Running well ahead of the curve does not always make a band successful. Great, yes, but commercially and critically powerful, no. Thrice, a southern California rock group, has been together through seven studio albums, two EPs and their newest Alchemy compilation, and proves it can, in fact, happen.

Forming in 1998 in Irvine, California, high school skater friends Dustin Kensrue (guitarist/vocalist), Teppei Teranishi (guitarist), Eddie Breckenridge (bassist) and Riley Breckenridge (drummer) started their post-hardcore group because they felt like something to do. As usual, performing in their local scene only got them so far, so after gathering enough singles for an album they self released Identity Crisis with the help of Death by Stereo's Paul Miner. The 12-track LP garnered fans and buzz for the group before Hopeless/Sub City's Louis Posen signed the quartet.

Tours with Samiam, Midtown and Hot Rod Circuit followed while their Identity Crisis was re-issued, and upon their return, they shot back in the studio with producer Brian McTernan for their label debut, The Illusion of Safety. Promoting their album under a Further Seems Forever and Face to Face tour, the group saw the "major-label light" and jumped in with Island Records. Headlining their first tour, the group paired up with Hot Water Music and Coheed & Cambria for yet another round of tours before The Artist in the Ambulance appeared in 2003. Touring for the first time in Europe, the group's raw power was even more effervescent with the help of a major label's pocket.

Vheissu appeared in 2005 with the EP Red Sky in 2006. A four-volume index was spread between two releases comprised of four EPs, The Alchemy Index, which appeared in 2007 and 2008. The collection comprises each natural element (earth, wind, fire and air) with the first two in the series, fire and water, followed by earth and air's debut in spring ‘08. Taking the year to delve into nature's most multifaceted elements, the work was done in the group's own studio with the help of guitarist Teppei Teranishi.