Extinct Instinct

Extinct Instinct
Studio album by Threshold
Released	10 March 1997
Recorded	1996
Genre	Progressive metal
Length	67:11
Label	Giant Electric Pea InsideOut Music
Producer	Karl Groom Richard West
Threshold chronology
Psychedelicatessen (1994) Extinct Instinct (1997) Clone (1998)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Metal.de	7/10 [1]
Metal Crypt	4/5 [2]
Powermetal.de	8.5/10 [3]
Stormbringer	5/5 [4]

Extinct Instinct is the third studio album by British progressive metal band Threshold, released in 1997. ^[5] It is the first album to feature drummer Mark Heaney and the second to feature vocalist Damian Wilson, his first album with the band being their 1993 debut, Wounded Land . The album was rereleased in 2004 as a special edition with three bonus tracks; unlike the previous two albums, this edition did not include a multimedia section of any kind.

The songs on the album resume the themes of war and environmentalism found on Wounded Land, and also introduce themes of human self-absorption and isolation. The middle segment of the song "The Whispering" makes extensive direct reference to Wounded Land's opening song, "Consume to Live."

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Exposed"	Groom, Jeary, Midson	6:27
2.	"Somatography"	Groom, Jeary	6:26
3.	"Eat the Unicorn"	Groom, Jeary	10:06
4.	"Forever"	West	4:35
5.	"Virtual Isolation"	Groom, Jeary	5:33
6.	"The Whispering"	West	7:50
7.	"Lake of Despond"	Groom, Jeary	6:22
8.	"Clear"	Groom, West, Wilson	3:22
9.	"Life Flow"	Groom, Jeary	6:00
10.	"Part of the Chaos"	Groom, Jeary, Midson	10:30

Notes

• The song "Part of the Chaos" ends at 8:20. After 30 seconds of silence (8:20 – 8:50), the hidden song "Segue" begins.

2004 Special Edition Bonus Tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"Mansion" (Japanese bonus track)	Wilson	3:00
12.	"Exposed (Radio Edit)" (Taken from the fan club release Decadent)	Groom, Jeary, Midson	4:37
13.	"Virtual Isolation" (Edit)	Groom, Jeary	3:54

2012 Definitive Edition Bonus Tracks

No.	Title	Length
12.	"Virtual Isolation (Radio Version)" (Similar edit to the one found on Decadent, but with added effects)	4:18
13.	"Smile at the Moon" (A newly recorded version of a song written for the album but cut before recording)	3:45

Notes

• The 2012 Definitive Edition released by Nuclear Blast includes "Mansion," but replaces the other two tracks with the following:

Special edition features

• Extended booklet with slipcase and liner notes
• Remastered with three bonus tracks

Personnel

• Damian Wilson – vocals
• Karl Groom – guitars, backing vocals
• Nick Midson – guitars
• Jon Jeary – bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• Richard West – keyboards, backing vocals
• Mark Heaney – drums

References

1. "Threshold - Extinct Instinct (Definitive Edition)". Metal.de. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
2. "The Metal Crypt - Review of Threshold - Extinct Instinct". Metal Crypt. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
3. "THRESHOLD - Extinct Instinct (Definitive Edition)". Powermetal.de. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
4. "Threshold - Extinct Instinct - Definitive Edition". Stormbringer. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
5. "Extinct Instinct - Threshold". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 December 2019.