Ranking the Studio Albums: Threshold

[@paulburrows7908]

I got all they're albums and they never once delivered a bad album in my opinion , every album has been brilliant.

[@deanomar1356]

You got all they are albums ? You know, "they're" is the short form of "they are".

[@paulburrows7908]

@@deanomar1356 albums, you know, that you Buy at a record store, or online etc, yes I have All their albums on cd.

[@ToddPetersen]

I'm glad you did Threshold. This has been my most wanted ranking the albums from you. Thanks to Steven for the suggestion.

[@daveycretin664]

Finally! One of my favorite bands! I love both Threshold and IQ. They’ve become my two favorite groups over the past 20-25 years. Slainte!

[@MrJericholic]

I love Threshold. They were always a bucket list band for me and finally saw them at progpower in 2019 and was blown away.

[@fredlaroche6969]

Oh wow. I'm so glad you did this. I LOVE Threshold! You are absolutely right, a lot of them are interchangeable because they are all THAT good. I would probably switch 1 and 2 every second I think about it. My top five would basically all be containders for top dog... I enjoyed what you guys had to say. I certainly hope your video turns some people to that wonderful music catalog. Mine: 11 - Wounded Land 10 - Clone 9 - Extinct Instinct 8 - Critical Mass 7 - March of Progress 6 - For the Journey 5 - Subsurface 4 - Psychadelicatessen 3 - Hypotetical 2 - Dead Reckoning 1 - Legends of the Shire

[@keithoday9896]

Hey Pete, Thank you for The Trower and Montrose album shows. I have the live Threshold but nothing else. On your recommendation; i will be purchasing their studio albums. Keep up the great work.

[@METALBENSCHRONICLES]

Got to be honest I have known about threshold since around 2001 and have loved select tracks that I’ve heard but never heard a album of theirs in its entirety. Definitely need to check their albums out.

[@wholelottarock5288]

Steven, the lack of a logo on the cover was "corrected" on the latter re-releases of Extint Instinct. ;-) I'm a "logo guy" as well. :-D

[@aerogray2500]

I saw them in Madrid last October and love all their albums. They seem to be the only band I have ever heard, whose songwriting never dips below brilliant! Simply superb!!

[@keithshapland903]

#1 Critical Mass as Steve Reid chose too. It was the first one I bought and did so on recomendation without hearing any of it. Seen them live three times inc Prog Power UK with Mac and they are bloody fantastic, I was looking forward to a fourth but it will be cancelled due to C19

[@tmed827]

The posts from Sea of Tranquility have really brought some smiles to me during this pandemic and before. First it was Savatage, then Magnum, and now Threshold. I just finished listening to Critical Mass and Legend of the Shires on you tube. Outstanding band. Will be blowing some cash on Itunes tomorrow buying as many of their catalog as I can.

[@glennsullivan6509]

Why wouldn’t you buy catalogue on disc ? Much better than the compressed crap that ITunes delivers.

[@samlewis45]

Great to hear some Threshold chat on here, and I've often wondered if you were a fan. I've travelled up to London three times over the years to see them live and they're always worth the effort. I agree that they have never done a bad album, and they seem to get better and better really. It is interesting that you highlight the Groom/West writing partnership, as they are certainly the dominant force, but others have written over the years too. In fact one of my favourite tracks Siren Sky was written by Pete Morten who sadly is no longer in the band, and Glynn Morgan wrote a couple for Psychedelicatessen too so it will be interesting to see if he contributes to their next one (I believe Legends of the Shires was already partially recorded with Damian Wilson before he left). Ironically too, March of Progress is my favourite album of theirs and it probably has the most diverse collection of songwriting credits in their catalogue. My ranking would be: 1) March of Progress 2) For the Journey 3) Legends of the Shires 4) Dead Reckoning 5) Subsurface 6) Clone 7) Hypothetical 8) Critical Mass 9) Psychedelicatessen 10) Extinct Instinct 11) Wounded Land

[@ericwalker6068]

I’ve only been into them in the past 5 or 6 years. I’ve managed to pick up all of their albums and still digesting them, but I will say Legends Of The Shires was my favorite album of 2017.

[@chrismangold306]

Great review gents. So stoked you did Threshold. A very special band with their own unique sound. BTW - I saw them in Atlanta ProgPower USA in 2019. They sounded epic playing a ton of their tunes and great ones from The Shire. Phenomenal !

