Stoakes’ Song of the Week
It’s still prog month here at Stoakes Media and what a great time we’ve had so far. We started off with the band Three, then last week we had some early Uriah Heep, but this week, I thought I’d go for something a little bit more contemporary… and a tad heavier. Allow me to introduce Threshold!
Threshold was the first EVER band I interviewed, many years ago. I was so nervous. I had planned the interview meticulously, I was taken onto their tour bus and I was introduced to founding member, Karl Groom. Well, all those questions that I had in my head went out the window. I don’t think I remembered a single question! I sat down and chatted to Karl. I can’t remember a thing about the interview, but what I do remember is a huge Jack Daniels poster at the back of the bus! Yes, this was rock n roll! Anyway, whether or not Karl Groom could sense my nerves, I don’t know, but he just put me at ease and by the end of the interview, it was like I was talking to a mate I’d known for years, so Karl… Thank you for that.
Anyhoo, Karl Groom is a genius by the way, not only is he Threshold’s guitarist, he is also an incredible producer and has worked with the likes of Pendragon, Dragonforce and Nightmare World (Worth checking out! They’re great!!) But anyway, onto the music.
‘Unforgiven’ is the lead single from Threshold’s tenth studio album ‘For the Journey’. Released back in 2014, it was the fourth and last album to feature vocalist Damian Wilson. The album was a successor to their previous album, released in 2012, ‘March of Progress’. Like March of Progress the album was produced by, yes, you guessed it… Karl Groom at his Thin Ice studios, along with fellow band member, Richard West.
Commenting on the album at the time, vocalist Damian Wilson confessed what an easy album it was to record due to the fact the band have “become really good friends” He also said they’ve become “really close” and “thoroughly enjoy making music together”. Even Richard West said it was one of the most enjoyable albums to make. I wonder what went wrong? As not long after that, Threshold and Damian Wilson parted company….
Threshold really does hold a special place in my heart, given Karl was my first interview. I really wish I could find it out there on the interweb, I’m sure it’s flying around out there somewhere… I wonder if I’ve got any better!?! Ha!
