1993–1999
The band's debut album, Wounded Land, was released in 1993, taking its name and some thematic elements from Stephen R. Donaldson's novel of the same name. Wilson was unavailable to join the band for the follow-up tour, and so Glynn Morgan was recruited to replace him. He sang on the band's 1994 second recording, Psychedelicatessen, which spawned a music video for the song "Innocent," the band's first. The following year, Morgan and the band toured Europe and recorded some of their performances for the short live album, Livedelica.
Threshold took a break before their next effort, during which time Morgan and then-drummer Jay Micciche left to form Mindfeed. Rather than finding an unknown singer to replace him, the band turned again to Damian Wilson, and together they recorded 1997's Extinct Instinct. They followed this with another tour of Europe, this time supported by Enchant. Additionally, Johanne James, the band's current drummer, played with them for the first time during this tour. Wilson was unavailable for their next album, so former Sargant Fury vocalist Andrew "Mac" McDermott, joined to record Clone and would remain with them until 2007.
2000–2005
In 2001, Threshold released Hypothetical, which saw Johanne James firmly cemented as the band's permanent drummer. Another lineup change occurred in 2003, when bassist Jon Jeary left and was replaced by Steve Anderson. Around this time the band also re-released their first three studio albums in Special Editions, with bonus tracks, a remastered sound, expanded liner notes and, in the case of Wounded Land and Psychedelicatessen, special CD-ROM content. Their newer albums, starting with Hypothetical, were released in Limited Editions, with similar bonus content. The albums Critical Mass (2002) and Subsurface (2004) followed, interspersed by the double live album and DVD Critical Energy.
2006–2011
Threshold left their longtime label, InsideOut Music, in 2006 to join Nuclear Blast Records. Guitarist Nick Midson left the band in early 2007 for unknown reasons. The band released Dead Reckoning which spawned a music video for an edit of the song "Pilot in the Sky of Dreams". The song also appeared on the 2008 movie soundtrack In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale. This marks the first occasion of a song by the band appearing in a motion picture. In July 2007 vocalist Mac left the band and original singer Damian Wilson returned as Threshold's frontman for the first time in nearly a decade for the band's tour dates which extended into 2009. Pete Morten replaced Midson as guitarist for the tour and later albums. InsideOut Music released the first official Threshold compilation in November 2007. The album The Ravages of Time is a two-disc set covering all of the band's official albums from Wounded Land to Dead Reckoning. In 2009 the band released a limited edition eight-disc singles box set, including previously unreleased b-sides and brand new re-recordings of old demo songs released in other forms before, including Smile at the Moon, (which was debuted live on the 2009 Essence of Progression Tour), Shifting Sands, Half Way Home and Fist of Tongues. On 3 August 2011, former vocalist Andrew McDermott died of kidney failure.
2012–2017
On 24 August 2012, Nuclear Blast announced the release of March of Progress. It was the first album to feature Damian Wilson on vocals since 1997. The album was followed on 19 September 2014 by the band's tenth studio album For the Journey. The following year the band released the double live album "European Journey" recorded during their November 2014 tour. In February 2017, Pete Morten left Threshold to focus on his own projects, and the following month Threshold announced that they had parted ways with Damian Wilson.
2017–present
Glynn Morgan, the band's former vocalist from 1994 to 1996 replaced Damian Wilson for the album Legends of the Shires released in September 2017. The album entered the top 20 of the national album charts in Germany and Switzerland and spawned a music video for the song "Small Dark Lines". The following year the band released the live album "Two-Zero-One-Seven" recorded during their 2017 European tour. In July 2021 Threshold announced that they were back in the studio recording their twelfth studio album, teasing that "if Legends of the Shires had a slightly darker, moodier older brother then this would be it". In July 2022, the band announced their 12th album would be titled Dividing Lines, and it was released on 18 November 2022.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threshold_(band)
Studio albums
Wounded Land (1993)
Psychedelicatessen (1994)
Extinct Instinct (1997)
Clone (1998)
Hypothetical (2001)
Critical Mass (2002)
Subsurface (2004)
Dead Reckoning (2007)
March of Progress (2012)
For the Journey (2014)
Legends of the Shires (2017)
Dividing Lines (2022)
In the past there have been other bands who used the name Threshold:
1. An R&B band. Fronted by singer Angela Carole Brown, and led by composer/guitarist Linda Taylor, Threshold includes drummer Laval Belle (Earth, Wind & Fire), bassist Del Atkins (Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige), organist Mikal Majeed (Rick Zunigar), keyboardist Ed Roth (Coolio, The Brothers Johnson), and singers Catte Adams (Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole) and Janelle Sadler (Natalie Cole, Ozzy Osbourne).
