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Threshold is back with a new album and once again some new
members. Mark Heany is their fourth drummer on this their fourth
album. He replaced Jay Micciche who left the band to form his own
band "Mindfeed" together with the singer Glynn Morgan. Glynn's
replacement is Damian Wilson, who is back from Landmarq to sing
with Threshold again. Damian was the singer on Threshold's debut
album "Wounded Land". I prefer Damian Wilson before Glynn Morgan
so I don't mind the change. Damian Wilson's vocals is sometimes
reminiscent to Robert Plant. Unfortunately time would tell that
Damian would leave again due to the next release.
This album is as heavy and complex as their previous studio album
"Psychedelicatessen" (1994), with double bass drums and loads of
heavy guitar playing from the maestro Karl Groom. As usual there's
lot of mood and tempo changes, and the same good melodies in their
songs as always. Notable in Threshold's music is that they've got
a lot of background vocal arrangements and harmonies. It's quite
unusual in progressive metal. My favourite track is the 10:00
minutes "Eat The Unicorn", the ballad "Forever", "Virtual
Isolation" and "Part Of The Chaos".
Once again I must honour Threshold for not being just another
Dream Theater clone. I really love Dream Theater, but I think
there is too many progressive metal bands who is copying them, but
not Threshold. They've got a unique sound. A correct label on
their music might be heavy symphonic progressive metal. I can find
reminiscences to Metallica, Queen, Queensryche, Scorpions and
Superior.
This is a rather good album with powerful complex heavy
progressive metal, but yet very melodic. Threshold are keeping
their place in the forefront as one of the premier progressive
metal bands.
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