Thursday Explores New Sounds On Sixth Album, First Track Premires At SPIN.com
New Jersey's passionate rock band Thursday returns on April 12 with their most dynamic album to date, No Devolución. On their sixth studio album, Thursday explores elements of post-rock, indie, art and experimental styles, blending it all with their post-hardcore roots for a beautifully cathartic experience unlike anything they've done before. Check out href="http://www.spin.com/articles/hear-music-thursday-reveal-edgy-new-album">SPIN.com's> exclusive interview with singer Geoff Rickly and premiere stream of "Magnets Caught in a Metal Heart," the first released track from No Devolución href="http://www.spin.com/articles/hear-music-thursday-reveal-edgy-new-album">here>.
"This is a really different record and we thought we should just come out of the gates with a really different song," Rickly tells SPIN.com. "We were always tempering our desire to make something that was more graceful, more sweeping, and this record was the first one where we said, 'You know what? Who cares? Let's say our career is over tomorrow, who fucking cares? Let's make something beautiful.'"
Emotionally charged atmospheric guitars, rhythm and keyboards swirl in unison with Rickly's inimitably intense vocals, painting a powerful cinematic-like soundscape and grabbing hold of listeners with each twisting turn. No longer merely the "screamo" band of yore, Thursday has transcended the genre they helped to spark with No Devolución, which translates to "No Returns," an appropriate title for a band consistently moving forward.
No Devolución wastes no time with the frantic urgency of "Fast to the End," which strikes a perfect balance between new and old styles. Tom Keeley and Steve Pedulla's elaborate guitar work, Tucker Rule's driving percussion, Tim Payne's rhythmic bass and Andrew Everding's powerful keyboards fuel the narrative for Rickly's deeply personal tales of undying devotion, a theme found throughout the album. "Records are always written about new love or break-ups but no one ever writes records about long term devotion," says Rickly. "After 13 years as a band, this theme seemed self-evident."
No Devolución's theme of devotion can be felt as the dramatic arc of the album unfolds. Segueing seamlessly from one to another, "No Answers" and "A Darker Forest" find Thursday at their most vulnerable place ever. Rickly's haunting vocals float through fields of atmospheric guitars and keyboards, building to the album's first single "Magnets Caught in a Metal Heart," a stunning and memorable song of love's bittersweet attraction.
Thursday continues the intensity with "Past & Future Ruins," a surging blast of post-rock, slowing only momentarily for the somber "Empty Glass," an emotionally raw song set to an organ that tears at the heart with every word of Rickly's vocals. "Open Quotes" races back cutting sharp turns with intricate guitars under Rickly's echoing vocals, right into the searing indie rock anthem "Millimeter." Rule's rhythm provides the backbone to Keeley, Pedulla, Everding and Payne's sonic landscape on "A Gun in the First Act" and "Sparks Against The Sun" while Keeley and Pedulla lead the rhythmic assault on "Turnpike Divides," which is sure to be a fan favorite.
Thursday's parting salvo on No Devolución is "Stay True," a stunning post-rock track that evokes the epic sweep of Explosions in the Sky and the powerful intensity of Mogwai all the while maintaining a sound which is distinctly Thursday. Rickly sings "We've all got a lot to lose. Whatever else you do, Stay True." And that is exactly what the band has done here. Moving forward yet staying true to themselves along the way.
Upon completing the album, Rickly says he searched for the perfect artwork to capture the record's evolving sound and eventually stumbled on artist Mia Pearlman. "I saw an image of Mia Pearlman's "Eye" which is a giant white paper installation and kept thinking about it," says Rickly. "Eventually, I realized she lived near me and approached her about making a cut paper piece as our album artwork. We're thrilled. The record sounds like her work looks."
Thursday is currently on a US tour with Underoath where they are giving fans a chance to hear the stunning new album before its release date. At each show, the band will bring six fans onto the bus to hang out and listen to a few songs. Fans are invited to send an email to turnpikedivides@gmail.com with their NAME, CELL PHONE NUMBER and the DATE/CITY of the show they'll be attending. Thursday will be notifying the winners via email and text alerting them with directions and confirmations. Be the first to hear Thursday's new album!
No Devolución Track Listing:
1. Fast to the End- 3:21
2. No Answers- 4:53
3. A Darker Forest- 3:40
4. Sparks Against the Sun- 4:47
5. Open Quotes- 2:55
6. Past and Future Ruins- 4:15
7. Magnets Caught in a Metal Heart- 3:42
8. Empty Glass- 4:59
9. A Gun in the First Act- 5:02
10. Millimeter- 2:48
11. Turnpike Divides- 4:54
12. Stay True- 7:53
Thursday Tour Dates:
Feb 1 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre
Feb 2 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
Feb 3 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
Feb 4 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
Feb 5 - Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue
Feb 6 - Denver, CO - The Summit Music Hall
Feb 8 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
Feb 9 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
Feb 10 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
Feb 11 - Buffalo, NY - The Town Ballroom
Feb 12 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
Feb 13 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
Feb 14 - Montreal, QC - Metroplis
Feb 16 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Zoo
Feb 17 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
Feb 18 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
Feb 19 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
Feb 20 - New Haven, CT - Toad's Place
Feb 22 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
Feb 23 - Charlotte, NC - Amos' Southend
Feb 24 - Knoxville, TN - Valarium
Feb 25 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
Feb 26 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues
Feb 27 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution