The outbursts of '80s
thrash
, classic
British metal
, and
post-punk
melodies forge
The Illusion of Safety
into an
emocore
epic of rare proportions. Atypically dynamic for its genre,
Thrice
stabs at
punk-pop
with grandiose guitar harmonies,
hardcore
vocal wails, and a Metallic (note the big "M") chunk that transforms its
emo
turnarounds into progressive
theater. These design accomplishments warrant recommendation by themselves, but when the hooks of
"Deadbolt"
and
"A Living Dance Upon Dead Minds"
are set,
reveals a stunning
pop
instinct that invites comparison to late-'90s
rock & roll
greats like
At the Drive-In
. Less inspired moments (
"The Red Death"
) resemble
Incubus
on crank -- superior for sure, but annoyingly familiar. The
filler that concludes
(
"So Strange I Remember You,"
"The Beltsville Crucible"
) verifies the group's fallibility. Probably the class of any
No Motiv
record, these tracks come off like throwaways here. One great producer away from unanimous Top Ten status,
demonstrates transcendent potential on this 2001 sophomore full-length. ~ Jason Anderson