Search - Porcupine Tree :: In Absentia

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Shotgun Method | NY... No, not *that* NY | 04/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow.. In Absentia by Porcupine Tree may just be the finest album to come along in a long, long time. Trying to describe this album in terms of sound is difficult--think of a band with the vocal harmonies of early REM, the atmospherics of Pink Floyd or Radiohead, and the metallic sound of 70's era King Crimson or Tool. And yet, it sounds totally different from any of them. Steven Wilson lends a hushed, subtle tone to the vocals that belies the very dark lyrics of In Absentia. The album is supposedly about a child that grows up into a serial killer, although the concept is somewhat vague. Wilson comments on society quite a bit--take The Sound Of Muzak, for example, which targets the state of today's music and how dehumanized and sterile it is becoming, complete with quite a catchy chorus. The instrumentals are truly awe-inspiring. Supposedly this is Porcupine Tree's heaviest album, drawing on Wilson's collaboration with the Swedish metal band Opeth (which is how I heard about Porcupine Tree, in fact). The music alternates between delicate, soft textures and harmonies to heavy, complex riffs without feeling the least bit forced. The band is equally at home playing beautiful ballads (Collapse The Light Into Earth, Trains) as it is playing crunchy metal (Wedding Nails, The Creator Had A Mastertape). As far as the album itself is concerned...well, you have to hear it to believe it. I've heard precious few songs that are as deeply affecting as Collapse The Light Into Earth, and Strip The Soul and Gravity Eyelids are two of the best songs I've heard this year. If you aren't excited after listening to the opening riffs of Blackest Eyes, check your pulse. In a world of commercial garbage, we desperately need more bands like this. In Absentia is HIGHLY recommended to all listeners. Note: Be warned that the enhanced video version can behave a bit wonky on some PCs. The video for Strip The Soul is indeed nice, but if it was left off or placed on a separate CD that would've been better. No big deal, though."

"Black the sky, weapons fly..."

A.F. | Bronx, NY USA | 09/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have always heard of the name Porcupine Tree when I started getting into the modern-day progressive rock bands, but I had never heard anything by them and was skeptical whether or not they'd be any good. A few weeks ago, I bought a copy of their latest album IN ABSENTIA and was intrigued by the sound clips. This was some really heavy stuff, yet further info led me to discover that PT were a more mellow prog band on their earlier albums. You would never guess that from the blistering opening track "Blackest Eyes."What Porcupine Tree have done on IN ABSENTIA is a truly remarkable achievement. By bridging the gap between old-school prog. rock and modern-day progressive metal and throwing in some melodic pop/rock for good measure, they have created a totally unique sound. There are some stunningly beautiful moments on this album, and some of the most intense moments I've ever heard. Yet, it always remains consistent and the album flows incredibly well. How else can you explain that the gorgeous "Heartattack in a Layby" is followed by the dark and punishing "Strip the Soul"?The album begins with the aforementioned "Blackest Eyes," which expertly combines big, crunchy metal riffs with catchy harmonies and stellar acoustics. The song smoothly segues into "Trains," my personal favorite off the record. This track just might be the greatest pop song ever written. The two solos - one on acoustic guitar and the other on banjo - fit in perfectly, and Steve Wilson's vocals are heartbreaking and emotional, especially when you read the lyrics. After this great one-two punch, the song quality continues.The excellent "The Sound of Muzak" is a slashing commentary on today's music industry, with clever lyrics and solid drumming. The 8-minute epic "Gravity Eyelids" starts off slowly with some innovative ambient samples and soundscapes that mesh wonderfully with Wilson's dry vocals, and around the 4 minute mark, a seriously heavy riff kicks in and the band rocks out for the remainder of the track until the ambience is repeated again at the end. The complex instrumental "Wedding Nails" is another rocking highlight, sounding like Black Sabbath and King Crimson jamming in the studio together. Nobody seems to have mentioned the beautiful ".3," but I think it's a mesmerizing, hypnotic song that conveys a lot of emotion through it's two lines of lyrics than anything else (one of them is my review title).Unlike a lot of prog bands, Porcupine Tree's musicianship is used to serve the song rather than merely show off, but they still play great. The drummer Gavin Harrison is an absolute monster, laying down some killer grooves and playing some pretty speedy fills, especially on the industrial-like "The Creator Has a Mastertape." The guitar work is also fantastic. The tone and feel the riffs and solos are absolutely astonishing. The production is also top-notch, courtesy of Wilson as well, who also produced the last three Opeth albums (guess that's what inspired him to have the guitars heavier this time around).IN ABSENTIA is a solid slab of classic progressive rock and deserves to be in everybody's collection. I don't use the word "masterpiece" very often, but that's what this album is. Once you own it, you'll feel the same way."

The way more music should be. Period.

Luke Rounda | Lawrence, KS | 07/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What exactly is the fascination with band names involving random animals these days? I don't have an answer for that, but I'll cut Porcupine Tree some slack since they've been around since 1991 and "In Absentia" is one of the best records I've heard in recent memory.



Beyond any allusions to prog-rock or prog-metal that could be made about this band, lies songs like "Lips of Ashes," "Prodigal," "Blackest Eyes" and "Trains," each showcasing a band at the top of their game writing industrial-grade hooks that could bring down Godzilla. Prog without the apparent need to write lyrics about elves and eskimos, "In Absentia" combines the best of both worlds in its fusion of classic rock juggernauts like Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath with an unmistakably "alternative" feel, slipping between sparkling acoustic folk and crunchy power Sabbath guitar with a seamlessness that only foreshadows this album's "cult classic" status.



"Blackest Eyes" is the perfect opener: a very brief, chiming clean electric guitar signals the explosion of a brief, slamming guitar riff that segues right into one of the catchiest pop songs ever. "Trains" and "Lips of Ashes" follow, with the former's folky bent almost sounding like a '90s alternative take on something the Traveling Wilburys (a supergroup that included Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty) might have come up with, while "Lips of Ashes" makes use of florid, ethereal sound effects and guitar work to create an unforgettable mood. Elsewhere, the simplicity of "Heartattack in a Layby" conjures up pure sadness.



Of course, not everything's sunshine and gumdrops. Where something like Metallica's "Orion" can hold up for over eight minutes and not seem dull or forced, Porcupine Tree's instrumental "Wedding Nails" starts with one of the worst Satriani riffs that Joe didn't even write; nothing can really save it in six minutes and thirty-three seconds after this, although the song does move through several phases ranging from blistering to almost atmospheric and Middle Eastern.



Still, it's hard to stress what a breath of fresh air this album is in today's music world. Real melody, real thought, real good. Pick it up, and if you don't love it, give it to me so I can find someone with taste who will."