Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 9.0
Production: 8.0
Originality: 9.5
Tracklisting
2. Between Rupture And Rapture
3. Division St.
4. Signals Over The Air
5. Marches And Maneuvers
6. Asleep In The Chapel
7. This Song Is Brought To You by A Falling Bomb
8. Steps Ascending
9. War All The Time
10. M. Sheppard
11. Tomorrow I'll Be You
I got it all wrong when I first put in the new Thursday record. I put it in and instantly started comparing it to "Full Collapse," the revolutionary emocore record that shocked a generation. I became a victim to my own demise, and found myself disappointed initially.
I'm so glad I lifted that off my shoulders, because when I realized this record is not a "Full Collapse," my resent turned into appreciation. Suddenly, I realized, I don't want another "Full Collapse." Thursday not only matured, they got improved, and slowly my empathy for this album has grown.
Obviously, between this record and "Full Collapse," a lot of angst is apparent in Geoff's voice. That's what takes them away from the full-frontal pop hooks and sing-a-long melodies that I so cherished in their previous efforts, and transformed the band. Now their sound is, believe it or not, original, but keen to their roots.
Sure, the "hooks" and poppiness of Geoff's smooth voice still rise above the drilling guitars, but that's not what to focus on. Gladly, the band has decided to round themselves out, balancing smooth vocals with angry, layered guitar melodies. The sound is so deep, and infectious, that I just know this will last longer than most of the processed stuff coming out these days. The guitars bounce and churn, as they used to, but you can hear a little more influence in the band's style. I discovered the truth that a band who defined the scene has the ability to redefine it, and that's exactly what Thursday does on this new album.
The lyrics? Still with that political angst, a depth you can rarely find in many of today's mechanized bands. The title track personally depicts a scarred nation, reflecting on the September 11 attacks.
I could pump out the numerous specifics, and point out the many dropoffs, anguished vocals, and clean layering that filters through the millions of guitar lines on this CD, but all in all, the only thing I can say is that the new Thursday record is, by all means, revolutionary.