The Thermals 4th On The Way

The Thermals are a 3 piece alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon, home to one of the greatest indie rock music scenes in the US. They make punchy, guitar heavy alternative rock, which whilst retaining the irresistable catchiness of pop music does not venture into the dreaded realms of pop punk. The sound is characterised more by a comparison to The Hold Steady, but a comparison where The Thermals sound younger, rawer and more urgent. There is a gruff vocal parallel to be drawn here between the enthusiastic mumblings of Craig Finn and Thermals lead singer/guitarist Hutch Harris, but one where Harris sounds slightly clearer and higher pitched. What makes this indie rock rather than pop punk is the undoubted indie rock influences everywhere from fellow portlanders Modest Mouse, to noise punk outfit No Age.

The Thermals have released three albums of fantastic punk rock, and a fourth installment of (hopefully) the same is imminent. 'Now We Can See' (Out April 6th) features some of the most melodic music the band has seen coupled with a supposed jump in recording quality following a production run-in with John Congleton (The Polyphonic Spree, Explosions In The Sky) and a departure from Sub Pop to the newly relocated Portland record label Kill Rock Stars (The Gossip, Elliot Smith). The band, on it's third lineup, now includes Westin Glass of Say Hi on drums.

You can catch the band on their second UK Tour with The Cribs on the following dates:

February
3 - Newcastle, UK @ The Cluny
4 - Glasgow, UK @ ABC - w/ The Cribs
5 - Manchester, UK @ Ritz - w/ The Cribs
6 - Manchester, UK @ Ritz - w/ The Cribs
7 - Sheffield, UK @ Raynor Lounge
8 - Bradford, UK @ St Georges Hall - w/ The Cribs
9 - London, UK @ The Lexington
10 - London, UK @ Heaven - w/ The Cribs

God And Country (mp3)