MARCH OF PROGRESS

Following my discovery of this awesome band in the early 2000s, I have come to perceive Threshold as one of the most underrated prog metal bands on Earth. Indeed, their steadily-high musical quality and unique combination of powerful vocals, accessible melodies and intricate riffing should put them right up there with the likes of Dream Theater, Symphony X and Fates Warning. It's also one of the few bands in my extensive iTunes library to consistently feature an album rating of 4 or even 5 (believe me, this is not an easy feat).

However, they have NEVER received the attention they deserve, probably due to constant lineup changes, less-than-ideal label support and low visibility beyond niche prog metal circles. I must also admit that the passing of Andrew "Mac" (Threshold's lead singer throughout the band's most stellar records) put a damper on my hopes for great future releases by the band. Moreover, the considerable gap between Dead Reckoning and March of Progress could have meant that the band had lost its way or sense of continuity.

Boy, was I wrong or what..!? Even though my preference has always been for the more soulful Mac vocals, no one can deny Damian's technical prowess and his careful balance between highs and lows. And even those who have criticized Threshold for their "childish" lyrics in Wounded Land (a really unfair remark, considering that their debut was much more "adult" than most bands' first efforts) must now accept that the band has matured to a point where lyrics, melodies constitute a powerful combination that tends to give you goose bumps whenever you hear their music.

I am hearing March of Progress as I write these lines, and all I can say is: welcome back, boys! Any serious prog metal fan with a weak spot for accessible melody (and not just instrumental experimentalism) should definitely buy this record, which is already being rated by many specialized vehicles as one of the best releases of 2012.

Let me emphasize this once more: Threshold is one of the very few bands on this planet with NO "bad" releases per se. Karl Groom et al. strive for quality and perfectionism and you can feel this in every record, be it with Damian, Glynn or Mac in the vocals. They definitely deserve to be much more successful than they are right now - but in case they still can't get that extra recognition, I am more than happy to oblige as a prog metal fan.

The WHOLE record is great, with the main highlights as follows:

Ashes - a magnificent opening akin to the goose bump-inducing Pilot In The Sky Of Dreams or Narcissus - enough said;

Staring at the Sun - great opening riffs, perfect balance between soft parts and heavier sections;

Coda - a fitting tribute to Mac;

The Rubicon - for those who still think Threshold is not "prog metal" enough;

Divinity - a great bonus track to the European digipak edition.

This is my very first review and written contribution to this forum; hope you all enjoy it!

Cheers,

Brazilian Progger