Threshold are an English progressive metal band formed in Surrey in the late 1980s. Guitarist and producer Karl Groom has been the only constant member throughout the band's history.
The band was formed in 1988 and initially performed cover versions of songs by metal groups such as Ratt and Testament. They later began composing original material and ceased performing covers. Early recordings were released locally on cassette under the name "If Not, Why?". Their first live performance took place at The Compasses in Egham, Surrey, with Jon Jeary on vocals and Ian Bennett on bass. In 1992, the band signed a recording contract and, with vocalist Damian Wilson, guitarists Karl Groom and Nick Midson, bassist Jon Jeary, and drummer Tony Grinham, recorded "Intervention" for a Dutch progressive rock compilation. Shortly afterward, keyboardist Richard West joined the group and remained a long-term member.
The debut album "Wounded Land" was released in 1993 and drew thematic inspiration from a novel of the same name by Stephen R. Donaldson. Wilson did not participate in the subsequent tour and was replaced by Glynn Morgan, who performed on the 1994 album "Psychedelicatessen". The album included the band's first music video for the song "Innocent". Morgan continued with the band on a European tour, recordings from which were released as the live album "Livedelica".
Following a hiatus, Morgan and drummer Jay Micciche left to form another project. Damian Wilson returned and recorded the 1997 album "Extinct Instinct". The band toured Europe again, with support from Enchant, during which Johanne James performed with the group for the first time as drummer. For the next album, Wilson was unavailable and Andrew "Mac" McDermott joined as vocalist, recording "Clone" and remaining with the band until 2007.
In 2001, the band released "Hypothetical", marking Johanne James's establishment as permanent drummer. In 2003, bassist Jon Jeary departed and was replaced by Steve Anderson. Around this period, the band's first three albums were reissued in expanded editions with additional material and remastered audio. Subsequent releases included "Critical Mass" in 2002 and "Subsurface" in 2004, alongside the live album and DVD "Critical Energy".
In 2006, Threshold left their long-time label and signed with Nuclear Blast Records. Guitarist Nick Midson departed in early 2007. The album "Dead Reckoning" was released, featuring a music video for "Pilot in the Sky of Dreams". The song was also included on the soundtrack to the 2008 film "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale", marking the band's first appearance in a motion picture. Later in 2007, McDermott left the band and Damian Wilson returned for touring activities through 2009. Pete Morten replaced Midson on guitar for tours and recordings. A compilation album, "The Ravages of Time", was released in 2007, covering material from "Wounded Land" to "Dead Reckoning". In 2009, the band issued a limited edition singles box set featuring previously unreleased material and re-recordings of earlier demos. Andrew McDermott died of kidney failure on 3 August 2011.
In 2012, the band released "March of Progress", the first album to feature Damian Wilson since 1997. This was followed by "For the Journey" in 2014. A live album, "European Journey", documenting their 2014 tour, was released in 2015. In 2017, Pete Morten left the band, and shortly afterward the group parted ways with Wilson.
Glynn Morgan returned as vocalist for the 2017 album "Legends of the Shires", which reached the top 20 of the national album charts in Germany and Switzerland and included a music video for "Small Dark Lines". In 2018, the live album "Two-Zero-One-Seven" was released. In 2021, the band began recording their twelfth studio album, later announced in 2022 as "Dividing Lines", released on 18 November 2022. The album entered the top 20 in Switzerland and the top 40 in Germany. The project was initially conceived as a sequel to "Legends of the Shires", but this concept was abandoned. Keyboardist Richard West subsequently developed a related concept album under a separate project. Around the same time, his autobiography "Maybe A Writer - My Life In Threshold" was published.
In 2024, the band released newly remixed editions of their first four albums, "Wounded Land", "Psychedelicatessen", "Extinct Instinct", and "Clone", in CD and vinyl formats. These releases were promoted with the "Threshold Through Time Tour", featuring material from all twelve studio albums. During these performances, Alessio Garavello substituted for Glynn Morgan, who was unable to perform due to a throat condition.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threshold_(band)
Studio albums
Wounded Land (1993)
Psychedelicatessen (1994)
Extinct Instinct (1997)
Clone (1998)
Hypothetical (2001)
Critical Mass (2002)
Subsurface (2004)
Dead Reckoning (2007)
March of Progress (2012)
For the Journey (2014)
Legends of the Shires (2017)
Dividing Lines (2022)
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Threshold may refer to several musical groups that have used the name.
1. Threshold was an R&B group fronted by singer Angela Carole Brown and led by composer and guitarist Linda Taylor. The lineup included drummer Laval Belle, known for work with Earth, Wind and Fire, bassist Del Atkins, associated with artists such as Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige, organist Mikal Majeed, keyboardist Ed Roth, and backing vocalists Catte Adams and Janelle Sadler, both of whom had worked with various established performers.
2. Threshold was a Finnish progressive rock project that released the album "Paradise Now" in 1981. The project was created by Ari Taskinen, who composed all the material and performed keyboards and 12-string guitar. Other contributors included Vando Suvanto, Esa Kotilainen, Yari, Rubberduck Jones, Stefan Jones, Pia Noponen, and Jone Takamäki.
3. Threshold was a French progressive thrash metal band formed in 1988. The group released the album "Within the Expanse" in 1991. Its lineup included guitarist Stein Guitton, guitarist Tristan Leroy, bassist François Morgues, and drummer Regis Lebrun.
4. Threshold was a religious punk band based in Atlanta, active during the 1980s. The group is documented through its inclusion on the compilation album "The View: An Atlanta Compilation 1984-1990".
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…shrink me down again