Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Threshold
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release: 2015
Duration: 111:03
Rating: 4.5/5
»European Journey« is the latest live album from British prog metal champions Threshold, recorded at various locations during their European tour in November 2014. On that run, Threshold were promoting their current studio effort »For The Journey« (2014), which was yet another prog metal triumph in a row for a band that’s remarkably consistent in quality. As expected, the emphasis is on Threshold material from the last two studio albums with the returning Damian Wilson on lead vocals, while the era with his predecessor, the late Andrew ‘Mac’ McDermott, who bid his fans farewell for good in 2011, is well covered too.
These standard-bearers of intelligent progressive metal, with their mighty vocal delivery, punchy guitar passages, shimmering keyboards, dynamic rhythm section, melodic harmonies and socially aware lyrics, dig into plenty of favorites from their past, like »Ground Control«, »Long Way Home«, the ethereal »Pilot In the Sky of Dreams«, »Mission Profile« and, somewhat surprisingly, »Part of the Chaos«, a staple from »Extinct Instinct« (1997) and the biggest surprise of the whole live document, to name just a few. The newer stuff comes off even better, led by »Slipstream«, »Long Way Home«, »Liberty, Complacency, Dependency«, »Watchtower On the Moon«, »The Box« and »Ashes«, which, with the excellent sound quality, are a real balm for the ears.
These prog metal heroes, from whom nobody expects long-winded improvisation in the middle of songs, don’t ‘tire’ the crowd with drawn-out banter either and get straight to the point, while Wilson shines even on songs that were originally recorded without him. The current lineup — besides original members Wilson, founding guitarist Karl Groom and keyboardist Richard West, it features drummer Johanne James, bassist Steve Anderson and guitarist Pete Morten (also the singer in power metal band NightMare World) — has really built up an enviable tightness and creative chemistry over the last three years. You hear it especially in James’s drumming, which has come a long way since his early days with the band and is now at a truly enviable, masterful level.
»European Journey« is a thrilling live document that landed at exactly the right time: nine years have passed since Threshold’s last live album »Surface to Stage« (2006), and in that time a lot has happened and quite a bit of new, mostly top-notch material has piled up. On top of that, the band — whose approach to prog metal is still quite an oddity on the British music scene (some sonic similarities to neo-prog act Arena, thanks to Shadowland guitarist Groom, are the exception rather than the rule) — is on a rapid creative upswing again after Wilson’s return on »March of Progress« (2012).
Line-up
Damian Wilson – vocals
Karl Groom – guitar
Richard West – keyboards
Johanne James – drums
Steve Anderson – bass guitar
Pete Morten – guitar
Production
Karl Groom and Richard West
Track list
1. Slipstream
2. The Hours
3. Liberty Complacency Dependency
4. Ground Control
5. Unforgiven
6. Long Way Home
7. Part Of The Chaos
8. Coda
CD2
1. Watchtower On The Moon
2. Pilot In The Sky Of Dreams
3. Lost In Your Memory
4. Mission Profile
5. The Box
6. Turned To Dust
7. Ashes
