Threshold CD Reviews

THRESHOLD

"Dead Reckoning" (Nuclear Blast; 2007)

Reviewed by Mike SOS

Veteran progressive metal act Threshold return with the nine-track "Dead Reckoning," the British quintet's latest keyboard-led melodic rock foray.

While the band still has the propensity to rip it up instrumentally, unlike most progressive outfits, Threshold decides to let the song stand out on cuts like the Styx-meets-Kansas epic "Pilot in the Sky of Dreams" and the arena rock shaking "Safe to Fly," allowing their seamless songwriting to shine.

While this band may register a bit too heavy on the dramatic tip for some, "Dead Reckoning" showcases a band at the top of their scene's game, pumping out well-crafted forward thinking metal.

For more information, check out http://www.thresh.net.

"Critical Mass" (Inside Out America; 2002)

Reviewed by Snidermann

If ever there was a majestic rock'n'roll sound, Threshold's "Critical Mass" has got it.

"Critical Mass" is larger than life with plenty of interesting sounds happening all the time. This CD sounds like it could be the soundtrack for a movie; you can just see action sequences or mushy love scenes taking place while listening to the music.

The CD says that "Critical Mass" is progressive metal. Whatever. The bottom line is that it's simply good music. Threshold's sound literally goes ballistic with killer writing, superb musicianship and a shit load of heart.

The only flaw I can see is the length of the songs; some seem to ramble on with the shortest nearing five minutes and the longest clocking in at 14 minutes(!). For this type of music, that length may not be unusual but they still tend to drag along.

Overall, however, "Critical Mass" is an excellent release.

For more information, check out http://www.thresh.net.

"Hypothetical" (Century Media/Inside Out America; 2001)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

Threshold's epic metal - which is a cross between progressive metal and true metal - bursts out of your CD player's speakers like finely tuned musical explosions. You pop the CD in and out comes walls of soaring sound; guitars that sometimes bang your head and other times bring to mind the towering reach of Pink Floyd. That's a lot to squeeze into eight songs, but Threshold do quite nicely.

"Hypothetical" isn't the kind of music you put on when you want someone to kick your ass. It's the kind of music you put on when you want to expand your mind but do it without sacrificing that all-necessary rough edge. It's science-fiction in music form. It's the kind of music that would sound best while wearing headphones.

What impresses me most about Threshold is their ability to blend keyboards and guitars. Not many bands can do this successfully - Deep Purple comes most immediately to mind as a band that can - but Threshold make the guitars and keyboards combine into a bigger sound that gives this CD a huge, huge sound. Of course, the other musicians and the solid, carefully restrained vocals add just as much.

The production is also very impressive. The music seems virtually alive it's so clear and precise. Of course, that has a lot to do with the band's talent as well. Okay, track 7 is a little wimpy, coming dangerously close to a lounge lizard ballad, but the rest of the CD rocks.

If you like epic metal, you'll like Threshold.

For more information, check out http://www.thresh.net.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

Back to CD Reviews Home

Back to RoughEdge.com Home