Threshold (band)

Threshold

Threshold is a progressive metal band, formed in Surrey, UK in the late 1980s.

History

Threshold began their career in 1988, initially playing covers of metal groups like Ratt and Testament. As they continued playing together, they began to write their own songs, and eventually stopped playing covers all together. In 1992, they signed their first record deal, and after adding vocalist Damian Wilson to the group alongside guitarists Karl Groom and Nick Midson, bassist Jon Jeary and drummer Tony Grinham, produced their first recording, "Intervention," which was released on a Dutch progressive rock compilation album. Shortly afterwards, keyboardist Richard West joined the band, and he remains with them to this day.

The band's debut album, Wounded Land, was released in 1993, taking its name and some thematic elements from Stephen R. Donaldson's novel of the same name. Wilson was unavailable to join the band for the followup tour, and so Glynn Morgan was recruited to replace him. He sang on the band's 1994 second recording, Psychedelicatessen, which spawned a music video for the song "Innocent," the band's first. The following year, Morgan and the band toured Europe and recorded some of their performances for the short live album, Livedelica.

Threshold took a break before their next effort, during which time Morgan and then-drummer Jay Micciche left to form Mindfeed. Rather than finding an unknown singer to replace him, the band turned again to Damian Wilson, and together they recorded 1997's Extinct Instinct. They followed this with another tour of Europe, this time supported by Enchant. Additionally, Johanne James, the band's current drummer, played with them for the first time during this tour. Wilson was unavailable for their next album, so former Sargant Fury vocalist Andrew "Mac" McDermott, joined to record Clone and would remain with them until 2007.

In 2001, Threshold released Hypothetical, which saw Johanne James firmly cemented as the band's permanent drummer. Another lineup change occurred in 2003, when bassist Jon Jeary left and was replaced by Steve Anderson. Around this time the band also re-released their first three studio albums in Special Editions, with bonus tracks, a remastered sound, expanded liner notes and, in the case of Wounded Land and Psychedelicatessen, special CD-ROM content. Their newer albums, starting with Hypothetical, were released in Limited Editions, with similar bonus content. Currently, Clone is the band's only regular release to not have an enhanced version, although it is possible that one will be produced in the future.

Threshold left their longtime label, InsideOut Music, in 2006 to join Nuclear Blast Records[1]. The band released Dead Reckoning which spawned a music video for an edit of the song 'Pilot In The Sky Of Dreams'. The song also appeared on the 2008 movie soundtrack In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale. This marks the first occasion of a song by the band appearing in a motion picture.

In July 2007 vocalist Mac left the band and original singer Damian Wilson returned as Threshold's frontman for the first time in nearly a decade for the band's tour dates which have now extended into 2009.

InsideOut Music released the first official Threshold compilation in November 2007. The album, titled "The Ravages of Time," is a two-disc set, covering all of the band's official albums from Wounded Land to Dead Reckoning.

Threshold is now considered one of the leading progressive metal bands, alongside Dream Theater, Queensrÿche and Fates Warning.

They have completed a number of international tours in recent years. [2]

Style

The band's style is a combination of heavy guitars and sweeping keyboards, underscored by tight drumwork and bass. The band's lyrical content is concerned with subjects such as life, faith, science, politics and the environment.

Line-Up

Current members

• Damian Wilson: Vocals (Wounded Land, Extinct Instinct, also touring Dead Reckoning - current)
• Karl Groom: Lead Guitar (Wounded Land - current)
• Richard West: Keyboards (Wounded Land - current)
• Steve Anderson: Bass Guitar (Critical Energy - current)
• Johanne James: Drums (Hypothetical - current; touring Extinct Instinct - current)
• Pete Morten: Guitar (touring Dead Reckoning - current)

Former members

• Andrew "Mac" McDermott: Vocals (Clone - Dead Reckoning)
• Glynn Morgan: Vocals (Psychedelicatessen - Livedelica)
• Jon Jeary: Bass Guitar (Wounded Land - Critical Mass)
• Tony Grinham: Drums (Wounded Land)
• Mark Heaney: Drums (Extinct Instinct, Clone)
• Nick Midson: Guitar (Wounded Land - Subsurface)
• Nick Harradence: Drums (Psychedelicatessen)
• Jay Micciche: Drums (Livedelica)
• Pete Crawford: Bass (left prior to the band's signing)
• Ian Bennett: Bass (left prior to the band's signing)

Guest performers

• Ian Salmon: Acoustic guitar (Wounded Land)
• Dan Swanö: Backing vocals (Dead Reckoning)

Discography

Studio albums

• Wounded Land (1993, Special Edition reissue 2001)
• Psychedelicatessen (1994, Special Edition reissue 2001)
• Extinct Instinct (1997, Special Edition reissue 2004)
• Clone (1998)
• Hypothetical (2001)
• Critical Mass (2002)
• Subsurface (2004)
• Dead Reckoning (2007)

Compilations

• The Ravages of Time - The Best Of Threshold (2007)

Live albums

• Livedelica (1995) - also included in Special Edition of Psychedelicatessen.
• Critical Energy (2004, 2CDs) - also included in Special Edition containing both 2CD and DVD versions.

Videos

• Critical Energy (2004, DVD)

Videoclips

• Innocent (1994)
• Fragmentation (acoustic version) (2003)
• Pressure (radio version) (2004)
• Pilot In The Sky Of Dreams (radio version) (2007)

Fan club CD's

• Decadent (1999) - rarities.
• Concert in Paris (2002) - live album.
• Wireless: Acoustic Sessions (2003) - acoustic recordings.
• Replica (2004) - rarities.
• Surface to Stage (2006) - live album.

External links

• Official website
• Template:MySpace