Thursday
'War All The Time'
On Island Records
Grade: AThe "summer of screamo" has ended, and as the dust clears the ashes of this musical evolution are supposed to deteriorate. This genre, which lies somewhere between punk rock and hardcore, blending soothing melodies with aggressive screaming, is now supposed to sink back into the underground. One band, however, refuses to blow away with the trade winds that define the modern-day music scene. This band, Thursday, has just released its major-label debut with Island Records entitled "War All the Time." A follow up to their 2001 Victory Records album "Full Collapse," "War" is a solid listen and a clear progression from their previous endeavors.

Considered to be one of the most influential bands of the genre, Thursday continues to separate themselves from other bands with their superior songwriting ability. Despite the success of their slightly more hook-oriented previous release, New Brunswick, N.J. natives Geoff Rickly (vocals), Steve Pedulla (guitar), Tom Keeley (guitars), Tim Payne (bass) and Tucker Rule (drums) vowed to make their new project distinct and detached from "Full Collapse." With a scope ranging from the jarring guitar riffs and the screaming of "For the Workforce, Drowning" to the ballad format of "War All the Time" to the piano duet "This Song Brought To You By a Falling Bomb," this album fulfills their quest for a new sound while staying close enough to their roots to please any old school fan.

Despite the common urge for a band to sell out after signing with a major label, Thursday seems to have taken a step back from the formula that helped them achieve their original popularity. Some changes include an increase in the complexity of their music and song structure and a decrease in the repetition of hook lines. They've also expanded their instrumental approach with an increased use of the synthesizer and piano. The music is more difficult to understand on the first listen, but it has exceptional replay value. There are no songs on the album that capture your immediate attention like "Understanding in a Car Crash" or "Cross Out the Eyes," both of which were MTV and radio hits from "Full Collapse," but the musicianship and social consciousness of the album raise it to a new level.

The album begins with one of my favorite tracks, "For the Workforce, Drowning," that arguably references September 11, 2001. "Falling from the top floor, your lungs fill like parachutes, the windows go rushing by/ The people inside, they're dressed for the funeral in black and white." I personally think the song is more about the zombie-like existence of corporate America, but the album title effectively ensures that a connection to 9/11 can be formulated from this song. At the emotional pinnacle of the album, "War All the Time," Rickly appears to reference all of the tragedy in his own life and connect it to current events. "In the shadow of the skyline/it seemed very far away/like a lightning rod/that couldn't pull the storm from me -." Other powerful lyrics from the album, "The stage is set/to rip the wings/from a butterfly," belong to the track entitled "M. Shepherd," a reference to Mathew Shepherd, a gay student who was brutally murdered in a hate crime.

All in all, the album is gutsy and creative, and is an excellent diversion from the mainstream ideals that dominate the airwaves. The hook lines are subtle but apparent to those willing to listen hard enough. This album might demand a little more from the listener than, say, New Found Glory, but if you give it a chance you won't be disappointed.