Tag: threshold

It’s nice to see the old Threshold albums getting a release on vinyl because they were only released on CD originally. I’m amazed that the band are still going because they have had more line up changes and bad luck than is feasibly possible.

This album originally came out in ’94, just when the whole Prog metal thing was blossoming on the back of DT’s success. Threshold have a lot more layered vocal harmonies than DT and more basic metal guitar riffs. I don’t mean that in a bad way, it’s just how my brain processes that information.

In fact, I think this is a wonderful record. I love those metal chugga riffs that are the building blocks for most of the tracks. Saying that, my favourite tune is the 10 minute Prog epic, Into The light. It starts a lot slower and delicate before the heavy kicks in, and the build and groove are so good. You even get four bonus tracks, which is way better than a dreaded etched side.

Well done Nuclear Blast for doing a great job on the pressing.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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.