28 August 2012    |    

Storm Corrosion

After discovering them via a friend, Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth became a fan of Steve Wilson’s Porcupine Tree. And when metal fan Wilson was given an Opeth album a few years later he knew that the two had to meet up for what was to become a beautiful musical ‘bromance’. Since then, Wilson has overseen production on a number of Opeth albums, Åkerfeldt contributed to Porcupine Tree’s ‘Deadwing’ and they have shared a headline tour. The only thing that held this first proper collaboration back was time.
Knowing a little of both bands work, I was intrigued enough to give it a try. What I wasn’t expecting was to be hooked after just one listen. Instead of making the album that everyone expected, they used it as a vehicle for something different. Something dark and beautiful. Ambient Gothic Folk-Prog if you will. And it’s a beauty. But it’s also divided opinion amongst fans and seems to be a love it or hate album. So like most things I can only recommend approaching it with an open mind. And ears…
Explore the dark side at  https://stormcorrosion.com
p.s. For those of you that are tempted to try both main projects, they each have a varied and extensive body of work to choose from. You will usually find Porcupine Tree filed somewhere around ‘alternative rock’. Opeth however, are a progressive heavy metal rock band and Åkerfeldt is also well known for his ‘devil growling’. But don’t let that put you off as albums ‘Damnation’ and ‘Heritage’ both feature his amazing ‘normal’ singing voice and I can’t recommend them highly enough.