Threshold - Hypothetical

Year of Release: 2001
Label: InsideOut
Catalog Number: SPV 085-41472CD IOMCD073
Format: CD
Total Time: 56:02:00

Andrew "Mac" McDermott (vocals), Jon Jeary (bass), Johanne James (drums), Nick Midson (guitar), Karl Groom (guitar), and Richard West (keyboards) are Threshold. This group has been around for several years, which may come as a surprise to some of you. This current lineup has weathered the storm of change and come out of it with nothing but clear blue skies ahead.

Hypothetical is a prog metal fest with a vast array of sounds performed with plenty of vim and vigor. There are many different changes in the music heard throughout the run of this CD. The basics are in place as far as traditional metal sounds are concerned, although they do manage to display their mettle as musicians by mixing it up sufficiently for the entirety of this disc. Mac has a beautiful voice that is able to mold itself around anything the group can dish out. From the ballad "Keep My Head," which sounds like Toto at the height of their success, lets everyone know that they can change gears at a moment's notice and then revert back to body slamming and head banging melodic metal. "Turn On Tune In" sounds like something Genesis would have done after the departure of Peter Gabriel. The closer "Narcissus" is the decisive track ... if there is one song on this CD that shows you how a progressive rock song is constructed, this is it. The authoritative and far-reaching keyboards of Richard West come rolling in like thunder through your speakers while the piercing and poetic symphony of Karl Groom's and Nick Midson's guitars accentuates the head bashing rhythm section of Johanne James and Jon Jeary. All the influences are apparent; Queen, Genesis, and Yes to name a few. This is a middleweight class group pushing the envelope trying to move up to the heavyweights. They are damned close. This album is a real attention grabber.

Released in North America by InsideOut Music America (IOMACD 2022).

Tracklisting:
Light And Space (5:52) / Turn On Tune In (6:12) / The Ravages Of Time (10:19) / Sheltering Sky (5:37) / Oceanbound (6:37) / Long Way Home (5:58) / Keep My Head (4:01) / Narcissus (11:14)

Musicians:
Mac - vocals
Karl Groom - guitars
Nick Midson - guitar
Jon Jeary - bass
Richard West - keyboards
Johanne James - drums

Discography:
Wounded Land (1993)
Psychedelicatessen (1994)
Livedelica (1995)
Extinct Instinct (1997)
Clone (1998)
Decadent (1999)
Hypothetical (2001)
Wounded Land: Special Edition (2001/2002)
Psychedelicatessen/Livedelica: Special Edition (2001/2002)
Concert In Paris (2002)
Critical Mass (2002)
Wireless - Acoustic Sessions (2003)
Critical Energy (2004)
Extinct Instinct: Special Edition (2004)
Subsurface (2004)
Replica (2004)
Surface to Stage (2006)
Dead Reckoning (2007)
The Ravages Of Time (2007)
Paradox - The Singles Collection (2009)
March Of Progress (2012)
For The Journey (2014)
European Journey (2015)
Legends Of The Shires (2017)
Two-Zero-One-Seven (2018)

Critical Energy (2004) (DVD)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: August 1st 2001
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck

Artist website: www.thresh.net
Hits: 3501
Language: english