Threshold (band)
Encyclopedia
Threshold is a progressive metal
band, formed in Surrey
, UK in the late 1980s.
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. 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 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.
In 2009 the band released a limited edition eight-disc singles box set, including previously unreleased b-sides and brand new re-recordings of old demo songs released in other forms before, including Smile At the Moon, (which was debuted live on the 2009 Essence of Progression Tour), Shifting Sands, Half Way Home and Fist of Tongues.
On the 5th November 2010, Threshold stated on their website that they had started writing a new album. The post stated "the new album is due for release through Nuclear Blast Records sometime in 2011" and that they "will record the new volume at Thin Ice Studios in the UK, with production as usual by Karl Groom and Richard West." The release date has now been revised to 2012.
On the 3rd of August 2011, former vocalist Andrew McDermott died of kidney failure.
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band, formed in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, UK in the late 1980s.
History
Threshold began their career in 1988, initially playing covers of metal groups like RattRatt
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt...
and Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
. 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
Damian Wilson
Damian Wilson is a singer known in the progressive rock genre. He is lead singer with the band Headspace along with Adam Wakeman and is lead singer for Threshold....
to the group alongside guitarists Karl Groom
Karl Groom
Karl Groom is a British guitarist and record producer, mostly known as founding member of the progressive metal band Threshold.-Work:During his career Groom also played in the band Shadowland, took part in the progressive rock supergroup Casino, and contributed to MyEarthDream by Edenbridge...
and Nick Midson, bassist Jon Jeary
Jon Jeary
Jon Jeary was the bass guitarist and one of the founding members of British progressive metal band Threshold. Jeary left the group in 2003 to be replaced by Steve Anderson...
and drummer Tony Grinham, produced their first recording, "Intervention," which was released on a Dutch progressive rock compilation album. Shortly afterwards, keyboardist Richard West
Richard West (keyboardist)
Richard West is an English musician and producer, most widely known as the keyboard player and a songwriter for progressive metal band Threshold...
joined the band, and he remains with them to this day.
The band's debut album, Wounded Land
Wounded Land (album)
Wounded Land is the debut album from British progressive metal band Threshold, released in 1993. It is the first of two non-consecutive albums to feature vocalist Damian Wilson, who returned for 1997's Extinct Instinct, and the only one to feature Tony Grinham on drums...
, was released in 1993, taking its name and some thematic elements from Stephen R. Donaldson
Stephen R. Donaldson
Stephen Reeder Donaldson is an American fantasy, science fiction and mystery novelist, most famous for his Thomas Covenant series...
's novel of the same name
The Wounded Land
The Wounded Land is the first book of the second trilogy of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever fantasy series written by Stephen R. Donaldson. It is followed by The One Tree.-Plot summary:...
. 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
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and recorded some of their performances for the short live album, Livedelica
Livedelica
Livedelica is British progressive metal band Threshold's first live album, released in 1995. It was recorded during a show on their 1995 European Tour. It is the only Threshold release to feature drummer Jay Micciche...
.
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
Extinct Instinct
Extinct Instinct is the third studio album by British progressive metal band Threshold, released in 1997. It is the first album to feature drummer Mark Heaney and the second to feature vocalist Damian Wilson, his first album with the band being their 1993 debut, Wounded Land...
. They followed this with another tour of Europe, this time supported by Enchant
Enchant (band)
Enchant is an American neo-progressive rock band, formed in 1989. Their music is characterized by ambitious lyrics and melodies along with harmonic experimentation.-History:...
. Additionally, Johanne James
Johanne James
Johanne James is the drummer for British progressive metal band Threshold. He joined the band officially, replacing Mark Heaney, in 2001, to record the album Hypothetical, which occurred after having toured with the band in support of the albums Extinct Instinct and Clone. He also fronts the...
, 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
Andrew McDermott
Andrew "Mac" McDermott was a singer mostly known for his work in the progressive metal band Threshold. He was also the lead singer of Swampfreaks and the German group Sargant Fury.-History:...
, joined to record Clone
Clone (Threshold album)
Clone is the fourth studio album by British progressive metal band Threshold, released in 1998. This album is the first to feature longtime singer Andrew "Mac" McDermott and the final album to feature drummer Mark Heaney, and is also the only album by the band not to have a special edition...
and would remain with them until 2007.
In 2001, Threshold released Hypothetical
Hypothetical (album)
Hypothetical is the fifth studio album by British progressive metal band Threshold. The album was released on March 20, 2001...
