08.11.07
Thrice Unveil Release Dates, New Label, More About New Album
(from alchemyindex.com) As promised, the guys at the Thrice camp revealed their exciting news to the world yesterday. The Alchemy Index will be divided into two albums: Vols I & II, Fire and Water, due out October 16, and Vols III & IV, due out sometime in Spring 2008. Additionally, the band has made the leap from Island Records (home to their previous two full-length releases) to Vagrant. This means that Thrice is that much more likely to tour once again with Dashboard (fingers crossed against that one) or even Saves the Day and The Hold Steady (better). What this ALSO means is that Thrice will definitely be playing new material when they run through Dallas in November, something you probably could have already figured by the fact that they scheduled a 42-date tour out of thin air. That’s called supporting the album. 
) Anybody else excited about hearing some new Thrice live alongside some new Brand New? The Devil and God are Raging Inside of Me is one of the darkest, most beautifully depressing albums that i’ve heard in a while. And, sort of like “Deadbolt”, I can’t seem to tire of “Seventy Times Seven” no matter how many times I hear it. Anyway, check out Thrice’s studio blog on a weekly basis for more video clips from the new material! “Air Sonnet” is currently posted for you to hear, and I must say it is innovative. Good day lads.
08.09.07
Thrice Posts Video…Sort of
(from alchemyindex.com) I checked out Thrice’s official studio blog for word on the new album today and found a post dated August 7 (yesterday) by the title “The Alchemy Index Video 1/10″ containing a large box with a red X indicating that, perhaps, a video should be in its place. I’m no techno-tard, so I understand that this could just be my own technical limitation (I am, after all, reporting from the gelid depths of Willis Library’s own general computer lab-full report on this to come). So for those of you on computers that actually, like, work, stay tuned to Thrice’s blog. 1/10 likely means there will be 9 more to come. I just hope they don’t all look like red Xs. And be excited, for no more than 3 months stand between us and Thrice’s monumental effort (and I emphasize effort – the magnitude of the achievement has yet to be seen and, as with Vheissu, I’ll be fair in judging it in a very biased manner).
EDIT (8/9/07): The video is now up and running with a bullet list of enticing announcements from Riley. There will in fact be 10 or 11 video previews of The Alchemy Index (working title for the album, I suppose), one a week up until the album’s release. The clip on the website is an edited version of “Air Sonnet”, which is not the working name of the song, but the harmonies at the end are nothing short of di-fucking-vine (way to sacrilege the word, right?). I recommend checking it out. Also, Dave Eggers is NOT producing the artwork; Dustin instead will take up the task due to time constraints. Eggers, as previously mentioned, was the artist behind Vheissu’s brilliant vintage engraving-style decor. I’m interested to see what Dustin can come up with visually. Last, there should be some more news announced today (according to one commenter, it’s the pregnancy/birth of Teppei’s wife/child, but we shall see).
07.26.07
Coheed Confirm October Release Date for New Album
(from antiMUSIC)
According to antiMUSIC’s Day In Rock report, Claudio Sanchez has confirmed that the latest Coheed album, titled Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow (Jesus Christ, guys, come fucking on with the names), will be released October 23 on Columbia Records. Coheed’s fifth album will continue the legacy of the gimmicky sci-fi comic concept that Claudio transferred from ink to music notes. I’m not the biggest fan of the convoluted, nothing-new-here narrative that ever-so-loosely connects the songs, but as long as the songs themselves bring the wicked melodies, prog mindset and balls-to-the-wall rock that past albums have been coming with, Coheed still has a fan in me.
While we’re on the subject, I thought I’d mention that Joshua Eppard, Coheed’s drummer, brother of 3 frontman Joey Eppard, and lyricist in his rap group Weerd Science (of which I’m a huge fan) is no longer drumming for Coheed. Instead, Chris Pennie, formerly of Dillinger Escape Plan is pounding the skins. To read Thrice’s bassist Riley Breckenridge’s commentary on the progress of DEP’s latest album, click here to check out Thrice’s official blog. And, finally, to whore myself out, click here for the latest details on Thrice’s forthcoming album, as reported earlier today by none other than myself.
07.24.07
New Grayskul track for download, album release date
The latest Rhymesayers newsletter came in a few days ago, and I have good news for fans of prodigious underground outfit Grayskul. The good folks at Rhymesayers have posted a free download for one of the new tracks, Dope, off Grayskul’s upcoming album Bloody Radio, officially announced for release on September 11, 2007. The 9/11 release date was certainly hand-picked, but I doubt there is really any significance aside from the shock value (or perhaps Grayskul is trying to win back the date?). Shifting from superhero characters on their previous full-length, Deadlivers, to…um…noblemen (JFK is now Count Magnus while Onry Ozzborn returns as Count Draven), Grayskul promises to deliver what will no doubt be an interesting album.
The guest lineup for the album is an underground head’s sweetest dream, featuring Slug of Atmosphere, Def Jux’s Aesop Rock and Cage, and, in an increasingly common trend of hip hop artists dipping into the realm of popular underground rock for talent, Andrea Zollo of PrettyGirlsMakeGraves is set to appear as well. You can preorder the album at the Fifth Element website, and if you do choose to preorder you’ll receive a Rhymesayers 4″x4″ canvas patch to slap on your man purse along with a Grayskul sticker to slap on a sign somewhere in Deep Ellum.
04.09.07
Thrice Aiming for September Release Date
I finally interviewed Dustin! Woo hoo!
Okay. Got that out of the way. But in our interview, Dustin mentioned a September release date for the new four-disc elements project Thrice is currently working on. I have absolutely no idea if he’s mentioned this in other interviews or not, but it’s news to me, so I present it to you. All I’ve gleaned from reading the blog is that they’re in the studio and that they’re wrapping things up…sort of. This is the first official word that I’ve heard of a speculative release date, so let’s call it news. Dustin also mentioned that the album will be released as a single unit, and they’re trying to keep prices down. I believe him. Vheissu is only 6 bucks on iTunes, I got The Artist in the Ambulance (my first Thrice record) for ten bucks brand new with the special packaging, and Dustin’s solo album was on sale at Best buy for 8 bucks (no more than 10 normally). Additionally, the guys will be donating a specified amount from each record sold to a nonprofit as they’ve done since Identity Crisis. I’ll type up a transcript of the chat ASAP (Brand New is tonight!)