[@musicnerd8969]

Though the top five are all almost interchangeable, my favorites at the moment, from most to least, are: 1. Legends of the Shire 2. Hypothetical 3. Subsurface 4. Dead Reckoning 5. Critical Mass 6. March of Progress 7. For the Journey 8. Extinct Instinct 9. Psychodelicatessen 10. Clone 11. Wounded Land Oddly enough, I thought Damian Wilson was a better fit for Landmarq's earlier music than here in Threshold. The band was never bad with his voice, but the mixture always sounded shrill. It's probably the tinnitus. The combination of his vocal range, his frequency and the guitars wreck havoc with my brain as it tries to break apart the various sounds from that latent white noise that's always constant in the background. Having said this I seemed to have fewer problems with the more recent material than the first two with him.

[@paolofurlanis3122]

That's a good ranking

[@kevintremblay1211]

LOVED! this show I am a huge Threshold fan as well and loved watching this ranking show, agree with you both that Not a bad disc in the whole catalog... Perfectly done!

[@calumthomson8498]

As we say in Scotland, there must be something in the water. Before I watched this I rated the Threshold albums as I see them and, as a fellow Scotman, I was amazed to find that I had 5 of the 11 albums in exactly the same place as Steven and really close on all the others.....I do beat him though as I have seen them live twice. My order: 1. Subsurface 2. Critical Mass (my first Threshold album) 3. Hypothetical 4. For the Journey 5. Dead Reckoning 6. Legends of the Shires (due to extenuating circumstances I haven't really got round to giving this album the time it deserves , so may be higher) 7. Clone 8. March of Progress 9. Psychedelicatessen 10. Extinct Instinct 12. Wounded Land I would also highly recommend the "Critcal Energy" live DVD....absolutely marvellous; Mac at his best. R.I.P.

[@peterspalda1077]

fabulous band, saw them live once with Damian and once with Glynn... my top 5: 1. Legends of the Shires 2. March of Progress 3. For the Journey 4. Subsurface 5. Dead Reckoning

[@mtaffer]

Legend of the Shires at #1 I agree. Such a phenomenal album and Mac is my favorite singer in the band's history, but Glynn just impressed me so much. I also saw them play at ProgPower USA and it was fantastic. Glynn was an amazing front man.

[@LolkeB]

Great band, that I've been following since the first "Intervention" on the SI Music sampler. Very good "Ranking the albums" episode!!

[@darrenbailey8536]

Astonishing band. outstanding live. Lucky enough to see them with mac , damien and recently glyn. All gigs in UK too ! All fabulous vocalists and frontmen.

[@kayfimt7769]

Love this band, super-underrated. They’ve never turned in a crappy album. Manage to rock out and be brainy simultaneously in a way few acts manage.

[@stephenlegg262]

Funnily enough I have only heard the two albums that you both picked for number eleven. Love them both.

[@drumz9]

I think Steve was refering to the 3 day festival in the UK as being 'Summers End Festival' in Lydney Town Hall, Gloucestershire! That also featured Danian Wilson and they headlined the Friday night!

[@TranquilityFireReid]

Hey Gaza, it was Fused Festival in 2011, which was organised and by the same people and (I believe) in the same venue as Summer's End, so you're pretty much spot on. From memory the bands on the bill were Threshold, Vanden Plas, Kingfisher Sky, Toxic Smile, Hanging Doll, To-Mera, Haken, Day Six, Loreweaver, After-Math, Winter In Eden and Hookah The Fuzz.

[@drumz9]

@@TranquilityFireReid Ah yes I forgot that they did that festival earlier on in the year by the same people- AKA Hugh and Steve! I probably would have seen you around! Of course they have relocated Summers End to Chepstow ( My home town) now. Love this channel BTW :-)

[@GeeVanderplas]

I totally agree that picking a favorite is almost impossible. And in the end it comes down to the circumstances in which I bought the albums. So my favorites are Hypothetical because that's the first one I ever heard, Dead Reckoning because that's the first one I got as a new release and March Of Progress because that's the first time I saw 'em live. The rest is equally good, but these are just a bit more special!

[@peterichards3261]

Really good Pete and Steven. Incredibly hard album list to rank. Three amazing singers during their career. Only seen them with Damian Wilson (twice) with Pete Morten both times in London. Brilliant performances. Have been a fan since Wounded Land. Album ranking probably harder than top 10 songs

[@tonylema5334]

Love Threshold, especially the Mac Era...big fan of Steven Reid too. I know this is a non-compilation list, but Wireless:Acoustic Sessions is phenomenal

[@TranquilityFireReid]

Thanks for the kind words Tony. Yes, Wireless:Acoustic is an excellent recommendation.

[@Nephilim-81]

Every vocalist they have had is absolutely great.

