Press Releases
THRICE RELEASES VHEISSU OCTOBER 18TH
HEADLINING FALL TOUR OF NORTH AMERICA IS SCHEDULED WITH UNDEROATH, THE BLED, AND VEDA
ALBUM ART BY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR DAVE EGGERS
THRICE SET TO DONATE PORTION OF ALBUM PROCEEDS TO 826 VALENCIA
Having recently wrapped up their headlining slot on the 11th
Annual Warped Tour, Island recording group Thrice is set to begin their
own North American headlining tour on October 4th at the House of Blues
in Las Vegas. Their support acts include Underoath, the Bled, and Veda.
Shortly after their tour begins, Thrice will raise the curtain on
VHEISSU - their second with Island Records-due to arrive in stores
October 18th. Thrice spent the months of April, May and June recording
VHEISSU with producer Steve Osborne (Massive Attack, Doves, U2, Peter
Gabriel) in Bearsville, New York. It follows The Artist In the
Ambulance, the group's third album (and first for Island), released July
2003.
VHEISSU takes its title from the loose collection of arcane myths found
in V., Thomas Pynchon's classic underground novel of 1963. While
hesitant to explain too thoroughly why they have chosen this title, the
band has remarked that at each crossroads they face, they feel they are
"Standing at Vheissu," which could stand for Vesuvius, cited by Virgil
as the entrance to the maze of the underworld. VHEISSU takes its title
from the band's desire for the album, and by extension the band's music,
to defy categorization and remain subject to the opinions of its
audience. The band's clearest cited reasons for choosing the title, the
belief that VHEISSU "was a beautiful word" and wholly lacking in
connotations or a point of reference for the average listener, suggest a
new outlook for Thrice on their music and reflect the band's
ever-evolving musical landscape.
The VHEISSU cover art also showcases Thrice's artistry. Designed by
Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, We
Shall Know Our Velocity, and How We Are Hungry, the cover art proves as
evocative as the album's title. The art is reflective of the lyrical
and musical themes that permeate VHEISSU, an optimistic message that
emerges upon closer examination of the cover. In accordance with one of
the dominant lyrical and musical themes of VHEISSU, that of the power to
define and redefine personal meanings, the cover is teeming with
messages encouraging self-discovery: phrases such as "Stand and feel
your worth," "Hold fast hope," and "Wrap yourself in light."
Thrice calls upon a range of influences with VHEISSU, expanding their
already diverse sound to incorporate more eclectic influences. Songs
like "Atlantic" show the way in which Thrice's sound has developed from
THE ILLUSION OF SAFETY. "Atlantic," an ambient ballad track reinforced by electronic backbeats features melodic intonations and slower tempo. "Like Moths to Flame" has harmonic undertones suggestive of the
atmospheric ballast of bands such as Massive Attack. By contrast,
powerful bombastic rock tracks like "Image of the Invisible" show the
way in which Thrice has not abandoned their roots but has continued to
expand upon them.
In keeping with Thrice's interest in community development, each time
Thrice releases a record they choose a charity that they are passionate
about to donate a portion of their album sales. For VHEISSU, Thrice
have joined hands with 826 Valencia, a tutorial program designed to help
underprivileged children improve their communications skills. 826
Valencia supports the production and publication of student magazines
and journals. Specifically focusing on creative and academic writing,
reading, and SAT preparatory classes, this Bay Area foundation focuses
on one-on-one tutorials for students and is available for students ages
8-18. Thrice Partial Fall Tour Dates
October 28 Montreal, QC Centre-Pierre Charbonneau
October 29 Portland, ME The Station
October 30 Boston, MA Avalon
October 31 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
November 1 New York, NY Roseland Ballroom
November 3 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
November 4 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