2. Finnish progressive rock band/project Threshold released their lone album "Paradise Now" in 1981. The band was a brainchild of (Pelle Miljoona's bassist) Ari Taskinen who wrote all the songs and plays keyboards and 12-string guitar here. Others participating were Vando Suvanto, Esa Kotilainen, Yari, Rubberduck Jones, Stefan Jones, Pia Noponen and Jone Takamäki.
3. A Progressive Thrash Metal band from France. The band formed in 1988 and released an album in 1991 entitled: "Within the Expanse". Band members include: Stein Guitton - Guitar, Tristan Leroy - Guitar, François Morgues - Bass, and Regis Lebrun - Drums.
4. An Atlanta-based religious punk band from the 80s. Threshold is an obscure band who appears on "The View: An Atlanta Compilation 1984-1990."
Don't Look Down
Threshold Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don’t look down
Don’t look down
Don’t look down
It’s time to shine!
You have spent your life confessing what was wrong inside
They left you second guessing how to close your mind
Until you wake up tomorrow just the way you were before
So what are you waiting for?
Your feet never leave the floor
You’re running round in circles like a tethered mare
But there is no exertion that will get you there
So you cry for exemption from all you’ve done
And try to shake off the sorrow over all that you’ve become
So what are you waiting for?
Your feet never leave the floor
We are looking out for a leader to believe in
For a watcher of the sky
Don’t want a pretender to deceive us
Or a demon in disguise
So if you can live through the shadow of our eyes
We’ll come to receive you because we need to
In a world that is born to fly
Hesitation has a strong design
But every good intention slowly fades with time
But you force hibernation is no retort
Because you wake up tomorrow just the way you were before
So what are you waiting for?
Your feet never leave the floor
We are looking out for a leader to believe in
For a watcher of the sky
Don’t want a pretender to deceive us
Or a demon in disguise
So if you can live through the shadow of our eyes
We’ll come to receive you because we need to
In a world that is born to fly
In a world watch it fly
Staring at the endless sky longing for the clouds to take you
Looking for a promised time hoping that it won’t forsaken you
There’s nothing you can do about the wasted years
The battle brought the mettle that makes you
You don’t need an angel to carry you here
And you don’t need a devil to break you
When all your reason and reference are taken away
And you believe in the perception that something must change
When all your credence and candour are put in their place
You’ll find the boldness to abandon the future you face
Don’t look down
Don’t look down
Don’t look down
Don’t look down
It’s time to shine!
So what are you waiting for?
Your feet never leave the floor
We are looking out for a leader to believe in
For a watcher of the sky
Don’t want a pretender to deceive us
Or a demon in disguise
So if you can live through the shadow of our eyes
We’ll come to receive you because we need to
In a world that is born to fly
Don’t look down
It’s time to shine!
Threshold's song "Don't Look Down" is a motivational song about not being afraid to take risks and go after what you want in life. The repeated phrase "don't look down" serves as a reminder to keep moving forward and not get lost in doubt or fear. The song encourages the listener to be bold, to abandon past mistakes and start fresh, to be a leader people can believe in, and to embrace the limitless potential of the world around them.
The first verse speaks to the weight of past mistakes and how they can hold us back from chasing our dreams. The line "you cry for redemption from all you thought" is a powerful statement about the desire for a fresh start, to not be defined by the past. The chorus uses the metaphor of running in circles but not going anywhere to illustrate the frustration of feeling stuck. The line "Your feet never leave the floor" emphasizes this feeling of being trapped and unable to make progress.