[@stephennorris2524]

One of my top 10 favourite bands, love all their albums, with reference to the mention of progpower, it was 2002 and can e found on the critical energy DVD, a good introduction to the band is the Ravages of Time best of cd, plus if you can get it the wireless acoustic set. Another band of like to see a ranking of us Arena, very consistent catalogue and funnily enough also had several singers but hasn't hindered the quality of the song writing.

[@diannecarpenter7718]

Thank you for your ranking of Threshold.🎤🎸🎵🥁

[@LuchaLibertaria]

12:50 He is talking about FireFest 2007 here. Apart from Threshold, Harem Scarem, Tyketto, Demon, Jorn, FM, Jaded Heart, Steve Grimmet, Stormzone and Soul Doctor also played on that festival.

[@drumz9]

He could also of meant 'Summers End Festival' in Lydney Town Hall, Gloucestershire! That also featured Danian Wilson and they headlined the Friday night!

[@TranquilityFireReid]

@@drumz9 Hey Gaza, as I mentioned above, it was Fused Festival in 2011, which was organised and by the same people and (I believe) in the same venue as Summer's End, so you're pretty much spot on. From memory the bands on the bill were Threshold, Vanden Plas, Kingfisher Sky, Toxic Smile, Hanging Doll, To-Mera, Haken, Day Six, Loreweaver, After-Math, Winter In Eden and Hookah The Fuzz.

[@lazarossamaras4427]

All their albums are great!!! My top three Legend of the shires Hypothetical March of progress Also seen them Live in Athens Greece in 2017. Really impressive!

[@moonspell6759]

excellence! Thanks Pete and staff.

[@pvdguitars2951]

Thanks Pete for reviewing this fantastic band. The Mac era is my favorite period of the band!

[@gwts1171]

I have to admit that I've never listened to these guys. Just totally under my radar. After I watch this I'm sure I'll order a couple, though, thanks to Pete and Steven!

[@Damaged262]

Threshold hasn't crossed my path yet. Life does that sometimes as well as where you live. So thank you, I have something to look forward to big time. Blue Oyster Cult and both Bouchard Brothers=ex-BOC will all have new music out this year, if all goes as planned. Looks like I fought off cancer long enough for new joy to come by.

[@darlatidwell6255]

Another band I need to refresh my memory on, I need to bring them up and listen to a couple albums. I'm always expanding my music library lately. TY Pete! 👍🤟

[@jacobheaney3836]

Great show, Steve Anderson was my bass teacher for a couple years back in high school I went to over here in the UK. Super nice guy!!!

[@abe3802]

Great as always. I bought my two first CD:s with Threshold juts 2 months ago. Sure I'm gonna buy more now.

[@ocif614]

Top 5 Threshold albums: 1. SUBSURFACE - is their best and perfect album. Lots of hooks, catchy songs and Mac was amazing. Still can't believe he passed away. First time I heard him was in a fantastic hard rock band called Sargant Fury. 2. Dead Reckoning 3. Legends of the Shires 4. Psychedelicatessen 5. Hypothetical

[@RyanX1899]

I've got it exactly in that order too.

[@johnnykawakid]

Fantastic band, nobody seems to speak about them, for me, there one of the best prog metal bands, everyone of there albums are fantastic. Great video guys.

[@deanbarton500]

Hey guys great show. I'm sure that the festival show was on the Hypothetical tour. Video from it is included on the critical energy dvd if I remember rightly. Its definitely Mac doing The Latent Gene. Also, please give Ghost a listen if you haven't before. Knowing your tastes I think you'd like them.

[@sidneyeubanks2201]

Threshold - very good progressive metal band ! I like all of their albums but I like their latest one Legends Of The Shires.

[@markjones4403]

They played prog power in Atlanta hypothetical tour in 2002 and actually played in Bethlehem PA 2017 I forget the name of the festival though but iq recorded a DVD there!

[@TonVenhuizen]

Knew the band (from Wilson) but never really dived in. I did see Damian Wilson live however a couple of times (2x solo and 1x with Maiden United). Great singer and really memorable concerts (in relatively small venues). Great 'ranking' however you could also say something like 'on shared nr.1 ... and then name them all).

[@Alfred_Domke_antispace-sounds]

Such a great band! The first album I got was Hypothetical. Still my favourite. I had the chance to talk to Mac after a show at the Zeche Carl in Essen, Germany. He spoke perfect German and was such a nice guy. And a very good singer. RiP!

[@gkirms]

Top 3 and from each lead vocalist - Hypothetical, March of Progress & Legends of the Shires.

[@timfrancis2130]

Great band! I was lucky enough to see them at ProgPower USA in 2019. I mostly prefer the Mac era stuff. Subsurface, Critical, Mass, Dead Reckoning, etc. But I also loved their last album with Glynn Morgan Legends of the Shires.

