Threshold - Critical Energy
	Released: 2004 Label: Inside Out Cat. No.: IOMCD 150 Total Time: 58:47 / 58:28
	Reviewed by: Davide Guidone, February 2004 Gustav Holst’s "Jupiter" starts off the first real live album by Threshold, if we think that Livedelica was only a mini-EP, lasting about thirty minutes. [Well, there was also Concert In Paris - ed.] This intro from The Planets opens the two hour long double CD, which is an example of great prog metal, performed in June at Zoetermeer, Holland. The album can be divided into two sides: the first disc is where you can find the shorter and catchier songs; the second one contains, instead, the more complicated ones, those that have become the classics in Threshold's history. The band played pieces from every release, but they give much more importance to the newer albums, as is obvious. A couple of acoustic songs ("Clear" and "Lifeflow") are included to give exposure to the fan club work, Wireless, though the tracks here aren't on the Wireless CD. However these tracks are well played and introduce us to the best piece of the album - the hybrid version of "Narcissus" that starts unplugged and then continues in an electric manner, where Karl Groom fights with Richard West in a duet battle. Mac sings well during the album, even in the songs originally performed by Glynn Morgan and Damian Wilson, but the result isn’t the same because of his voice tone. Interesting, but different. Steve Anderson makes a good job on the bass, replacing Jon Jeary, after his split from the band. The only thing to regret is that they miss including "Ravages Of Time," which instead appears on the DVD extra material. Rating: 4/5 [See also Bobo's and Marcel's reviews -ed.] More about Critical Energy: Track Listing: Disc One: Phenomenon / Oceanbound / Choices / Angels / Falling Away / Virtual Isolation / Innocent / Long Way Home / Fragmentation Disc Two: Clear / Life Flow / Narcissus / Sunseeker / The Latent Gene / Light And Space / Sunrise On Mars / Paradox / Sanity's End Musicians: Karl Groom - guitars, backing vocals Nick Midson - guitar Steve Anderson - bass Richard West - keyboards, backing vocals Johanne James - drums Andrew McDermott – vocals Contact: Website: www.thresh.net Note: will open new browser window 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) Critical Energy (2004) (DVD) Interview: Karl Groom (2001) Interview: Richard West (2002) Interview: Richard West (2002) Interview: Richard West (2003) Interview: Richard West (2004)
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