Customer Reviews

ILLUSION OF SAFETY, THE [Vinyl]

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album was recommended to me by the Wickerman and Tyke Chandler (two great reviewers on this site), and I have to give a great thanks to them because it's an album I'm enjoying very much. As I said, it's intelligent and diverse music, that goes way beyond "punk".

Thrice mixes the "emo" punk style with hardcore screaming and metal. Dustin Kensrue, the singer, can go from singing in a melodic voice to an intense scream, and can do it well. The guitarists are pretty good. They don't just play 3 chords; there are guitar harmonies and solos reminiscent of Iron Maiden. The drummer is insanely good. He's fast, but his fills are thought out and perfectly executed. Yes, this is a very talented band.

The songs rarely exceed 3 minutes. I usually listen to metal or progressive rock, so I'm generally used to longer songs, but Thrice can do so much so well in 3 minutes that the songs are just as strong as many of the longer ones I like. The music can go from melodic/emo to hardcore punk, with heavy riffing like Metallica and guitar harmonies like Iron Maiden. These guys are pretty diverse.

The lyrics blew me away. Rarely are bands this intelligent. I guess I shouldn't really go into the lyrics, but I'll just say they are very memorable and they'll make you think. I don't want to go on for too long here so I'll just say if you happen to be reading this review, try this. There's a good chance you'll like it.

The Illusion of Safety is the best album that Thrice has pumped out so far. The guitar is amazing. This CD could still be one of the top selling albums without any lyrics. You can feel the passion of the band flowing through the your speakers on every song. The difference between this album and The Artist in the Ambulance is that order in which it was written. For the Illusion of Safety, the instrumentals were written first. All of the guitar, bass, and drum parts were completed before the vocals were ever imagined. Dustin had to write each song so that it would fit-in with the instrumentals. On the Artist in the Ambulance, Dustin had written every song before any instrumentals were composed. The passion in The Illusion of Safety is mainly in the instrumentals, but that doesn't mean that the lyrics aren't heart-filled. Each song is extremely powerful and fun to listen to. If there you are looking for a CD that combines harcore, emo, punk, and a few other genres, buy this album. you won't regret it!

My how the music scene can change in such a short time. A year ago I was gung-ho about the whole sing/scream thing... Thursday, Boy Sets Fire, et al. Now, my appreciation for those bands has diminished by the sheer number of other groups that have worn that style out and done a mediocore job (Glasseater, anyone?). At first, I wrote Thrice off as another one of these middle-of-the-road emo/hardcore/we-want-to-appeal-to-everyone-core bands. Yet, for some reason or another, I took a chance and bought this album. Boy was I wrong. This is what the whole sing/scream thing should be about. A great thing about these guys is that their foundation is in new school punk. It's nice to hear some post-hardcore that isn't so overwrought with Quicksand and Fugazi influences. So yeah, there are some great punk tunes on here, with melodic guitar leads and pretty vocal harmonies. Then, out of nowhere, the band gets dirty on you. The drummer spazzes out, the guitarist busts out the Iron Maiden riffs (thankfully devoid of any gimmick or novelty), and those pretty vocals become manly screams. The punk/hardcore transitions are smooth, and they experiment with many song structures and moods. The variety here is quite commendable. The band mainly creates solid songs within their own consistent sound, but they still are able to reach hard and soft extremes with skill. My only complaint is that some of these songs are definitely filler. Some of the songs also are a bit too schizophrenic, leaving a perfectly good hook behind far too early on. All in all, though, this is a thought-provoking, creative, inspiring album. Well done.

As a devoted fan of heavy metal and progressive rock, I've never really had any interest in anything "emo" or "indie" (in fact, I'm still not really sure what those terms mean), and because of it, I nearly missed out on this band. However, my friend Tyke Chandler laid a lot of praise on them, so I decided to give them a try. This just goes to show that it pays to keep an open mind.

This album is just amazing. Thrice combines emo and punk with the 80's metal style of Iron Maiden, and the result is stunning. Dustin and Teppei are an incredible guitar duo. They will lead you through fast riffs, jaw-dropping harmonies, and Dave Murray-like solos. Even more amazing is the fact that most of these songs don't even top 3 minutes. I haven't heard an album that packed so much greatness into such short songs since Slayer's "Reign in Blood". You won't believe they did all that in just a couple of minutes. The Breckenridge brothers make an excellent rhythm section. Eddie lays down some awesome bass grooves, and Riley's drumming is just too great. Check out that constant drum roll in the first verse of "Where Idols Once Stood". Wow. That's not a double bass pedal either, he's doing it with his hands. It would take a great singer to front all this, but Dustin's vocals are more than adequate. He goes from screaming to singing softly, and does a great job with both.

This album is just perfect. I recommend this album to everyone, fans of metal, prog., hardcore, emo, punk, whatever. No matter your tastes, there's a very good chance you'll like this. If you like Papa Roach (the second album moreso than the first), you'll definitely appreciate this. They're similar bands, but Thrice is far more talented.

Judging by the likes of Dashboard Confessional and Saves the Day, I would say that emo rock will never be my first choice for music, but hey, one great band is certainly better than none.

Thrice's "Illusion of Safety" is an album that defies easy classification - it is heavy but melodic, intense but thoughtful and poetic. Finding a stylistic classification is a chore as well - it boasts metallic elements, but to call them metal seems to shortchange them. Punk rock seems the next sensible classification, but to confine them amongst other pop-punk peers doesn't seem right either. They're a cut above the classical definitions of metal and punk. They're Thrice.

