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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Threshold - European Journey + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
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│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Dec-05-2015 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2015 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........cd1: 8 cd2: 7 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.tresh.net ║ │
│║ ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Threshold Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : European Journey Label : Buclear Blast ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Threshold has long been a darling of the ║ │
│║ progressive metal scene for two very simple ║ │
│║ reasons: theyÆre unbelievably consistent and ║ │
│║ more importantly, theyÆre the anti-Dream Theater ║ │
│║ in that they remember how to write actual songs ║ │
│║ and not just seven minute, ego-driven wank fests ║ │
│║ that go nowhere. Despite the tragic death of ║ │
│║ long time singer Andrew ôMacö McDermott in 2011, ║ │
│║ the band bounced back hard with 2012Æs March of ║ │
│║ Progress, recruiting original singer Damian ║ │
│║ Wilson to get the job done, and now theyÆre back ║ │
│║ with For the Journey. As before, we get oodles ║ │
│║ of pristine, highly melodic prog metal thatÆs a ║ │
│║ stylistic cousin to Anubis Gate, and like all ║ │
│║ Threshold material, itÆs loaded with first-rate ║ │
│║ writing and crisp, sharp musicianship. The ║ │
│║ overall style is classic Threshold, but this is ║ │
│║ a more introspective, moody and somber outing ║ │
│║ than March of Progress and it feels like the ║ │
│║ album one would have expected immediately ║ │
│║ following the passing of McDermott. That we get ║ │
│║ it a few years later is a small matter, itÆs ║ │
│║ still Threshold and itÆs pretty damn wonderful, ║ │
│║ and since I have many leather bound books and my ║ │
│║ study smells of rich mahogany, I clearly know of ║ │
│║ what I speak. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Most of the songs here have an immediate warmth ║ │
│║ and familiarity because they stick so closely to ║ │
│║ what the band has done in the past. And though I ║ │
│║ suppose itÆs rather unproggish of them, this ║ │
│║ isnÆt an album that stretches the Threshold ║ │
│║ sound palette in any new direction. Instead, ║ │
│║ they play to their long established strengths ║ │
│║ and craft beautiful soundscapes with deep ║ │
│║ melodic hooks. Opener ôWatchtower on the Moonö ║ │
│║ could have been on any album since Hypothetical ║ │
│║ and fit right in. ItÆs fairly urgent, and though ║ │
│║ direct, it has enough offbeat elements and time ║ │
│║ shifts to qualify as prog. It also uses big, ║ │
│║ muscular riffs ripped from a Brainstorm album to ║ │
│║ counter point the rich, melodious keys and ║ │
│║ vocals. ôUnforgivenö delivers a melancholy and ║ │
│║ utterly captivating tune which Wilson makes ║ │
│║ absolutely essential with his crystal clear and ║ │
│║ empathic vocals. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The album centerpiece is the twelve minutes of ║ │
│║ ôThe Box,ö where the band dabbles in a number of ║ │
│║ textures and moods while showcasing their ║ │
│║ ability to make such a long song workable, ║ │
│║ enjoyable and at times, rather heartbreaking. ║ │
│║ Again, Wilson is a key to keeping the listenerÆs ║ │
│║ ear glued, but the writing and performances are ║ │
│║ all stellar. The albumÆs denouement is equally ║ │
│║ gipping, with ôThe Mystery Showö and especially ║ │
│║ ôSiren Skyö demonstrating the band is capable of ║ │
│║ generating enormously emotional compositions ║ │
│║ with their well appointed style. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The only song that fails to impress is ôAutumn ║ │
│║ Red,ö and though itÆs far from bad, it suffers ║ │
│║ from sitting alongside much bigger, grandiose ║ │
│║ numbers and ends up feeling unnecessary. A ║ │
│║ bitter nit-picker could argue the front-end of ║ │
│║ the album is stronger and things fade a bit ║ │
│║ before reaching the big finish of ôSiren Sky,ö ║ │
│║ and to a small extent that may be valid. But the ║ │
│║ level these chaps operate at is so far above the ║ │
│║ average band, a slight drop off means next to ║ │
│║ nothing. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ This is a band of truly gifted performers and ║ │
│║ that comes across on every track. Wilson in ║ │
│║ particular shines bright, making an Icarus like ║ │
│║ run at the lofty heights set aside for Sir ║ │
│║ Russell Allen when he isnÆt doing fifth-rate bar ║ │
│║ rock with Adrenalin Mob. The man has a truly ║ │
│║ sensational set of pipes and heÆs been an ║ │
│║ absolute savoir for the band. The fret-board ║ │
│║ heroics by longtime member Karl Groom and ║ │
│║ relatively new Pete Morten are so satisfying ║ │
│║ because theyÆre always so understated. They play ║ │
│║ within their compositions, not over them or ║ │
│║ through them and the solos feel like thoughtful ║ │
│║ accents to well written pieces, not attempts to ║ │
│║ set land speed records for note burning. Richard ║ │
│║ WestÆs keyboard are essential but tasteful, with ║ │
│║ some sweet Hammond organ pieces cropping up here ║ │
│║ and there. The backline is equally praiseworthy, ║ │
│║ with Steve AndersonÆs bass presence very sharp ║ │
│║ and audible, and Johanne James turning in a ║ │
│║ wonderfully nuanced performance behind the kit. ║ │
│║ These are musicianÆs musicians and theyÆre a joy ║ │
│║ to hear in action. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ For the Journey is everything you expect from a ║ │
│║ Threshold album. ItÆs a treasure trove of sweet ║ │
│║ harmonies and melodies and itÆs so pleasing to ║ │
│║ the ear, you can sometimes forget itÆs metal, ║ │
│║ but it is. IÆm thrilled these guys are still ║ │
│║ turning out product and love that they have ║ │
│║ Wilson back in the fold. Now get your smoking ║ │
│║ jackets on, grab a snifter of cognac, blast this ║ │
│║ muther and get some fucking culture, you lowbrow ║ │
│║ ruffians! ║ │
│║ ║ │
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│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ - CD1 [ ] │
│ - [ ] │
│ 01 - slipstream [05:56] │
│ 02 - the hours [08:30] │
│ 03 - liberty complacency dependency [07:41] │
│ 04 - ground control [07:21] │
│ 05 - unforgiven [06:21] │
│ 06 - long way home [06:03] │
│ 07 - part of the chaos [09:27] │
│ 08 - coda [05:32] │
│ - [ ] │
│ - CD2 [ ] │
│ - [ ] │
│ 01 - watchtower on the moon [05:36] │
│ 02 - pilot in the sky of dreams [10:22] │
│ 03 - lost in your memory [04:46] │
│ 04 - mission profile [08:44] │
│ 05 - the box [12:43] │
│ 06 - turned to dust [04:24] │
│ 07 - ashes [07:40] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [111:0] min │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
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│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
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