British melodic prog-metal mainstays THRESHOLD 12th full length album “Dividing Lines” is set to be released next November 18th. Following up a newly-minted classic was always going to present THRESHOLD with a challenge, but the band’s upcoming studio album swiftly confirms that the challenge has been met.
Darker, heavier, melodic and even more adventurous than its 2017 already excellent predecessor, “Dividing Lines” reveals a band with a lot on their collective mind, while also boasting some of the most wildly inventive and melodically potent material they have ever recorded.
The UK’s kings of melodic prog-metal are back, and ready to conquer the world all over again. You’ll be hard pushed to find a better album in this genre 2022.
There is no other band that sounds like prog-metal stalwarts Threshold, their style of music, punchy, hard hitting and yet very melodic, sounds like nothing else and is instantly recognisable, but never mundane or monotonous.
It’s impossible to talk about Threshold without reference to tight musicianship and this album is no exception. Opener “Haunted” brings me back into the Threshold zone. It’s a clean chorus-driven melodic rock song, with nice touches and a strong and emotively powerful ending. Singer Glynn Morgan’s voice has an emotive strength without conveying passion.
It’s tested out on “Hall of Echoes” whose rocking qualities and keyboard flourishes I liked but otherwise it was a something or nothing song which floated into the wind in spite of its lofty intent.
A dark mood opens up “Let It Burn”. There follows an epic power-progressive romp. If you like prog metal bordering on commercial hard rock, but with some nice instrumental work, this is for you. Synthesised vocals start off “Silenced” as a prelude to a dramatic progressive-power track. The dark layers and finally the drama made his song a highlight.
This isn’t a continuous work in that each song has its own personality and qualities. “The Domino Effect” is a classic Threshold song – it rocks, it has melody, it’s catchy and then takes off into progressive reflection. “Is it time to put us back in our box?” enquires Glynn. This interlude is dreamy and quite sad, and in true Threshold fashion after hearing the sound of the crowd we bounce back into electronic melody and guitar flamboyance, topped off by a catchy chorus. Great song.
“Complex” is from another Threshold template: a driving force of a melodic power-progressive song with the customary persistent beat and rousing chorus which everyone will sing along to at concerts. A heavier beseeching dominates “King of Nothing” but unlike others, although the style’s the same Threshold do not resort to clichés.
The album closes with “Defence Condition”, a typically fluid and imaginative song from the band which is full of the story-telling, instrumental twists, dramatic atmosphere and nuances that Threshold are so good at.
“Dividing Lines” is a terrific opus. There are anthemic choruses that listeners and live audiences will sing along to, plenty of instrumental work to delight in, and a host of great moments and passages. Existing Threshold devotees will like it as it is familiar in many respects, and there’s every chance they can pick up more followers on the way.
Threshold are one of the pre-eminent proponents of prog-metal performing today and this fantastic new release has cemented their position right at the top of this particular musical tree.
HIGHLY Recommended
Tracklist:
1. Haunted
2. Hall of Echoes
3. Let It Burn
4. Silenced
5. The Domino Effect
6. Complex
7. King of Nothing
8. Lost Along the Way
9. Run
10. Defence Condition
Threshold – Dividing Lines 2022+FLAC
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