UK’s THRESHOLD has just released their new CD “Dead Reckoning” on Nuclear Blast and the word is phenomenal. After seven albums and changing labels to Nuclear Blast the band looks to hit pay dirt with “Dead Reckoning” as the music gets heavier yet still holding the key to gold with their melodic side.

This is power metal at its finest, with crunching guitar licks and vocals coming from the heavens. “Slipstream” starts things off in high fashion bellowing the aggressive guitar style of Karl Groom tearing through solos as the melodic keyboards of Richard West brings full volume with an orchestra sound. Andrew “Mac” McDermott vocals can be mentioned in one word phenomenal, the man has range sending waves through power metal, hard rock and the melodic rock genres, not mentioning how he hits those creamed filled choruses.

“This is Your Life” is another killer tune sending you to a past dimension in the vein of DREAM THEATER meet HOUSE OF LORDS and “Mac” still holding the golden key to success. “Hollow” echoes the greatness in the writing ability of THRESHOLD making a statement how versatile, their band is. Just check out the next tune “Pilot in The Sky of Dreams” a ballad that shows the sentimental side as they reach for the sky with searing solos and at times being aggressive with their progressive flair. This tune is an epic trilogy lasting nine minutes and forty-four seconds of total enjoyment. The keyboard work by West excels and shines throughout; yet he does not over power the other musicians.

“Disappear” hard edged emotion shows a style of SAVATAGE and a chorus that is mesmerizing as “MAC” shows he is the real deal premiere vocalist hitting strides of the best of them. You can be a metal head, melodic master, or progressive fan “MAC” will conjure up vocalists from all sides of the globe such as STYX--Dennis DeYoung, BONFIRE--Claus Lessman to the king Jorn Lande.

“Dead Reckoning” is a collector’s item right out of the gate and should be added in all music fans collections. The unbelievable greatness of THRESHOLD will be noticed on “Dead Reckoning”.