Thrice Emerges Again: Horizons/West and the Art of Unraveling
When a band with the pedigree of Thrice teases a new album, even in 2025, the anticipation is real. Their upcoming release, Horizons/West, is set to drop October 3 via Epitaph Records, and promises not only a companion piece to Horizons/East (2021), but a deeper, denser, and in many ways more intimate chapter in their discography. Epitaph Records+2themusic.com.au+2
As Dustin Kensrue puts it, the band approached this record not with a desire to outdo anything, but to explore — “to keep growing, exploring, and making something that feels honest to who we are right now.” themusic.com.au+1 Thematically, Horizons/West glides through terrain of identity, influence, algorithms, echo chambers, and spiritual reflection — pulling the curtain back on the forces that shape our inner and outer worlds. First III No Flash+3themusic.com.au+3The Hollywood Reporter+3
In terms of sound, the band balances cinematic textures and ambient space with sharper, aggressive edges. The opener “Blackout” bears moody programming and space, while tracks like “Gnash” and “Albatross” lean into weight and immediacy. Epitaph Records+3First III No Flash+3themusic.com.au+3 Notably, Horizons/West was recorded, produced, and engineered in-house at New Grass Studios — the band holding much of the reins — with mixing by Scott Evans and mastering by Matthew J. Barnhart. Epitaph Records+3Epitaph Records+3The Hollywood Reporter+3
Stripped Back: Live & Acoustic Resonance
One limitation in writing about a not-yet-released album is the scarcity of live, public renditions (especially acoustic ones). But Thrice has shown over the years they are not afraid to pull back the layers and present songs in their barest form — and in interviews and livestreams, they’ve hinted at how Horizons/West will respond to that tradition.
Glimpses via Interview Sets & Reels
While there is no confirmed full acoustic performance (as of now) of Horizons/West tracks, the band has offered some lighter moments in Q&As and promotional material. For instance, in their Horizons/West | Q&A Part 2 (The Noise), Teppei discusses guitar approaches and songwriting in a more conversational setting, and the video includes some performance snippets (though not a full acoustic set) of new material. YouTube
Also, a short YouTube teaser titled “I value the human quality in music” — focusing on Teppei — suggests the band is mindful of the raw, human edge that acoustic or unpolished performance brings. YouTube+1
In another interview, Dustin talks about “Albatross” and how the song emerged in the studio, sometimes with pared-down instrumentation before fleshing out the full band version. YouTube+2The Hollywood Reporter+2 These moments, though brief, point to how the band views songs before they are “full production” — they sound like candidates for acoustic reinterpretation.
Historical Precedents: What Thrice Has Done Before
Looking back, Thrice’s catalog includes many acoustic or semi-acoustic reworkings, and that precedent gives hope for future stripped versions from Horizons/West. For example:
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Thrice released an “Acoustic Sessions for Octane” version of Palms, and other acoustic / unplugged versions in side releases. Epitaph Records
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On their release site, Thrice highlight Summer Sets Fire To The Rain (Acoustic) among their catalog entries. Epitaph Records
So while no fully public acoustic version of Horizons/West songs exists yet, it is reasonable to expect they’ll do so — whether on livestream, radio sessions, or as bonus tracks/promo — once the album is in the wild.
Spotlight Songs: Suggested Acoustic Interpretations
Because Horizons/West is still fresh, here are a few tracks I’d love to see in acoustic form (and how they might translate):
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“Albatross” – It’s already been discussed in interviews as starting with more minimal ideas, so a voice + guitar or piano version could spotlight its lyrical core.
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“Vesper Light” – Its higher register and rhythmic ebb/flow might lend itself beautifully to a piano-backed, open arrangement.
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“Unitive/West” – Given its conceptual sister track Unitive/East, an ambient acoustic reinterpretation (bells, piano, or plucked strings) could lean deeply into atmosphere.
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“Holding On” – A song rooted in emotional plea might carry a lot of power even in a soft, acoustic setting.
If you’re crafting a blog post and want to drop in a YouTube embed or link when one of those versions emerges (or when the band tours with “Living Room” sets), the structure would still work well with what I’ve drafted.
On Tour & Release: The Wider Context
Thrice will support Horizons/West with a North American fall tour beginning October 17, 2025 (San Diego) and concluding November 25 (Anaheim). Epitaph Records+2The Hollywood Reporter+2 Support acts include Modern Color and Downward. The Hollywood Reporter+2themusic.com.au+2
Philadelphia makes the list of tour stops (so you may even catch one of those stripped-down versions live). The Hollywood Reporter+2Epitaph Records+2 The band’s social feed confirms they’re eager to play these new songs live for the first time. X (formerly Twitter)
Finale Thoughts
Horizons/West feels like a reflective balancing act: a push-pull between weight and space, between influence and resistance, and between the collective and the intimate. Its companion position to Horizons/East gives it a narrative weight, while the band’s control over production and their willingness to reveal the bones of their songs suggests we may well hear acoustic or stripped versions of these new tracks in time.
Be sure to keep your ears peeled for radio sessions, livestreams, or fan-shot shows after October 3 — and I’ll be watching too. If you like, I can help you build a media embed kit (audio/video links, images) to pair with this article when acoustic performances drop. Do you want me to style it for your blog format and send you the code-ready version?
