Threshold - Hypothetical


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

Hypothetical is the first release by the English band Threshold to b published on the InsideOut label. And, as all Threshold's records are, it is a little bit different from the others.

According to me, Hypothetical is a prime example of the way progressive metal should be played: heavy guitar riffs (Groom and Midson rule!), fancy melodies, many solos from the guitars and Richard West on the keyboards, amazing and surprising tempo changes, without losing that originality they always had.

There is a lot of experimentation on this album, like some treated vocals. As West said, they are similar to effects produced by Cher on her single of some time ago, but it is better! Another experimentation is some keyboard sounds like the space sounds used on Light & Space. Is it a coincidence?

The strange thing is that Threshold on every album (more or less) include at least one ballad, and it is always very good. This fact explains their melodic soul in the choruses. The use of some choir-like harmonies reminded me of Bobby Kimball.

Well, I bought this CD and I had doubts about it, but I was wrong. Even if there are a couple of weak songs, it is good!

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: May 18th 2003
Reviewer: Davide Guidone

Artist website: www.thresh.net
Hits: 2900
Language: english

  

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