A band that seemingly have been around forever, banging on that door and not getting the credit their talents deserve. Threshold are just sailing under the radar, apart from the following they already have. They sure are persistent.
This is actually studio album number twelve for them, and their first record came out in ’93. The Prog metal genre is a very crowded space now and perhaps it’s time that Threshold step up to the big leagues. I don’t see why not, as this is a very good album indeed. It mixes very melodic passages with some great heavy guitar riffage and lots of Proggy moments to keep the Prog mafia happy.
There are so many great tracks here I will just highlight the ones that really shake my tree. Hall Of Echoes is such a huge track. Awesome fat guitar sound, and the vocal and melodies by Glynn Morgan are superb. Let It Burn with a great intricate opening riff and a very DT guitar crunch, plus Karl Groom’s solo is beautiful. The barn burner that is The Domino Effect, the big centrepiece song of the record. I love long tracks that weave their way through your brain that you don’t want to end.
My favourite track is Complex. A relatively short song (5:50 minutes) but packs a mean punch with fat riffage and bundles of harmony. The album close out track Defence Condition is another long one, but what a way to close out a record. Those keys just sailing over the top of that fat riff is wonderful.
The band have a great knack for coming up with great melody lines that just stick in your brain. Not many prog metal bands do that and I think that’s what sets Threshold apart from the rest.
A great record that deserves your attention.
9.5/10 from The Grooveman.
