Musical Ramblings: Porcupine Tree a real surprise of good tunes

To try and show that I'm not strictly a “metal” type of guy, this week's review is going to look at a band that tackles many different styles of music and rolls them up into one tight package on each of their releases. Here's their new one:

Porcupine Tree
Fear of A Blank Planet


Never heard of these guys? Up until this summer, I was only vaguely familiar with their name thanks to their ties with the metal band, Opeth. After reading a review in Terrorizer magazine just praising the new disc I figured I'd drop the $15 and take a chance and I'm glad I did. The summer has now been filled to the brim (yes, the brim) with Porcupine Tree.

“Fear of a Blank Planet” is Porcupine Tree's 14th album (since 1991) and that doesn't include any special editions, EPs or special compilations...go to their website at www.porcupinetree.com for all that info. On this disc, the prog-rock masters deliver six amazing tracks that bring you on an amazing journey.

There's almost a little bit of everything on each of these songs that will please almost any room. For those of you wondering, no, there isn't any growling or screaming featured by vocalist/main songwriter, Steve Wilson, so you're safe indulging here.

Opener, “Fear of a Blank Planet” has the band doing almost a straight rock song until the middle break where the band shows how they can flawlessly incorporate ambiance into even the most straightforward tunes. After the song brings you down a little bit, the band breaks out into this awesome metal-ish riff, hooks you back and brings you out of the song into the more peaceful, “My Ashes.”

The star of this disc is the 17 minute track “Anesthetize.” The band showcases its talent here by being able to blend all aspects of prog rock music. The song slowly builds and builds up to around the eight minute mark where the band starts to unleash amazing riffs and superior drumming that will have even the most experienced drummers (cough) amazed at some of the fills and timing included near the middle of the track.

“Sentimental” is a track in the same vein as “My Ashes,” filled with mellow vocals and peaceful keyboards/piano in the background. “Way Out of Here” and “Sleep Together” are excellent closers as well featuring synth effect that bring the atmosphere of these songs way above most rock music out there today.

If you like bands like Tool, Ween, Dream Theatre and Opeth (not that Porcupine Tree sounds like any of them), make sure you check these guys and this release out. Because of this release, I've gone out and picked up their last effort, “Deadwig,” and some of their earlier stuff. I also picked up (and listening to as I write this) their DVD release “Arriving Somewhere” that chronicles their “Deadwig” and “In Absentia” albums. These guys need more of the spotlight in a crowded music world and hopefully this review/spotlight will have many of you out there checking them out. If you'd like more info on the stuff I just recently picked up by them, send a message my way via email or the Interrobang site at www.fsu.on.ca. This release gets a 10 out of 10 from me and is in the running for my top CD of the year.