The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV

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The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV: Air & Earth is Thrice’s sixth studio album and the final two parts of The Alchemy Index, a four-disc project where each disc represents an element: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Air & Earth were released on April 15, 2008, after Fire & Water came out in October 2007.

Recording and sound
- Recorded from September 2006 to June 2007 at Teppei Teranishi’s home in Orange County, California. Artwork was created by Dustin Kensrue.
- The music emphasizes acoustic guitars, synthesizers, piano, and vocal harmonies, with percussion used sparingly.
- Air is an atmospheric rock set with acoustic and brighter, up-tempo tracks. Earth is Americana/folk with stripped-down, guitar- and piano-driven songs.

Notable tracks and themes
- Air includes songs such as Broken Lungs, The Sky Is Falling, A Song for Milly Michaelson, Daedalus, As the Crow Flies, and Silver Wings.
- Earth features Moving Mountains, Digging My Own Grave, The Earth Isn’t Humming (a Frodus cover), The Lion and the Wolf, Come All You Weary, and Child of Dust (featuring muffled coffin-inspired sound effects).
- All music is by Thrice, with lyrics by Dustin Kensrue.

Release and reception
- The first two volumes (Fire & Water) were released in October 2007; Air & Earth were announced in January 2008 and released mid-April 2008.
- A single, Come All You Weary, came out March 4, 2008, followed by streaming previews and tours. The band promoted the release with North American touring, festival appearances, and TV performances.
- The album received generally favorable reviews and charted well, including number 17 on the Billboard 200 and strong showings on Independent, Alternative, and Top Rock charts.

Credits
- All music by Thrice; all lyrics by Dustin Kensrue.