Who writes the music?

Everyone in the band contributes to the songwriting process. Everyone has unique talents and insight, and the final product is most definitely a group effort.



How do you write music?

Every song is very different from every other in the way that it is written. There is definitely not a formula that we write with. Sometimes we bring pieces of a song to the table, and someone else will remember something they've written that will work with it. Other times someone will come with a song that is completely structure, in which case we usually take it apart, jam on it, and put it back together. We usually end up writing the music first and then I (Dustin) will try to put lyrics to it. In some rare cases I have had the lyrics somewhat established first, but it's usually the music that comes first.



Why are there no lyrics on the site?

There are no lyrics on the site because the lyrics are found in the liner notes of the records that we make and sell. The internet is a great tool for finding new music, but it is not a substitute for buying records and supporting the bands you like.



Who writes the lyrics?

Dustin, writes most of the lyrics with the exception in the past of Riley writing "In Your Hands," and "Freedom," and my friend Ian Stift and I writing "Under Par" together.



How do you write lyrics?

I have two major pieces of advice when asked how to write good lyrics. One, you need to read a lot. The best way to learn to express yourself eloquently and poetically and say the exact thing that you want to say, is to see how other people have done it. It's not really even studying technique, it's just that the more you immerse yourself in good literature, the more you naturally soak up, and things you never consciously thought, become a part of your vocabulary. So, number one is; it's hard to be a good writer if you're not a reader, since it's really about a love for the written (and in this case, sung) word. The second piece of advice is simply to write A LOT. I look back on the things that I wrote when I was younger, and am quite amazed that I ever had the feeling that what I was writing was remotely good. It's all terrible. But I think that some of the things I write now are well written, and I'm pretty sure I'll still think that in a few years. The reason being, I wrote a lot of things before I improved. So my advice is to write, and write and write some more. Don't throw things away. Save them and then you can look back and see what needs to be improved on. Besides those two major points, there is this small one. Don't use big words just because they are big. The point of a good vocabulary is to be concise and poetic, to say only what needs to be said in the most pleasant or interesting way. I personally also pay a lot of attention to the meter of the words I write, and I think I concentrate on it too much at times, but that's just me.



How many albums have you released?

We have released 3. One being our self-released E.P. entitled First Impressions. The second was Identity Crisis. The third is The Illusion of Safety.



What is First Impressions?

First Impressions was our first release. It was recorded in the fall of '98, and came out in early '99. It was not as heavy as later material, and had more of a progressive new school punk sound. It was self-released and only 1000 CD's were made and it is no longer available. At this point we are not sure if it will ever be re-released in any form. The track listing is:

(1. All Eyes
(2. Lockdown
(3. Opaque
(4. T&C
(5. Freedom
(6. Second Sight
(7. Better Days



What is Identity Crisis?

Identity Crisis was our sophmore release. We released it first on Greenflag records in the summer of 2000. We later signed to Sub City records and the album was rereleased minus one song* in the spring of 2001. The track listing is:

(1. Identity Crisis
(2. Phoenix Ignition
(3. In Your Hands
(4. To What End
(5. Ultra Blue
(6. As The Ruin Falls
(7. The Next Day
(8. A Torch To End All Torches
(9. Unquestioned Answers
(10. Under Par
(11. T&C
* Madman was the track that was cut from the rerelease.



What is The Illusion of Safety?

This is our third release. It was recorded with Brian McTernan at Salad Days studio and released on February 5th 2002. The track listing is:

(1. Kill Me Quickly
(2. A Subtle Dagger
(3. See You in the Shallows
(4. Betrayal is a Symptom
(5. Deadbolt
(6. In Years to Come
(7. The Red Death
(8. A Living Dance Upon Dead Minds
(9. Where Idols Once Stood
(10. Trust
(11. To Awake and Avenge the Dead
(12. So Strange I Remember You
(13. The Beltsville Crucible



How did the band get started?

Dustin and Teppei went to high school together, and had played in a band together before. It didn't last very long but the two of them still wanted to play together and soon started a new band. Eddie, whom Teppei knew from skating, said he wanted to play bass and joined on as the bassist (though he had never played bass and had only minimally played guitar.) The search for a drummer led us to recruit Eddie's older brother Riley, who had played drums in Madrise and sung in a band called Hindsight. After a few practices together, we knew that we had the right people in place, and in August of '98, Thrice was born.



Who is in the band and what do they do?

Dustin Kensrue sings and plays guitar. Teppei Teranishi plays lead guitar. Eddie Breckenridge plays bass. Riley Breckenridge plays drums.



How long has Thrice been a band?

Since August of '98. Do the math.



What kind of gear does Thrice use?

Dustin
Guitars: 1968 Gibson SG Jr. and a 1980 Gibson SG, both with JB Seymour Duncan pickups.
Head: Marshall JCM800
Cabinet: Peavy 4x12

Ed
Bass: G&L L-2000 black, and G&L ASAT two-tone burst
Head: SVT-2 PRO
Cabinet: SVT-810

Teppei
is currently too busy bidding on gear on Ebay to answer this question

Riley
Orange County Drums & Percussion: 10x12 rack, 14x16 floor, 20x22 kick
6x14 Tama StarClassic snare
Zildjian cymbals: 14" A custom new-beat hi hats, 19" Z custom projection crash, 21" sweet ride (used as a crash), 20" Z custom power ride, 20" oriental china (with a huge crack in it)
Pedal: Tama Iron Cobra double pedal
Sticks: Vater Power 5B Nylon




For More Information you can visit Thrice's website at

www.thrice.net

Thrice Charities:

A Place Called Home
Crittenton Services for Children and Families
National Hopeline Network

Thrice Fan Sites:

Beltsville Crucible Fan Site
Thrice Alliance
Thrice Japan - Japan Thrice Fansite!
Thrice Fan Site
The Red Death
Labels

Fiddler
Island Records
SubCity