Porcupine Tree - Deadwing (2005) #Review

Hello friends, very good day! On this occasion, I bring another wonderful progressive rock album of this decade. From the best Progressive Rock band from 2000 onwards, and that's Porcupine Tree. Which returned to give life to the genre, from the 90's, with great works and incredible albums. With a sound that sometimes reminds of Pink Floyd and the progressive of the 70's and 80's. But applying unique characteristics and devised by a great musician like Steven Wilson. He is totally crack, innovative and experimental, very astute in each of his projects. Porcupine Tree is undoubtedly one of the best known and best of the. Soon I would like to talk about Blackfield, another good project by Wilson, but it will be for the next post. On this occasion enjoy another gem more than the English..

Deadwing is to date the best-selling album of the band. Which was produced by the same Steven Wilson with, also has the collaboration of Adrian Belew (King Crimson) in the solos of two songs and as it should not be missing, the collaboration of Steven's great friend, the leader of Opeth, Mikael Åkerfeldt which collaborates in some choirs and some riffs. This album presents a slight change in the sound of the band, an innovation, bringing the music to a much more modern and hard sound, but still maintaining the previous bases. We can hear in this album some hard riffs, like metal and some distortions never before made by Porcupine Tree. For some this was bad, for me it was interesting, innovative and excellent..

1. We open with the homonymous song "Deadwing" , one of the most "hard" songs on the album. With a start that quickly increases, to a spectacular sound. With some riffs that could be said to have a metal touch. At 3:30, a beautiful passage begins that reminds us a bit of the progressive of the 70's and 80's, since it was only made by the guitarist Adrian Belew (King Crimson). Note the collaboration in the choir of Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth).

2. Another theme of the strongest, called "Shallow" , with a very strong beginning from the beginning, quite catchy and with good melody and distortion. When the distortion disappears you hear the characteristic sound of Porcupine, that beautiful melody, along with the piano and an acoustic guitar in the distance accompanying the incredible voice of Wilson, to then appear the riffs again, distorted perfectly for the occasion. Very good theme, criticized by some fans of the progressive. I think the distortion does not hurt in the prog.

3. Then we continue with "Lazarus" , it is a beautiful ballad, guided by the sweet melody of the piano. Very attractive, relaxing and thoughtful. I'm not sure about considering it a progressive song, but it's definitely a great song, no doubt beautiful and with a chorus that you will undoubtedly repeat.

4. "Halo", With a fairly dark start, where the bass and the light singing of Steven Wilson stand out. Then dark riffs emerge in the background, to start a chorus where the voice increases in aggressiveness considerably. Then it decays again in a dark environment, guided by the sound of the bass.

5. Follow "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here". The top of the album, the best theme for me, no doubt. A theme of 12 minutes, with a fairly long introduction, but it is worth it. Little by little the sound increases, and the voice of Steven Wilson. After minute 4, the song explodes into a beautiful solo, which takes sound to another level. With a refrain quite metalhead and as not if it is accompanied by Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth). The song is simply spectacular, the most representative in terms of what Porcupine has been producing. And without a doubt it is the Floyd theme of the album.

6. After the great climax, created by the previous theme, we have a small decline with "Mellotron Scratch" , which presents a good sound, but which becomes very muted for so many minutes. It is the subject that I least like, I do not have much to say.

7. An increase in quality, we see in "Open Car" , another of the strong themes of the album. With strong, distorted and very good riffs. Accompanied by the voice of Steven Wilson, as particular as none. A very relaxed chorus, to then open again a distorted sound and quite good. Another one of my favorite topics

8. Follow "The Start Of Something Beautiful" , a somewhat soft theme! I really like the sound of the bass! it does it quite harmonious! the voice stands out beautifully. Despite being a subject with few changes, no more than slight distortions and increased rhythm, it is a pretty entertaining song!

9. Finally "Tree Glass Arm Shattering" , is the theme to close this album. A soft and very good theme. With those spatial and environmental characteristics. Very relaxing to finish this album. There is a version of the album with 10 songs, which at the end of the last, spend 5 minutes of silence, to start a hidden theme, called "Shesmovedon" which is already from previous works.

This has undoubtedly been another great work by Steven Wilson. Very well structured and careful. Maintaining a particular sound, which we used to get accustomed to and also adding new more modern elements, which in my opinion, fit perfectly, like the distorted riffs. It should also be noted that the lyrics of this album are based on a ghost story, so we could say that it is a conceptual album. And what a good thing it is.