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I think of the U.K.'s Threshold as the Progressive Metal band that people who aren't fans of Prog and have spent a lifetime slagging Dream Theater feel OK about liking. They are as smooth yet crunchy and complex yet accessible as their American counterparts, minus the pretension and drama. They write songs every bit as good, maybe better, but do so in a much more unassuming way and simply let the music do the talking.

For the Journey is the long-running bands' 10th album and second since vocalist Damian Wilson rejoined in the wake of Andrew McDermott's unexpected passing. My last album from Threshold was 2007's Dead Reckoning and I'm finding For the Journey similar yet more polished and, frankly, a little less exciting. Dead Reckoning had a grittier sound and I admit to liking McDermott's vocals more than I like Wilson's. McDermott had a rawness to his delivery that is absent now. Still, Wilson can sing does the songs on For the Journey justice, even if he's a bit vanilla for my liking. As in the past, Threshold chooses not to beat the listener over the head with technicality and doesn't show off how talented they are at every turn. They simply write well-constructed, catchy songs that are instantly memorable. The choruses are understated but the melodies are full of hooks that you'll be humming in no time. There's nary a bad song on For the Journey though, as I said at the outset, some are just a little too slick, so I'll stick to the big guitar riffs of "Turned to Dust" and "Watchtower on the Moon."

For the Journey is another album long-time fans of Threshold should readily embrace.