, 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. The band released Dead Reckoning
Dead Reckoning (album)
Dead Reckoning is the eighth studio album by progressive metal band Threshold. It is their first album since the departure of founding member Nick Midson, and their only one to feature guest vocals . It is also their first album on their current label, Nuclear Blast...
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
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale is a 2006 fantasy action film directed by Uwe Boll, inspired by the Dungeon Siege video game series. It was produced by Brightlight Pictures and distributed by Freestyle Releasing and Vivendi Entertainment in the United States and Canada. 20th Century...
. 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 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.
In 2009 the band released a limited edition eight-disc singles box set, including previously unreleased b-sides and brand new re-recordings of old demo songs released in other forms before, including Smile At the Moon, (which was debuted live on the 2009 Essence of Progression Tour), Shifting Sands, Half Way Home and Fist of Tongues.
On the 5th November 2010, Threshold stated on their website that they had started writing a new album. The post stated "the new album is due for release through Nuclear Blast Records sometime in 2011" and that they "will record the new volume at Thin Ice Studios in the UK, with production as usual by Karl Groom and Richard West." The release date has now been revised to 2012.
On the 3rd of August 2011, former vocalist Andrew McDermott died of kidney failure.
Style
The band's style is progressive metal featuring 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, religion, science, politics and the environment.Current members
- Karl GroomKarl GroomKarl Groom is a British guitarist and record producer, mostly known as founding member of the progressive metal band Threshold.-Work:During his career Groom also played in the band Shadowland, took part in the progressive rock supergroup Casino, and contributed to MyEarthDream by Edenbridge...
: Lead Guitar (Wounded Land - current) - Richard WestRichard West (keyboardist)Richard West is an English musician and producer, most widely known as the keyboard player and a songwriter for progressive metal band Threshold...
: Keyboards (Wounded Land - current) - Damian WilsonDamian WilsonDamian Wilson is a singer known in the progressive rock genre. He is lead singer with the band Headspace along with Adam Wakeman and is lead singer for Threshold....
: Vocals (Wounded Land, Extinct Instinct, also touring Dead Reckoning - current) - Johanne JamesJohanne JamesJohanne James is the drummer for British progressive metal band Threshold. He joined the band officially, replacing Mark Heaney, in 2001, to record the album Hypothetical, which occurred after having toured with the band in support of the albums Extinct Instinct and Clone. He also fronts the...
: Drums (Hypothetical - current; touring Extinct Instinct - current) - Steve Anderson: Bass Guitar (Subsurface - current)
- Pete Morten: Guitar (touring Dead Reckoning - current)
Former members
- Nick Midson: Guitar (Wounded Land - Subsurface)
- Tony Grinham: Drums (Wounded Land)
- Pete Crawford: Bass (left prior to the band's signing)
- Ian Bennett: Bass (left prior to the band's signing)
- Jon JearyJon JearyJon Jeary was the bass guitarist and one of the founding members of British progressive metal band Threshold. Jeary left the group in 2003 to be replaced by Steve Anderson...
: Bass Guitar (Wounded Land - Critical Mass) - Glynn Morgan: Vocals (Psychedelicatessen - Livedelica)
- Nick Harradence: Drums (Psychedelicatessen)
- Jay Micciche: Drums (Livedelica)
- Mark HeaneyMark HeaneyMark Heaney is an English drummer. A self-taught drummer who started playing drums at the age of eight after seeing Buddy Rich playing on TV, by age ten he was working two to three nights playing in pubs and clubs throughout the United Kingdom in his father's band.Heaney has recorded and played on...
: Drums (Extinct Instinct, Clone) - Andrew "Mac" McDermottAndrew McDermottAndrew "Mac" McDermott was a singer mostly known for his work in the progressive metal band Threshold. He was also the lead singer of Swampfreaks and the German group Sargant Fury.-History:...
: Vocals (Clone - Dead Reckoning)
Guest performers
- Ian Salmon: Acoustic guitar (Wounded Land, Decadent)
- Dan SwanöDan SwanöDan-Erland Swanö is a Swedish musician who is currently the vocalist, guitarist, ex-bassist and ex-drummer for the band Nightingale as well as the Owner of Unisound but he achieved fame as the vocalist and songwriter of progressive death metal band Edge of Sanity.As a multi-instrumentalist he is...
