessness is sobering, let alone what results from outright cruelty and abuse. I hope this song will shame those who treat their families shamefully. I hope that it can be a bucket of cold water to wake some men to the hell they are creating for the ones they are meant to protect. I hope that it can also be a warning to those who are not at that stage in their life yet, but soon will be.”

Album Rating: 2.5

Blinded as well for sure, just didn't want to write a novel in the comments section.

Yellow Belly can most definitely be read as being about abuse, and that's actually probably an intended interpretation, but I think for Dustin a ton of his songs have double meanings. I always heard the "you were built for blessing" as a more spiritual line, like how Satan was once an angel, etc...

For instance, all of the Alchemy Index sonnets are personifications of their respective elements while also behaving as personifications of the divine. If you JUST read them as the elements, that's a 100% valid interpretation but for Dustin there's often also a spiritual element. Yellow Belly is less on the nose about it, though.

Album Rating: 4.5

I'm probably going to get raked over the coals for this but...here goes. It seems like the reviewers only problem with the album is that Dustin didn't come out as an atheist...or something. The album is full of lyrics that give the listener cause to pause and think. This album also becomes better with multiple listens. If you're just listening to it off hand then you will miss all the excellent points that this album has. Thrice has become a very mature band in their music and lyrical content. They call their fans to that same level of maturity.

Album Rating: 2.5

hi Dizzy, Christian here (I even liked Dustin's worship album!), and this album is a huge disappointment. I find the lyrics really shallow by Kensrue standards, beating trite themes like "we're all one" to death, and the music lacks the variety, complexity and energy I've come to expect from Thrice. If you enjoy these lyrics, more power to ya. But with a few exceptions, I'm left longing. Honestly, I think this gets worse with multiple listens -- "Beyond the Pines" is really the only thing keeping this 3 from becoming a 2.5.

Album Rating: 3.0

It seems like the reviewers only problem with the album is that Dustin didn't come out as an atheist...or something.

Album Rating: 3.0

embrace the 2.5. you'll feel relief.

I actually feel this album is a step up from TBEITBN, which I thought was a really good album in it's own right. I feel like they took the best aspects from that album and fleshed them out. This album is up their with M/M (which is my 2nd favorite Thrice album). I really loved this record. The opener is some of my favorite lyricism from Dustin.

Album Rating: 4.0

I'll say it again: best thing they've done since Beggars.

Album Rating: 2.5

sowing I really want to see your counterpoint review because I really don't agree at all on this one

Album Rating: 3.0

someone a few pages back was talking shit about 'a branch in the river' and i appreciate that. the chorus is like...anti-catchy. it has some good momentum in the first lines but when dustin repeats "carried away"...that part is so bad.

Album Rating: 4.0

That part doesn't really bother me. I found the chorus itself (which I think is the momentum part you're referring to) to be really catchy/memorable, and the "carried away" bridge or whatever you'd want to call it may not be anything special in its own right, but it doesn't detract from the song in any way. I don't know to me that's one of the upper echelon songs.

Album Rating: 3.5

The transition from Branch's verse to chorus where Dustin goes up a half-step is badass.

Album Rating: 3.0

The parts on Branch in the River and Hold up a Light where Dustin almost screams but then doesnt frustrate me

Album Rating: 3.0

(Which isnt to say i have an issue with him NOT screaming, just dont tease me man)

Album Rating: 2.0

His vocals on Branch in the River are just so bad. Ugh.

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah its sad because that track is great instrumentally. That bass is fantastic