Inhabiting the California scene since 1998, Thrice have quickly become one of the most exciting young metalcore quartets in the independent scene. After releasing an EP independently and two impressive albums through Hopeless Records (including the scintillating "The Illusion Of Safety"), the band found their stock rise beyond everyone's expectations and quickly signed a major label contract. For their Island Records debut Thrice have pushed themselves beyond the breaking point, concocting an album that represents all their hard work over the years. Lyrically expressive and musically devastating, "The Artist In The Ambulance" is a statement that Thrice understand just how far they have climbed and are looking to reign supreme as one of today's very best young acts.

This is an exceptional extension of Thrice's former punk-fueled metalcore intentions, highlighted by Dustin Kensrue's expanded vocal range. While much of the pop/punk influences that adorned past efforts have been evened out, this provides an opportunity for the band to move in a much more dynamic direction. This in turn transforms mere melodic passages into flawless orchestral exhibitions that seduce and suffocate the listener. The metallic dominance found on "The Illusion Of Safety" has been reduced to mere background illumination; never-the-less Kensrue and Teppei Teranishi provide the volatile glue from which the group's ravenous sound adheres to. Their undeniable metal technique controls the band, and though it takes a back-seat to Kensrue's premiere vocal ability, one can hardly find fault with the decision. On such songs as the mesmerizing "The Melting Point Of Wax" and the gut-wrenching "Don't Tell And We Won't Ask", the emotional depth that resonates from every syllable uttered is breath-taking, and is clearly a step above the mere pop/punk enjoyment found on past efforts. To his credit, Teranishi has drastically grown as a guitarist, seamlessly executing spacey rock with as much ease as he displays when flawlessly designing speed metal riffage. "Paper Tigers" is essentially the album's major triumph, as it neatly ties up all of Thrice's varied abilities into one exhausting excursion into sound. Combining intricate tech metal riffage with atmospheric programming and Kensrue's screamo range, Thrice mutate into an Americanized version of Soilwork, and in the process prove that they are indeed worthy adversaries for any of today's top hard rock and metal bands.

Thrice have fully embraced their new-found rock relevance, and have challenged themselves to go the extra mile to captivate even those who are wary of the recent metalcore boom. By injecting a more melodic importance to their excruciating hardcore hybrid, these men have broken free of their restraints and become an unheard of rarity -- a screamo band that understands song structures and the benefits of accessibility. "The Artist In The Ambulance" is simultaneously an album that proudly represents it's genre and one that seeks to exist outside of it's genre's confines, and by increasing their emocore aesthetic, Thrice have delivered one of this year's most surprising records.