Threshold
Critical Mass
I've always thought that the six-piece British outfit Threshold stood out from the rest of the progressive movement. Rather than become a Dream Theater clone (Like so many other bands these days), Threshold have been consistently been honing their individual sound since 1998, and with severely unrated results.
Last years Hypothetical was the album that really placed the band high in most writers favourite progressive albums of that year, and Critical Mass, Threshold's sixth album, looks set to do exactly the same.
While 'Critical Mass' pretty much picks up where Hypothetical left off, it would be unfair to call it a carbon copy of the same formula. Repeated listens highlights the subtle changes scattered throughout the opus. Opening number 'Phenomenon' provides the first distinct change, and that's the obvious overall heaviness of the material. While Hypothetical was dominated by the use of keyboards, guitars seem to win out on the mix this time around. 'Choices' follows the same dramatic chorus that make up the predominate feature of Threshold; while 'Falling Away' has the band slowing the pace just a fraction before the chorus lifts up proceedings. There's some heavy crunching throughout 'Fragmentation', while 'Echoes Of Life' has the soft strains of a ballad, yet soon turns into a mid paced rocker. One of the darker sounding tracks is 'Round And Round', with vocalist Mac (Andrew McDermott) really putting the effort and range to lift the song from what could have been a disaster in anyone elseís hands. The true ballad on the album goes to the shortest track on the album (Clocking in at close to five minutes) 'Avalon'. Unlike 'Keep My Headí (From 'Hypothetical'), this works well with the other material. The real epic arrives with the final track 'Critical Mass Part 1-3', and should please fans of songs within songs passages of music. Part one ('Fission') follows the same line as the album, while part two ('Fusion') allows guitarists Karl Groom and Nick Midson to wail away in Dave Gilmour style. Part three is a soothing acoustic outo that shows the other side of the band in a different light.
For a limited time, the album comes as a limited edition double C.D. that features the bonus C.D. single for 'Phenomenon'. Although the track is an edited version, its 'Do Unto Them' and 'New Beginning' (Both previously unreleased) that really is the prize. Both tracks could well have come off the album, and are not merely throw away tracks. Also on the bonus C.D. is a multimedia section featuring a documentary video, studio video footage and diary, screensaver, musician pages, exclusive photos, artwork and demo recordings. If you're tired of the Dream Theater clones, cheesy keyboards, singers that struggle to sustain notes, or you want something completely different, then this album may be just what you're looking for.
Critical Mass
Inside Out Music
I've always thought that the six-piece British outfit Threshold stood out from the rest of the progressive movement. Rather than become a Dream Theater clone (Like so many other bands these days), Threshold have been consistently been honing their individual sound since 1998, and with severely unrated results.
Last years Hypothetical was the album that really placed the band high in most writers favourite progressive albums of that year, and Critical Mass, Threshold's sixth album, looks set to do exactly the same.
While 'Critical Mass' pretty much picks up where Hypothetical left off, it would be unfair to call it a carbon copy of the same formula. Repeated listens highlights the subtle changes scattered throughout the opus. Opening number 'Phenomenon' provides the first distinct change, and that's the obvious overall heaviness of the material. While Hypothetical was dominated by the use of keyboards, guitars seem to win out on the mix this time around. 'Choices' follows the same dramatic chorus that make up the predominate feature of Threshold; while 'Falling Away' has the band slowing the pace just a fraction before the chorus lifts up proceedings. There's some heavy crunching throughout 'Fragmentation', while 'Echoes Of Life' has the soft strains of a ballad, yet soon turns into a mid paced rocker. One of the darker sounding tracks is 'Round And Round', with vocalist Mac (Andrew McDermott) really putting the effort and range to lift the song from what could have been a disaster in anyone elseís hands. The true ballad on the album goes to the shortest track on the album (Clocking in at close to five minutes) 'Avalon'. Unlike 'Keep My Headí (From 'Hypothetical'), this works well with the other material. The real epic arrives with the final track 'Critical Mass Part 1-3', and should please fans of songs within songs passages of music. Part one ('Fission') follows the same line as the album, while part two ('Fusion') allows guitarists Karl Groom and Nick Midson to wail away in Dave Gilmour style. Part three is a soothing acoustic outo that shows the other side of the band in a different light.
For a limited time, the album comes as a limited edition double C.D. that features the bonus C.D. single for 'Phenomenon'. Although the track is an edited version, its 'Do Unto Them' and 'New Beginning' (Both previously unreleased) that really is the prize. Both tracks could well have come off the album, and are not merely throw away tracks. Also on the bonus C.D. is a multimedia section featuring a documentary video, studio video footage and diary, screensaver, musician pages, exclusive photos, artwork and demo recordings. If you're tired of the Dream Theater clones, cheesy keyboards, singers that struggle to sustain notes, or you want something completely different, then this album may be just what you're looking for.
For more information on Threshold, check out - https://www.facebook.com/threshold.
© Justin Donnelly.
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