: Backing vocals (Dead Reckoning)
Studio albums
- Wounded LandWounded Land (album)Wounded Land is the debut album from British progressive metal band Threshold, released in 1993. It is the first of two non-consecutive albums to feature vocalist Damian Wilson, who returned for 1997's Extinct Instinct, and the only one to feature Tony Grinham on drums...
(1993, Special Edition reissue 2001) - Psychedelicatessen (1994, Special Edition reissue 2001)
- Extinct InstinctExtinct InstinctExtinct Instinct is the third studio album by British progressive metal band Threshold, released in 1997. It is the first album to feature drummer Mark Heaney and the second to feature vocalist Damian Wilson, his first album with the band being their 1993 debut, Wounded Land...
(1997, Special Edition reissue 2004) - CloneClone (Threshold album)Clone is the fourth studio album by British progressive metal band Threshold, released in 1998. This album is the first to feature longtime singer Andrew "Mac" McDermott and the final album to feature drummer Mark Heaney, and is also the only album by the band not to have a special edition...
(1998) - HypotheticalHypothetical (album)Hypothetical is the fifth studio album by British progressive metal band Threshold. The album was released on March 20, 2001...
(2001) - Critical MassCritical Mass (album)Critical Mass is the sixth album by British progressive metal band Threshold. It was recorded in early 2002 and released in September. It is also the last album to feature original bassist Jon Jeary, who left immediately after the release...
(2002) - SubsurfaceSubsurfaceSubsurface is the seventh studio album by British progressive metal band Threshold. The album was released in August 2004, and received an Album of the Month award in several European music magazines....
(2004) - Dead ReckoningDead Reckoning (album)Dead Reckoning is the eighth studio album by progressive metal band Threshold. It is their first album since the departure of founding member Nick Midson, and their only one to feature guest vocals . It is also their first album on their current label, Nuclear Blast...
(2007) - TBA (2012)
Compilations
- The Ravages of TimeThe Ravages of Time (album)The Ravages of Time is the first compilation album by British progressive metal band Threshold. It was released in November 2007 and contains radio edits of two songs from their latest studio release, Dead Reckoning....
- The Best Of Threshold (2007)
Live albums
- LivedelicaLivedelicaLivedelica is British progressive metal band Threshold's first live album, released in 1995. It was recorded during a show on their 1995 European Tour. It is the only Threshold release to feature drummer Jay Micciche...
(1995) - also included in Special Edition of Psychedelicatessen. - Concert in ParisConcert in ParisConcert in Paris is Threshold's second Direct-to-Fan release, made available on the band's website in 2002. It is a live album recorded at the Élysée Montmartre theater in Paris, France, during the tour supporting their 2001 album, Hypothetical....
(2002) - Critical EnergyCritical EnergyCritical Energy is a live album by Threshold, released in 2004.- Disc 1:# "Phenomenon" # "Oceanbound" # "Choices" # "Angels" # "Falling Away" # "Virtual Isolation" # "Innocent"...
(2004, 2CDs) - also included in Special Edition containing both 2CD and DVD versions. - Surface to StageSurface to StageSurface to Stage is Threshold's fifth Direct-to-Fan release and their fourth live album, released on the band's website in 2006. The CD contains a concert recorded at the Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland on their tour for the album Subsurface....
(2006)
Singles
- Paradox
- Sunseeker
- Innocent
- Virtual Isolation
- Freaks
- Light and Space
- Phenomenon
- Mission Profile
- Pressure
- Pilot in the Sky of Dreams
- Supermassive Black Hole
Videoclips
- Innocent (1994)
- Fragmentation (acoustic version) (2003)
- Pressure (radio version) (2004)
- Pilot In The Sky Of Dreams (radio version) (2007)
Fan club CDs and rarities
- DecadentDecadent (album)Decadent is British progressive metal band Threshold's first fan club album, released in 1999. The album features remixes and radio edits of songs from their previous albums, as well as one acoustic remake and one song that was hitherto only available on the Japanese release of Psychedelicatessen...
(1999) - remixes and radio edits. - Wireless: Acoustic Sessions (2003) - acoustic recordings.
- ReplicaReplica (album)Replica is the fourth fanclub release by British progressive metal band Threshold, released in 2004. It contains two unreleased songs, and remixes from past albums.- Track list :# "Static" - alternative version...
(2004) - alternative versions and previously unreleased songs - Paradox: The Singles Collection (2009) - eight CD singles box set.