Tonight sees the UK's leading progressive metal entity Threshold back in the capital, this time to present their latest album 'For the Journey' in its entirety. In spite of being the most popular band of their genre in the country as well as England's oldest prog metal force, they remain criminally underrated but recent years has seen their popularity deservedly grow and they are back at the well sized Islington Academy for a second time.
Support is from France's Spheric Universe Experience, their first time in the UK despite supporting a European jaunt with Threshold in 2009 and omitting the London date. Beginning their career as a progressive metal act absorbing generous influence from the likes of classic Dream Theater substantiated with particularly heavy riffs, the Frenchmen have released four albums of metallic prog. Their set commences with 'The New Eve', the title track of their 2012 album, firing out bombastic headbanging riffs alongside electronic and symphonic keyboards to get the audience's hearts' pounding.
Song structures are more like rock than the complex arrangements associated with prog metal. Older songs 'Sceptic' and 'Echoes of the Stars' are less brutal but substitute this with technicality with formidable results (particularly for the new drummer of four weeks). Closer is ten minute long opus 'The Key', jamming in a diverse repertoire of soundscapes that the audience appreciates judging by their applause for Spheric Universe Experience as they leave the stage.
As is now customary before Threshold concerts, vocalist Damian Wilson takes some time to talk to members of the audience before the band is on stage. Soon the lights go out and the headliners grace the stage with classic number 'Freaks' as the audience energetically cheers. This is followed by fan favourite'Mission Profile', possessing a strong pairing of lightly distorted guitar with Richard West's atmospheric keyboards. Notable portions of the audience sing along to this lyrically outspoken track that playfully explores varying tones and rhythms.
Next, Threshold lay out the track listing of 'For the Journey' chronologically, beginning with the bouncy 'Watchtower on the Moon'. Often prog metal receives the criticism that it is a mechanical riff-fest but these Brits knock that theory out of the water as Wilson's signature vocals and the instruments' melodies are potent with emotion twinned with metal's naturally heavy constitution aided tremendously by varied drummer Johanne James. The exploratory 'The Box', ballad 'Lost in Your Memory' and tender 'Autumn Red' are particular highlights of the album, performed with extremely clear sound and the band's sincere zest. The album is not played entirely back-to-back as Wilson is a particularly chatty frontman, interspersing humour and thanks to the audience into the set.
As 'Siren Sky' concludes this live rendition of Threshold's last album, the concert reverts to older classics with 'Oceanbound' taking the lead. This is followed by the beautiful 'Pilot in the Sky of Dreams' where Wilson divides the audience in half so he can get off the stage, microphone in hand, and walk towards the back of the venue and get more intimate with the punters. The robust 'Ashes' from the recent 'March of Progress' closes the set with the audience, an indicator of the popularity of the band's latter compositions. After this, the six-piece leave the stage to a robust ovation. Wilson comes back out to speak more to the audience and encourages them to call the remainder of the band back out for an encore.
The encore opens with the defiant 'The Art of Reason', clocking in over ten minutes and giving Wilson the opportunity to precariously clamber up speakers until he reaches the balcony at the top of the venue! The final anthem of the night is 'Slipstream' from 2007's beloved 'Dead Reckoning' that sees the fans singing along and puts the full stop at the end of yet another stellar performance of an underrated band.
As Wilson stays behind to talk to anyone who wants to chat or take photos, the rest of the audience file out of the Academy with mile-wide smiles on their faces. It is rare to see a metal band put this much effort not just into their music but their live shows, marking the show a true spectacle rather than musicians simply playing their instruments. Threshold always pull a sizeable crowd in London; they are well overdue a more comprehensive UK trek.
FUTURE GIGS
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