My favorite Threshold album
R. Gorham | 01/08/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"THE BAND: Andy "Mac" McDermott (vocals), Karl Groom (guitars), Nick Midson (guitars), Jon Jeary (bass), Richard West (keyboards), Johanne James (drums & percussion). Band origin: Surrey, UK.
THE DISC: (2002) Two versions of "Critical Mass" are available. 1. - the single music disc contains 8 tracks and clocks in at approximately 59 minutes, and 2. - the double-disc version, containing the music disc and a bonus 2nd disc containing 3 music tracks (an edit of "Phenomenon", and 2 new additional tracks totaling approximately 14 minutes), and a multimedia section for your PC (with a band documentary; in the studio/diary, personnel/bios, screen saver, backstage, and weblink). Included with the disc is an 18-page booklet containing song titles/credits/times, song lyrics, band photos, production notes from Groom/West on each track, and thank you's. Even track numbers written by Groom/Jeary; odd track numbers written by West. Recorded at Thin Ice Studios, Surrey, England (March - June 2002). Label - InsideOut.
COMMENTS: Though I own several Threshold discs, I've never been a hugely over-the-top rabid Threshold fan. "Hypothetical" (2001) was my 1st purchase years ago and is still probably the sentimental favorite. However, I firmly believe this "Critical Mass" double-disc edition is their most accomplished release. Polished, slick, mature (all aspects of the band firing on all cylinders)... and simply some great writing. I love the double guitar attack. Threshold fits nicely in the family of prog metal bands. I hear similarities to Dream Theater, Enchant, Fates Warning, etc... and if you're into this genre of music - I see that as a compliment. Similarities, but never clones of any other band. Groom and Midson's guitar work is what intrigues me the most here. James' drumming is solid, even if he is the band's 3rd drummer. West's keyboards are stunning - he is a tier 1 player. Mac's vocals are good, though limited in my opinion. I read a review in a music magazine years ago where one of the writers compared Mac to Meatloaf (the "Bat Out Of Hell" Meatloaf)... and that always stuck with me. Mac can handle the heavy tunes, but I feel he really shines on the slower songs... he may be at his best on the soft ending of the title track. As for the music - the disc opens with one of my all-time favorite Threshold tunes, the fast paced "Phenomenon". Track 2 ("Choices") has some great lead guitar work. "Falling Away" slows the pace down and is my 2nd favorite song on the disc... heavy on melody and West's atmospheric keyboards (as is the song "Avalon"). Seven of the eight tracks fit nicely into the 5-8 minute range. The album closer - the title track "Critical Mass : Parts 1/2/3" - is a lengthy listen at over 13 minutes... it's the album opus and a climactic ending - full of ups and downs, blistering guitar work, great keyboards and intricate drums. The limited edition 2-cd set is worth looking for as the 2 bonus tracks ("Do Unto Them" and "New Beginning") are outstanding, and the multimedia section is informative. If you're a fan of the band, you probably all ready own this album. If you're just learning about Threshold, "Critical Mass" is a great place to start (5 stars)."
Non-Critical Listening
MetalMarc | Grand Rapids, MI USA | 01/22/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I was anxious to get my hands on this CD after buying the very good Hypothetical last year. Hoping Threshold would deliver something as good or maybe even better. Needless to say I am very disappointed in this new offering. First of all these songs lack serious energy heard in songs like Light & Space, Oceanbound, and Long Way Home. All of the songs on Critical Mass just seem to plug along at sort of a programed mid to slow tempo that completely bore the listener. These songs simply drag and go on too long. Secondly, this album can't be considered metal just progressive rock. The heaviness was seriously scaled down from Hypothetical, which was not super heavy or anything but was at least in the metal category. That is what I thought I liked about Threshold, being slightly heavier than most prog bands but it's not happening here. Lastly the hooks are way too predictable and manufactured sounding. I am sorry to rip this album but I spent my hard earned money on it and it didn't deliver nearly the quality heard on the Hypothetical album. Also to note the bonus CD is just 3 more songs of the same boredom. Maybe on the next album Threshold can garner some inspiration and write good songs again. Add some aggression and heaviness to the mix! They are certianly talented musicians no doubt."
Consistency in the line-up shows
Murat Batmaz | Istanbul, Turkey | 09/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Critical Mass, the sixth studio album of British prog metallers Threshold, is the first album ever that features the same line-up with its predecessor, and that is a big plus. Threshold has gone through many changes in their line-up, especially with their vocalists and drummers. They've had three different singers (Damian Wilson, Glynn Morgan and the current Mac), and five different drummers (Tony Grinham, Nick Harradence, Jay Micciche, Mark Heaney, and the current drummer Johanne James). While all of these musicians are very talented in their own way, these changes have affected the band's style to a certain extent and made it somewhat difficult for Karl Groom and Richard West to define the real Threshold sound. So, Critical Mass is the first album that features the same line-up with the previous album Hypothetical, which to many Threshold fans is considered the peak of the band. Hypothetical was an amazing disc in many respects, and Critical Mass is a very good follow-up. However there are slight differences in the approach to songwriting mainly because of Nick Midson's contributions. The last Threshold album where he had input to the compositions was 1994's Psychedelicatessen. And although that is a great album, I feel Critical Mass, compared to its amazing predecessor, somewhat suffers from lack of focused songwriting. While the Karl Groom and Richard West tracks on this CD have the Hypothetical vibe all over them, the other songs with Mac and Midson have a different feel. Not that they're bad, it's just they sound like they're all parts of one big song all arranged into several tracks. I could be wrong though, just my opinion.Guitarist and main songwriter Karl Groom said that Mac's voice was getting better with every release and he's just come to such a position where he actually 'defines' the style of Threshold a great deal now. I quite agree with Groom's assessment. Mac has a very powerful voice, nothing wrong with his performances on Clone and Hypo, but he really seems to know what he's doing on Critical. The double guitar work is once again mindblowing, not in the technical virtuosity sense but in the way that Groom and Midson once again prove that they have breathed new life into this very Dream Theater-driven prog metal genre. The rhythm section provided by Jeary (he's like the Jon Paul Jones of Threshold) and Johanne James is once again stunning. James is definitely the best drummer Threshold has ever had. His playing is tasteful and very well arranged in the mix--not too high and not too low. As for Richard West, the other brainchild of the band, he is once again proving that he is simply put one of the greatest keyboard players in the genre. What makes all of these guys so special is that they know when to stop and when to let themselves loose. It's not like you'll hear a 12-minute instrumental section with lots of guitar and keyboard trade-offs on a Threshold CD. Not that they can't do it, it's just that their songs don't need it. My respect for this band is growing day by day, for having developed and matured their own style throughout the years. They're like UK's answer to Dream Theater. I love both bands. It's just that DT has been cloned over and over again that the genre has been overflooding with unoriginal prog bands lately. Threshold on the other hand knows what they're doing. They're exploring new territory and covering new ground, trying to find what suits them best, rather than copycating other big acts out there. As far as prog metal goes, I consider Critical Mass to be one of the best releases of 2002 along with Pain of Salvation's godly album Remedy Lane and Vanden Plas' Beyond Daylight."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1