Love Letter To A Record: Caracal On Thrice’s ‘Vheissu’

Many of us can link a certain album to pivotal moments in our lives. Whether it’s the first record you bought with your own money, the chord you first learnt to play on guitar, the song that soundtracked your first kiss, the album that got you those awkward and painful pubescent years or the one that set off light bulbs in your brain and inspired you to take a big leap of faith into the unknown – music is often the catalyst for change in our lives and can even help shape who we become.

In this series, Music Feeds asks artists to reflect on their relationship with music and share with us stories about the effect music has had on their lives.

Caracal – Vheissu by Thrice (2005)

Dear Vheissu,

I have been re-visiting you whenever I feel lost. You have been a record that always sounds refreshing since your inception in 2005. You were a record I did not fall in love with at first, as you took such a huge departure from your riff-central peer (The Artist In The Ambulance). I used to get bored during your quieter, softer bits, but I’ve learnt to appreciate and love your dynamics. It took probably 6 or 7 complete spins before I fully understood your brooding beauty.

You are the record that first let Teppei (guitarist) shine on the piano/keys which really caught me off guard. Most especially with ‘For Miles’, which is an absolute masterpiece of a song. I even made my piano-savvy friends attempt to play ‘For Miles’ and struggle, which confirms that it is a kickass song.

‘The Earth Will Shake’ is a personal favourite that highlights Eddie’s and Dustin’s vocal counters that are absolutely crushing. An absolute treat to catch at a live show.

Even after playing music for about 13 years and revisiting you from time to time, I always feel that there is so much to learn from you.

Thank you for your immortal influence on me and many others.

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Hot on the heels of wowing crowds at BIGSOUND 2019, Singapore-based post-hardcore five-piece Caracal have returned with their ravening new single ‘Mouth Of Madness’ – recorded, mixed, and mastered by band member Martin Kong at Snakeweed Studios, Singapore.

It’s a sonic sucker-punch of visceral hardcore energy and you can check it out below.