The second verse speaks more directly to the idea of being a leader and inspiring others. The line "We are looking out for a leader to believe in" sets up the idea that the listener could be that leader if they step up to the challenge. The chorus is repeated again, but this time with the addition of the line "In a world that is born to fly," which reinforces the idea that limitless potential exists all around us. Finally, the bridge is a call to action, to not be held back by past failures or doubts and to embrace the unknown.
Overall, "Don't Look Down" is a powerful motivational song about not being afraid to take risks and go after what you want in life. It emphasizes the importance of being a leader people can believe in and not allowing past mistakes to hold you back.
Line by Line Meaning
Don’t look down
Do not be discouraged or overwhelmed
It’s time to shine!
It is time to show your true potential and talents
You have spent your life confessing what was wrong inside
You have spent your entire existence confessing your faults and shortcomings.
They left you second guessing how to close your mind
Others have left you unsure of how to control your thoughts.
So you cry for redemption from all you thought
You plead for salvation due to all the mistakes you have made
Until you wake up tomorrow just the way you were before
You will continue to wake up every day with the same fears and doubts.
Your feet never leave the floor
You are not making any progress in life
You’re running round in circles like a tethered mare
You are doing a lot of activity but not achieving anything significant.
But there is no exertion that will get you there
No amount of effort will make your dreams come to fruition.
So what are you waiting for?
What is preventing you from making progress?
We are looking out for a leader to believe in
There is a longing for a leader to have faith in
For a watcher of the sky
Someone who can see the bigger picture
Don’t want a pretender to deceive us
There is distrust for those that are fake
Or a demon in disguise
No hidden evil intentions will be tolerated
So if you can live through the shadow of our eyes
If you can withstand our scrutiny and judgment
We’ll come to receive you because we need to
We will accept you because we need someone to believe in
In a world that is born to fly
In a world that has limitless potential
Hesitation has a strong design
Doubt and indecisiveness are a well-crafted plan
But every good intention slowly fades with time
Over time, our good intentions often diminish.
But you force hibernation is no retort
You cannot cure your inaction by sleeping more.
Because you wake up tomorrow just the way you were before
Inaction will not help you achieve your goals.
Looking for a promised time hoping that it won’t forsaken you
Seeking a better future that won't betray you
There’s nothing you can do about the wasted years
The lost years cannot be redeemed
The battle brought the mettle that makes you
The struggles you have faced have made you stronger
You don’t need an angel to carry you here
You don't require assistance to reach your destination
And you don’t need a devil to break you
You can overcome your obstacles alone, without giving up your values.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD LANSDOWNE WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Josh Meads
My favourite album of all time. Everything came together on this masterpiece (Damien returning, first album in 5 years, Pete joining the band and writing 2 of the strongest songs). This album has more goose bump inducing moments than any album I've ever heard. A perfect 10 out of 10!
Max10192
The solo at 4:00 is one of my favourites ever. God that guitar tone is orgasm inducing for me. It's like the guitar is melting along with my ears. It sounds so clear and well produced. I love it.
Mike m.
Max10192 Karl groom is so damn underrated as a guitarist
Dan Downing
I think he used 5150's but you can get close if you use an EQ in your effects loop. Listen to Evergrey for an almost exact tone from some of their older albums. Or go way back to Ronnie Lee Tekro from TNT for a similar boosted mid lead tone.
Josh Meads
Goose bumps!
James D Hill
They have always been one of the few prog metal bands that paid a great deal of detail to the lyrics as well as the music.
GordyDownUnder
I really like Damien Wilsons voice, so unique, instantly recognisable.
Stephen Newton
It's 2023 and the Choir like Chorus is still giving me vibes and soothes as always. Threshold is really a good Prog Band. Damien is gifted and blessed with a tasty voice.
Mark Berryman
This album quickly grew on me and has received a weekly listen for years. I don't know the reasoning behind Damien's exit again when things were coming together so perfectly. They have managed to maintain their excellence even as the members changed.
nealsbeard
7:27 - best break ever!!! what a killer-refrain this song shows why Groom&West is the most brilliant guitar-keys duo in today's prog rock best synergy since Petrucci&Moore (listen to the verse!).