CRITICAL ENERGY

Threshold have been the UK's premier prog metal band for quite some time now ? their debut album came out as long ago as 1993 ? and at last their live show has been captured on DVD. New bassist Steve Anderson has slotted right in, linking in with drummer Johanne James to provide the backbone for the rest of the guys to strut their stuff. Mac is a perfect frontman, one who has obviously been studying Ian Gillan, and keeps the crowd going, while Karl and Nick riff hard and Richard provides the melodic overtones that manage to move Threshold out of the pure heavy metal arena. But be in no doubt, Threshold are a hard rock band first and foremost. There may be room for some widdly widdly but these guys play using Marshall amps for one good reason ? they like to play loud! The concert (which is approx two hours long) covers the depth of the band's career, and even has room for some acoustic numbers in the middle. This allows everyone time to have a rest, but not for long. This is a rock band that is out to grab you by the balls and shows that even though 'prog' is in the title of the genre, 'metal' is the other one. With songs as powerful as "Sanity's End" (which has long been my personal favourite) or "Phenomenon" who could ask for more?

Great production (mind you, you wouldn't expect anything else) and strong use of cameras and lighting means that this is a joy to play, time and again. But it doesn't stop there, as Karl and Richard have gone into the studio and also added a commentary to the gig which goes some way to showing what a good time they have in the band. There are also some songs from the gig they played in the States at ProgPower 2002, as well as a feature of them on tour. Lastly there is a photo gallery care of Sy 'Wooks' Seddon and the menu and design is of the highest quality. For those who have not heard the band before then why not visit www.thresh.net where not only is it possible to play excerpts of some of the songs but also play the whole of "Sunseeker"

This DVD is also available as a set with the Double CD of the same name, but no matter how you get this DVD it is a definite purchase for all lovers of prog metal/melodic hard rock.

Originally appeared in Feedback #78, April 2004