[@RyanX1899]

They were at Prog Power USA with Glynn I think 2018 or 19. Looks like they got a pretty great reception too. I think they may have a bigger following in the US than in the UK funnily enough. I'm in the UK by the way, such a shame, they should be superstars here. One of the best bands we have produced across genres but they get no love here. Enjoy them guys for as long as they are around, they are box office! Their recorded material is amazing but hearing them live, oh man, just catch them if you ever get a chance and you'll have your minds blown. Glynn is also starting to play more of the rhythm parts since they no longer have Pete. Found some footage kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5XIqKespLenhpY kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIqzmGynf8SYrZo kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHfKoYJ6osyllc0 Glynn totally nailed Long Way Home here, and just watch Johanne on drums, this is 2019 so Glynn has had a chance to get upto speed. They are all absolutely on point here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHqZnWZpo86nopY kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoiUaaNjd56Zpsk kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3zSaGOsbtuZl6s

[@johnappleton8133]

Threshold has always been a consistently good band with 2 amazing vocalists and is both melodic and has that bottom end heaviness. Critical Mass up to Dead Reckoning is their peak in proginess. The earlier albums are good to great and the last three albums have been good with a couple of epic tracks on them. I agree that Clone album is the closest Threshold went towards a mainstream sound and catchier tunes but is still a good album regardless. Threshold Opeth Overkill are bands that have put consistently good to great albums throughout their careers with not one stinker in the pile. Englands true hidden gem of a band that everyone can enjoy.

[@lening9]

1) March of Progress 2) Dead Reckoning 3) For the Journey 4) Subsurface 5) Psychedelicatessen 6) Clone 7) Legends of the Shires 8) Critical Mass 9) Hypothetical 10) Wounded Land 11) Extinct Instinct

[@blackeddy65]

Like you said Pete, not a bad album in their catalogue. All strong albums and I have them all. Can't rank them really, so I won't :)

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

My first exposure to Threshold was from an Inside Out CD sampler and the song was Phenomenon.

[@Hvymetal4life1]

You're right Pete. They played 3 ProgPowers & unfortunately I missed them all.

[@donaldwrissler9059]

This just popped up and all I could see in my email feed was " Ranking the Albums of TR". My first thought was that you were doing Trouble, I must admit to a tad bit of disapointment . But, I do watch 90% of your vids in the hope of being convinced to give an overlooked album a try. So lets spin the wheel again. BTW, Trouble would be a very nice future choice, if possible.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Trouble are awesome

[@1977tme]

I am not a huge fan of Damian Wilson's work with Threshold or Headspace myself, and apart from his work on "March of Progress", and perhaps a bit less so on "For the Journey", I always thought he kind of stuck out like a sore thumb. I love his work with Ayreon and Star One, and I think he has an incredible stage presence.

[@neugey]

CoverKillerNation's video exposed me to Legend of the Shires and I really enjoy it. The older stuff I've heard hasn't clicked with me as much but like is said in this video maybe I need to check out whole albums in their catalog rather than bouncing around.

[@williamosborne6866]

If prog is your thing, when are you going to get to reviewing Vanden Plas?

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Good idea.

[@gordy3714]

Trying to pick the best Threshold album is looking at a 10 horse photo finish.

[@mblatt2012]

Reminded me of why I like this band

[@RobertWeingher]

The vocals of Dan Swano on two songs on the album Dead Reckoning was the best and greatest idea the band ever had, i think this album should be in the 3 best albums of the band along with Psychedelicatessen and Hypothetical, thanks for the ranking of Threshold, my favorite prog metal band.

[@carlosaguilar6681]

My favorite progressive metal band, for the simple reason that they prevail the songwritting and melody over the virtuoso thing that mighy be Boring . In Threshold you find songs.

[@stevesmith3990]

I have the last 3 albums which I love, which one should I get next?

[@stephennorris2524]

I would suggest Subsurface, Critical Mass, Hypothetical and Dead Reckoning.

[@fjkladsj3424]

Hypothetical

[@wastelander1015]

For me the "trilogy" Dead Reckoning / March of Progress / For The Journey is absolutely incredible. Can't pick one.

[@fjkladsj3424]

I think there are multiple superior albums. All different but none better than the others: - Subsurface: great tracks, very consistent mood across all of the album. - Hypothetical: catchy, great melodies, best Threshold epic, greatest cover I know - March of progress: great songs, not as accessible as other lps Features the amazing Damian Wilson, the best in the business - Legends of the shires: As a fan of Damian Wilson and Threshold, I wanted to NOT like this album after Damian left. I couldn't because it's way too good. Great songs, great concept, its epic Lost In Translation is as good as Narcissus. Glynn delivers. Didn't expect this after I didn't like Glynn on Psychedelicatessen.