Thrice is not a typical modern rock band. Few modern rock bands shift tempos and time signatures as ably as Thrice does, nor do most put the poetic words of E.E. Cummings to music, as they do on "A Living Dance Among Dead Minds", one of the most memorable songs on the album. "Kill Me Quickly", "See You in the Shallows", "In the Years to Come", "The Red Death", "Betrayal is a Symptom", and "To Awake and Avenge the Dead" meld varying dynamics (tempo, singing/screaming) perfectly, making some of the best energetic, intense yet melodic rock and roll one will ever hear.

Other songs on the album, the tunes not highlighted above, aren't nearly as flawless and get lost in their own complexity, hence the four star rating. Sometimes the guitars are too metallic, the lyrics too far reaching, the tempo shifts and screaming overdone. The band should be commended for trying to raise the bar, even if they don't always succeed. They are talented musicians, songwriters and lyricists - but they're still growing into their gifts. Thrice's newest album, Artist in the Ambulance, finds them polishing these rough edges to exceptional results. It's easily one of the best albums of 2003.

As it is, The Illusion of Safety is an entertaining, energetic album with constant shift changes, great production, and intelligent lyrics. There is not one dull moment on the album, and it's an ambitious, creative leap forward for a band that has only since improved. Thrice is worth checking out. If you need extra incentive: proceeds from the album go to help "A Place Called Home", a non-profit youth center in Los Angeles. You could a lot worse than checking out an intriguing, original rock band and helping the kids in the process.

Thrice has some of the most intelligent lyrics I have ever encountered in a band. Their distinct brand of melodic hardcore punk rock will be enjoyed by fans of thursday, sparta, afi, or any other bands of the sort. The standout tracks would have to be 'see you in the shallows', 'trust', 'in years to come' and 'the beltsville crucible', although all the tracks are outstanding.

I picked this album up without any prior experience with Thrice. Never heard of 'em, but for some reason I decided this might be a good record. How right I was. And not just a good record...a mindblowing album that comes around but a few times in one's life. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised.

First of all, the production is great. The worst thing that can happen to a good album is bad production. But that's not a worry here. Now, to the music.

_The Illusion Of Safety_ begins with "Kill Me Quickly," which fades into a wall of Thrice's metal-influenced emo-punk sound (a very fun combination to listen to). It also features the oddest, coolest tempo change I've ever heard.

"Deadbolt" starts as a fast, in-your-face track, before slowing down to half-speed and adding screams to the background, all before a calming piano outro.

"So Strange I Remember You" begins with a beautiful, blues-inspired guitar part, before bursting into a fast 'n heavy punk track.

Throughout the rest of the album, the listener will become acquainted with the way that the guitarist has no qualms about throwing in an Iron Maiden-like riff, or the drummer tosses in double bass drumming madness over top of the melodic voice of the singer, who apparently loves to go from clean vocals to harrowing screams.

This is a terrific record. If you are a fan of any heavy emo-type band (such as Thursday or From Autumn To Ashes), chances are that you'll also dig this. Or, if you want to expose yourself to something new, I highly recommend this. It's easy enough to get into, but almost impossibe to take out of your CD player.

it's rare to come across a hardcore, punk, emo, or any type of band that lives up to the hype you hear from the band's devoted fans, from mtv, advertising... whatever... i hear "this band is the next big thing... that new band is incredible," etc, all the time it seems, and few have ever lived up to their praises. i had never even heard of thrice when i decided to listen to them at the local music store (i thought their cover art was nice, so i listened)... and i am completely stunned at their brilliance, so much so that i find it very strange (refreshing? a relief?) that this amazing band has managed to slip under the net of the mtv's and the rolling stone's.

every aspect of thrice's songs is outstanding. the quality of the compositions is staggering... the individual skill of the vocals, guitars, bass, and drums manages to shine through on each track, while all blending together in their perfect execution and musicianship.

it's late, and i would (and easily could) write pages on how much i appreciate 'the illusion of safety,' but i am very tired, and will just say to anybody that has ever shivered from the raw emotion of thursday's 'cross out the eyes,' shed a tear while listening to the rising guitars of weezer's 'only in dreams,' found comfort in being able to relate to the lyrics of bands like saves the day... GET THIS ALBUM. this is music for those who live for music.

The Illusion of Safety is the best album that Thrice has pumped out so far. The guitar is amazing. This CD could still be one of the top selling albums without any lyrics. You can feel the passion of the band flowing through the your speakers on every song. The difference between this album and The Artist in the Ambulance is that order in which it was written. For the Illusion of Safety, the instrumentals were written first. All of the guitar, bass, and drum parts were completed before the vocals were ever imagined. Dustin had to write each song so that it would fit-in with the instrumentals. On the Artist in the Ambulance, Dustin had written every song before any instrumentals were composed. The passion in The Illusion of Safety is mainly in the instrumentals, but that doesn't mean that the lyrics aren't heart-filled. Each song is extremely powerful and fun to listen to. If there you are looking for a CD that combines harcore, emo, punk, and a few other genres, buy this album. you won't regret it!

this is one of there best cds to me. Riley Breckenridge does a amazing job in a few songs like to awake and avenge the dead,deadbolt,and definetly where idols ounce stood this review is coming from a drummer. definetly buy this cd 1000000 stars props