Customer Reviews

Threshold - Critical Energy

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased this DVD because I was already familiar with their music. I always enjoyed their progressive style of melodic metal somewhat related to Dream Theater.
But I was also aware that Threshold is still developing a fan base which admittedly is growing and the band is only now starting to get rocognition.
I expected a rather low budget release, not having the financial background to produce anything of lofty standards of the likes of Dream Theater, Rush or other well known acts of this genre. But I was very positively surprised. Picture quality and camera work is very good, but what really blew me away is the excellent sound. The mix is absolutely fantastic, each instrument clear to distinguish and the overall sound very powerful just as it should be for this type of music.
The band is in excellent form, the song selection almost perfect.
The only (minor) problem for me is the performance by the singer Mac. His singing itself is flawless with a great voice but I felt that his performance as a front man still leaves something to be desired. He simply seems to lack the matured qualities of a James LaBrie for example.
But apart from that I can only praise their effort in the making of this DVD and I highly recommend it to anyone who is into prog metal like DT or Pain of Salvation.

Great to see this great band live in a little venue with close shots. Just watch the singer Mac, the guitarist Karl Groom and the athlectic drummer Johanne James is a real threat. Mac (who passed away recently)has a beautiful voice and looks like a funny character on the stage. If the picture is not at the best possible level on today's standards, the 5.1 surround mix is full, and really a success here.

I recently was introduced to this band, bought all their music and noticed they had this DVD. When i heard the live CD, I immediatlely purchsed this DVD. I must say the most impressive aspect is that the band it tight and sounds as good as if they were in the studio. There seems to be a rumour that the vocalist ( Mac as he's called ) did some overdubbing in the studio and from what I can see when watching the video it's true. But that being said it's an amazing concert..personally i don't care if the audience are not participating as much as people wanted, that means I hear more of the band! The video quality is top knotch and so is the 5.1 Mix although I seem to prefer the Dolby 2.0 on my receiver with the music selection. This is a must have DVD

Normally technical issues don't drive me over the edge. I loved Blind Guardian's DVD even with the curious rise-fall sound quality that sort of ruined the show. But either I got stuck with a rather shoddy disc or the production team for this DVD should be shot. For the first half of the show, the sound and the video just don't sync up. In the first few songs there's as much as a half second lapse between what they're doing and what my speakers are telling me they're doing. It became almost unwatchable, although it does improve later on. As for the band they did a good enough job, though not exactly a stellar performance. Mac, I'm sorry to say, is a good frontman only when he's singing. His banter with the audience is painful and while I know it's not really that important it does break up the flow nicely. He ducks slightly out of tune a few times and the band also goes from giving-it-all-they've-got brilliance to seemingly very bored quite often. But they sound great nonetheless and their performance is great. It's just a shame about the DVD's quality, which severely brought down an otherwise fun performance.

Unless I am missing something I can't understand why anyone likes this DVD. Don't get me wrong because I like Threshold but not one review mentions the fact that the concert is constantly being interrupted by COMMENTARY. If you don't mind someone talking and interrupting the show than go ahead and buy this DVD. I for one can't stand it and I could not even get past the first three songs. I wish I could get my money back. If I could give zero stars I would.

Jerry