It’s a real privilege to be able to speak with musicians that have managed to maintain the longevity that English progressive rock band, Threshold have. With thirty odd years under their belt, they’ve survived the fickle nature of the music industry, albeit with some line up changes along the way, and are still making music that is contemporary and relevant.
Heavy had the pleasure of speaking with one of the band’s prime composers and keyboardist Richard West, discussing their new album Dividing Lines and the way that it wasn’t supposed to be a social commentary but kind of turned out that way.
“It’s hard not to be influenced by what’s goes on around you,” Richard muses, “We didn’t want to do a political record, we didn’t want to do a moany record about what’s going on, but you can’t help being influenced and I think what Threshold have always tried to do is take what’s going on, take a bit of philosophy, take a bit of world-view stuff and just throw it all together and see what comes out.”
Richard explained that despite this influence, writing an album for Threshold is still akin to writing a fictional novel, and referenced George Orwell’s 1984. “I think we did the same on Subsurface back in 2004, it sounded political on the face of it, but it was more like writing 1984; it’s kind of that approach – influenced by, but not a commentary on.”
Listen to the interview with Richard to hear more about the themes covered on Dividing Lines, how he utilized his time during the pandemic (it’s pretty damn wholesome), the ups and downs of a changing line up, and why they’re “too English” to indulge in the rock and roll lifestyle mythos!
Dividing Lines is out via Nuclear Blast Records on November 18.