Thrice - Horizons / West (October 3rd, 2025) • Page 19

Gonna have to disagree with the notion that they’re too short. There certainly might have been a time where I’d have agreed with that take, but a 40-45 minute album is the sweet spot for me nowadays.

I adore Foxing’s self-titled, but it’s dense and exhausting.

 

that foxing for sure is an album that could use a little bit sanded off

still planning on holding out for most of this but i jammed crooked shadows and blackout and liked them, so that leaves me mostly the experimental cuts for when i properly have time for it. so far while ive mostly heard the more linear stuff i think the songs are generally better than the other thrice albums in this lane, have dug every song a fair bit tbh. i will say at this point i dont think this will top east for me but i havent heard anything as bad as buried in the sun or the dreamer either

 

I'm sorry I've apparently hurt some of your guys' feelings with my differing POV on one of their albums. I just think everything else they've done is better (except Major/Minor)

 

Length is misleading, especially when Dusk and Unitive/West combine for over 7 minutes of runtime. Half of Unitive is just empty space.

 

I like the ambiance, but I understand if others wish there were more structure there instead.

 

I like it too. I just wish we had a little more meat on the bone.

 

All in good fun! I'd be curious to hear what aspects of Palms you like best—might help me appreciate it more. Beyond the Pines of course is up with the band's best songs but I think that's the only track I'd really call great from that record.

Swap in a few from Deeper Wells and it might be a stronger showing... just felt like Dustin's lyrics weren't as strong as usual overall, and I don't love the production.

 

i'm extremely curious about any b-sides that missed the cut.
a q&a for the solo tour, dustin said that 'lift your eyes was meant for west; ended up on desert dreaming.
a full band version would be interesting.

 

On the latest video interview posted in this thread, Dustin says there are no b-sides this time around. Could always reuse unfinished ideas on a future work as they sometimes do though.

 

Dead Wake and Open Your Eyes were originally being saved for the version of /West that was going to come out in 2022. When they delayed it for Artist Revisited, they decided to finish those two songs up and put them out as singles/b-sides. /West has no b-sides of its own.

 

I am going to wait until thursday night but love reading everyone's reaction so far.

 

I am so exited for this band!

 

When Palms released, I was relieved because it was much more experimental and varying than TBEITBN, which I felt was super homogenous and fatiguing. I think that's why they added the oft-skipped Seneca in the middle, to break it up a little and make the flow of the album a tad more dynamic.

I think Palms' strength is that it's less on the heavy side, which opened up the doors for new ideas like The Dark with its haunting organ and the chorus of fans voices at the end. (Getting the fans involved in a song of theirs was such a cool idea!) Or the dark synth in Only Us that's reminiscent of Stranger Things, or the harp in Blood on Blood, or bringing in a second vocalist in Just Breathe.

Blood on Blood is straight up one of their best songs, full stop. The complex interweaving guitars on left and right is an amazing feat, and Dustin really nailed the lyrics. Ed's bass really brings it all together in the second verse and on. Always gives me goosebumps. Would love to hear it live.

Just Breathe feels like one of those upbeat songs with an excellent groove that they hyped up (and imo did not deliver on for Beggars), the way the bass holds onto everything as it plods along, and then the beautiful quiet ending with the vocal harmonies of DK and Emma Ruth.

I like the energy in A Branch in the River, it's a real highlight of both Riley's drums and Ed's bass together, and I think the ending 30 seconds is one of the coolest endings in their songs. Hold Up a Light - not a great song, but I think it's only due to Dustin's lame lyrics. I'll agree with that. However, I think musically it's solid, and the bass line in the bridge or breakdown is so goddamn good it's a shame it's not in a better song.

My Soul is stunning—I couldn't believe they wrote this one when I first heard it. It's like an Air b-side, and Teppei's guitar playing is seductive and smooth and the TOANZ! The vibe on this song is just something else.

Speaking of, the tones on this album are incredible. This was the first record where I thought Ed really took my breath away with his playing, and it's gotten even better on the Horizons records.

I know some people have issues with the lyrics, I guess I just don't mind it that much on this record because I focus more on the music and instrumentation. It was my guess that they were starting to try to appeal to a wider, newer audience after coming back from hiatus, and perhaps trying to get their music in front of film/tv folks with more general lyrical paths.

I do like the hopeful and inclusive lyrics to songs like Everything Belongs and Only Us. I liked DK opening up about his struggle with having new ideas and feelings that are at odds with his past in The Grey. And Beyond the Pines, is just poetic and beautiful, we all know that.

For the b-sides, I really like Deeper Wells, but really dislike both A Better Bridge and In This Storm. But Stumbling West is another one of those that I would consider a top Thrice song ever. Again, it was so unexpected from them, and I feel like they are really stronger these days when they do something slower like this vs stuff like the overly heavy songs Gnash or Scavengers.

 

Thanks for breaking it down! And you reminded me the harp solo in Blood On Blood is just exquisite.

Appreciate your thoughts here. Cheers!

 

I love Beggars, but I agree with your sentiments on Palms. I dont quite understand why its so hated on.

 

Let's hope this is true for Bandcamp preorders too. I seem to remember it took a while for H/E to be "released" there last time around.

 

Crooked shadows' chorus reminds me of Fugazi's Waiting Room.

It has that kind of vibe.

 

Oh don’t mind me over here listening to Vesper Light until the end of eternity.

 

Some of y'all being real weird in here today.

 

this is extremely up my alley. definitely feels cohesive even though each song is pretty different stylistically. undertow, dark glow, and vesper light are early standouts, along with gnash (which i'd heard when it came out). idk what dustin's been doing to his voice, but i feel like he sounds so much better on this (and desert dreaming) than /east. only 3 listens in, i think this will end up as my favorite of their post-hiatus records so far.

 

THEY PREACH THE BEAUTY OF THE FLOWERS
THEY CURSE THEM AS THEY BLOOM

 

Definitely not beating the weird thread allegations

 

Can’t wait for tomorrow so that I can join in.

 

Here's a short interview:

Dustbin mentions that they will do something special in a couple years for the 20th anniversary of *The Alchemy Index*. So, I suspect there will be a tour there. He also said he is already writing his next solo album, which he hopes to release prior to the *next* Thrice album.