Review OBLIVION PROTOCOL ‘The Fall of the Shires’

Since 1992, Richard West is the keyboarder of UK prog rockers Threshold. The prog pioneers released in 2017 with ‘Legends of the Shires’ another exquisite alum, showing the strength of the band when it comes to layered and melodic songs.

2023 faces a continuation of what started back in 2017 although under another banner. Oblivion Protocol is the band that offers with ‘The Fall of the Shires’ a next chapter with West being the driving force. Next to the keyboarder, who also does the vocals, Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation), Simon Andersson (Darkwater) and Darby Todd (Devin Townsend) are part of this project. It is this four-piece that recorded eight beautiful songs and what makes things even more exciting is the fact that Thresholds Karl Groom added some guitar solos.

The idea of this next chapter arose when decided to not go further with the ‘Legends of the Shires’ storyline. West instead had the strong wish to stay a little bit longer in this context and began to write songs. While being on the way the thought grew to publish the music and here it is: ‘The Fall of the Shires’.

Photo: Patric Ullaeus

The first thing one notice is the darker vibe and the dense sound. Oblivion Protocol isn’t far away from Threshold and at the same time guitars and bass are more down tuned compared to the mothership. Atmospheric keyboards are adding the density and melodies play an important role too. Bands like Rush, Steve Wilson and even Ghost are outfits I feel remined when listening to songs like the glorious ‘Public Safety Broadcast’. The song unfolds immediately and offers enough details for a lasting excitement. There is no way to not get excited by these melodies.

The cinematic beginning of the album sound like season two of a Netflix show. It’s a dramatic beginning which leads to an acoustic guitar and West’s vocals. The song tells the story of the protagonist of Part 1 becoming king, who took the fatal decision that the only way to control the people is oppression. This move makes the place to a darker one and it’s the following ‘Tormented’ that picks up the mood perfectly. Although the dystopian story line is a fiction there are some links and parallels to the real life too which gives the album some extra depth.

‘The Fall of the Shires’ is a great concept album and a stellar continuation of what Threshold started in 2017. Facetted progressive rock with twist and combined with a great sense for melodies is what this release brings to the plate. This longplayer is completes the work of Threshold in great fashion without competing with the homebase.