CLONE

Wow! Right from the very first song "Freaks" it's obvious that this album is something special. The opening track as well as the whole CD deals with the subject of cloning. The lyrics are saying; "Yes we will create some freaks!". And I think they are right. It's better to let the nature have it's own ways. The heavy guitar riffs are better then ever, and the new singer Andrew McDermott is better than both their previous singers Damian Wilson and Glynn Morgan are. They were great singers too, but Andrew's voice is very powerful and he's a perfect replacement! I just hope that he will stay in the band forever.

It's hard to tell which album is the best, their debut album "Wounded Land" (1993) or "Clone". Maybe you shouldn't compare them to each other, as they are very different in style. "Wounded Land" was very pompous and closer to progressive rock where "Clone" is more heavy Prog Metal. The production though is much better on "Clone". The album has got a very clear and crisp sound, which I think is necessary, especially when it comes to Prog Metal. Prog Metal has to be very powerful, and a good production is therefor a need. As always, Threshold are not forgetting the strong melodies and great arrangements that sets them apart from many other over-technical progressive metal bands.

The music on this CD is somewhere between Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Dream Theater, Genesis, Metallica, Pink Floyd, Queensryche, Shadow Gallery, Spock's Beard and Yes. The musicians are as always very talented. This is one of those CD's that you can't name any favourites on, as the whole album is just excellent! "Goodbye Mother Earth" and "Voyager II" though are really excellent tracks.

I can't say anything else but: Buy this CD if you're into Symphonic Progressive Metal, and I assure you that you will enjoy it. Threshold is Prog Metal at its best, and with this release I think they deserves the same attention as Dream Theater. This is one of the best Prog Metal releases for 1998. Highly recommended!