[@俊恒俊]

Hey Pete,how about ranking the studio albums of Buckethead?

[@axis2320]

My rankings are: 1. Critical Mass 2. Subsurface 3. Extinct Instinct 4. March Of Progress 5. Psychedelicatessen 6. Hypothetical 7. For The Journey 8. Clone 9. Wounded Land 10. Legends Of The Shires 11. Dead Reckoning

[@bobbaldwin3572]

1.subsuface 2.march of progress 3.dead reckoning

[@tdog5035]

The Wilson/Pete Morten albums are the best IMO along with Dead Reckoning.

[@RanterInShades]

11. Psychedelicatessen 10. Clone 9. Dead Reckoning 8. Wounded Land 7. Critical Mass 6. Extinct Instinct 5. For the Journey 4. Hypothetical 3. Subsurface 2. Legends of the Shires 1. March of Progress

[@robertshaw5326]

hey petes how about a ranking the albums of pain of salvation,labyrinth,blind guardian,vanden plas,elegy, ian parry, thats a start

[@fredlaroche6969]

oh yeah... Pain of Salvation for sure!!

[@1977tme]

1. Legends of the Shires 2. Critical Mass 3. March of Progress 4. Subsurface 5. Hypothetical 6. Dead Reckoning 7. Psychedelicatessen 8. For the Journey 9. Clone 10. Extinct Instinct 11. Wounded Land

[@RakelaK67]

I'm aghast lol off topic from the video (which is great, BTW) ... but I've been an IM fan since before Bruce Dickinson joined the band ... the first 5 albums with Bruce are imprinted on my DNA.... but I still can admit that all of those albums are not filler-free.... and the final 2 albums prior to his tmporary departure are basically all filler other than the FotD title track .... But following his return... their albums have been phenomenal .... not a single filler track on any of them ... all strong listens from start to finish. I didn't think they could surpass DoD and AMoLaD ...ever ..... but here we are... Senjutsu is the only album from 2021 aside from Mastodon's Hushed & Grim that I can apply the word "masterpiece" to. Back on Threshold ... great band ... respect all your opinions and comments for each album. Of all the SoT Ranking the X Studio albums videos .... the ones cohosted with Steven Reid are FAR and away the best videos. HINT .... partner with Steven as often as you can :) ..... Peace, Liberty and Freedom to all of you!!!

[@michelepagano912]

Psychedelicatessen n 1!

[@Canni-]

1. Dead Reckoning 2. Subsurface 3. Hypothetical 4. March of Progress 5. Critical Mass 6. Legends of the Shires 7. For the Journey 8. Clone 9. Wounded Land 10. Extinct Instinct 11. Psychedelicatessen

[@jonothanthrace1530]

Extinct Instinct was the first Threshold album I bought, but it's my least favorite because honestly the back end drags quite a bit; Lake of Despond and Life Flow sort of blend together into a single mass for me.

[@alexeyulko]

№1 Hypothetical it is for me

[@747jono]

A brilliant band shame not so popular in UK Steve

[@KevinOrtega1980]

Never heard of this band, check them out when I can

[@aerogray2500]

You won't regret it! Trust me!!!

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Yes check them out

[@stephennorris2524]

Richard West does actually appear on the debut.

[@tillmandavis4676]

How about a video to the velvet underground? Top ten songs or albums ranked.. would be cool

[@julianb4245]

Can someone tell me what accent is that?

[@RyanX1899]

His name is Damian!!! Stephen WIlson lol

[@edguygz7889]

I had first five albums but they done nothing for me maybe a re visit

[@petyapyatochkin9630]

Unpopular opinion: Clone is the best.

[@Ronnylama]

Pp Please do Gomez. My favorite. They are unique from 1997

[@eventidewinds]

Best: Clone & Wounded, then Psychedelicatessen and Legends of the Shires, Then all the other albums. Only extinct instinct is just terrible

[@glennsullivan6509]

For me Damien Wilson's voice and style is too soft / tender for a Prog band like Threshold. Andrew Mac kills it for me and Glyn is also good. Glyn may progress to being even better over the next albums !??

[@atleandersen7209]

Sweden rock 2023😊

[@menswear2112]

Incredibly enough, Threshold never really released a rubbish album

[@yhugjghug]

Well, I didn't listen to all Threshold albums yet. Some of their albums need a few times until someone can say something about it. I'd say "For The Journey" is a rather weak album. That's all I have to say.