Scranton groove-metal band Threatpoint gets around.

Last year, the four piece toured to Texas, Idaho and California and hit big cities like Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Denver, Colo. Their second West Coast tour brought them to Seattle and Spokane, Wash. and throughout Montana this year, but the release of Threatpoint’s latest studio album has them performing in their hometown.

Threatpoint celebrates the release of its third LP, “R.I.P” from 9 p.m. to midnight Nov. 18 at the V-Spot Bar, 906 Providence Rd., Scranton with special guests Silhouette Lies, Beyond Fallen and Drama Scream. The band has also recently finished an acoustic record that features songs from all three albums.

Founding member and vocalist Chris James said “R.I.P.” displays the up-tempo intensity of the band’s thrash metal roots.

Groove metal is a style of hard rock that takes from the sonic characteristics of thrash, often associate with acts like Megadeth and Anthrax, and plays it at a more mid-tempo pace. But, as James explains, that’s not the only reason Threatpoint embraces that sub-genre.

“A couple of our favorite bands explain themselves like that, like DevilDriver and Testament,” James said. “It keeps you out of a box, because we use elements of death metal, hard rock, classic rock, and there’s a lot of thrash influence in us.”

The frenetic pace of thrash, a genre on which band members were raised, came to the forefront in “R.I.P.,” James said.

“Some of the songs are up to 180, 190 beats per minute, and that’s pulling away from some of the stuff we’ve done before.”

James said fan feedback has been positive so far.

“The production has been ramped up,” James said. “It’s a lot faster and darker, but it still maintains that hook and groove feel to it. Our craft is getting stronger.”

Adding to the original member trio of James, CJ Krukowski and Alex Olivetti is, long-time friend of the band, Matt Van Fleet on bass.

“Matt joining the band is something we’ve toyed with since day one,” James said. “He finished our first CD when our original bass player went to school. As soon as I heard his old band fell through, I had to put my hooks in him. He’s an amazing writer, an amazing player and an amazing friend.”

James said touring across the country has helped Threatpoint grow in terms of playing together and reaching new audiences.

“The reception is great everywhere we go,” James said. “We’re an underground metal band, so crowd sizes vary … but there were people waiting for us who we didn’t even know. We have friends all across the country.”

On Nov. 18, Threatpoint plans to play songs from across its catalogue as well as surprise fans with some choice covers they’ve been working on. A $5 admission gets patrons an evening of live music and opportunities to win a new guitar, a drum set or a Threatpoint package complete with band swag and all three Threatpoint CDs.

“We’re a live band,” James said. “We write for live performance, and we love to interact with our fans.”

Scranton groove metal band Threatpoint has a record of new material to release at the V-Spot Nov. 18. The band also recorded an album of acoustic versions of songs from all three of its records.
https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Threatpoint2-1.jpgScranton groove metal band Threatpoint has a record of new material to release at the V-Spot Nov. 18. The band also recorded an album of acoustic versions of songs from all three of its records. Submitted photo

By Matt Mattei

mmattei@timesleader.com

Reach Matt Mattei at 570-991-6651 or Twitter @TLArts