Live report THRESHOLD, VIRTUAL SYMMETRY & ODDLAND, Markthalle, Hamburg – April 20th, 2023

It had been quite a while since I saw Threshold live. It was 2018 in Zoetermeer, Netherlands. After all these years it’s time to see a concert of the band again and what could be more logical than to experience the tour start of Threshold at Markthalle in Hamburg.

But before that Oddland are playing tonight. The guys from Finland play progressive metal with a not too little portion of melancholy. Even if the guys really push the pedal hard, it’s the wistfulness that resonates in every sung line of the lyrics. All in all, however, it can be said that Oddland deliver a solid show and are also met with respectful applause from those in attendance.

The second support act, Virtual Symmetry, creates more of an atmosphere. It seems that a significant part of the audience came for the Swiss prog metal specialists. The songs are applauded and the good vibe in the Markthalle gets going. Virtual Symmetry combine powerful and grooving riffs with well done vocal melodies. This mix is exactly what makes an ideal support act for tonight. I knew the band from Lugano only by name until today and I am impressed by what the guys have in their offer.

The breaks are kept extremely short this evening, which is good for the flow and the spirit. When Threshold enters the stage under applause, the atmosphere as well as the anticipation increases. With ‘Haunted’ the bands with a new song and also the following ‘The Domino Effect’ is taken from the ‘Dividing Lines’ album. As not to be expected differently, Threshold deliver. There is no question that the quality of the Brits is perfect. Moreover, the guys seem to be hungry for live shows, because they play a more than 90 minutes set, which includes a lot of new material (‘Complex’, ‘Silenced’,..) as well as the classics from the last two decades. With ‘Defence Condition’ also my favorite song of the new album has found a place on the setlist and so everyone has his delightful moments tonight. This also applies to the band members themselves, who obviously enjoy being able to finally play live again. It is drummer Johanne James who is not only the beat-setting powerhouse of the band, but is also always active behind his drum kit. Sometimes standing, sometimes by mimics and furthermore animating the fans to wave their hands leads to an extra applause for the iconic drummer.

All three bands would have deserved a few more fans present, because the Markthalle was not sold out and there is quite some space in the back of the room. Nevertheless, everyone present tonight enjoyed the evening and got what he or she came for – powerful and exciting progressive metal that shines through quality.