Porcupine Tree – In Absentia

Starting off with “Blackest eyes”, this album is a killer. Heavy drum filled opening, abruptly changed with the entrance of Steven’s voice. Some might say that this was the “sell out” album from Porcupine Tree, but that doesn’t change how good it is. I didn’t know that he was influenced by Opeth at the time he was writing the material, but that makes sense, since they worked a lot together on Blackwater Park, and Deliverance/Damnation at the time. The second track is perhaps my favourite rock song of all time, “Trains”. “Only Steven Wilson could write a love song about trains” (own quote from sometime). This is a song that always puts me in a good mood:) “Lips Of Ashes” is also a beautiful song, laidback, yet so much happening. “The Sound Of Muzak” is more upbeat, makes me feel very alive. The bass line is excellent, and the vocals are great. “Gravity Eyelids” is a very slow track, but Steven’s voice is so sad. It gradually explodes in metal festivities at the end:) Wedding Nails is even harder, even though it’s an instrumental track. “Prodigal” takes it all down again, with Steven’s soothing voice over a slide guitar, bass and drums, before once again exploding sometime around the middle. “.3” gives me a very Opeth-y vibe, slowly driving drums and bass lines, and subtle vocal lines from time to time. “The creator has a mastertape” is much more metal influenced. It’s very dark, the lyrics haunting. “Heartattack in a Laby” is one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard. It reminds me of something else which I can not quite put my finger on. “Strip The Soul” returns to the metal genre. With a hint of Rage Against the Machine and more hard rock bands. “Collapse the Light Into Earth” is a beautiful album closer. So sad, even the sadness is amplified by the echo effect throughout the track. First time I heard this I was surprised by the tear welling up for no appearant reason. Well, that’s the reason I love music.