Editor's Choice...
And this time "In Absentia", "Porcupine Tree's" seventh studio album, released on September 24, 2002.
"In Absentia" marked a significant turning point for "Porcupine Tree", not only as their first album featuring drummer Gavin Harrison, but also as the first to fully embrace a heavier, progressive metal direction. This shift introduced the band to a wider audience and showcased their ability to evolve musically while staying true to their progressive rock roots.
The change of musical direction on "In Absentia" reflects Steven Wilson’s collaborations and inspirations at the time, notably with "Opeth’s" Mikael Akerfeldt. At that time, Wilson listened to quite a few extreme metal bands, especially the Swedish bands "Meshuggah" and "Opeth". He was particularly impressed by the music of "Opeth", and agreed to produce their album, "Blackwater Park", a move that inspired him to move "Porcupine Tree" in a more metal direction. "In Absentia" shares a similar balance of progressive rock’s atmospheric beauty with metal’s intensity, mirroring the dynamics seen in "Blackwater Park". Another main influence on Wilson was his collaboration with Aviv Geffen, a fan of Wilson's music, who invited "Porcupine Tree" to Israel during their 2000 tour, in support of the band's previous album, "Lightbulb Sun". Geffen, not being a fan of metal music, kept that project in more of a soft direction, as he and Wilson will do in their side project "Blackfield". Geffen’s influence is felt in the album's more introspective and emotional moments, adding a layer of melancholy to the heavy, progressive structure.
The opening track, "Blackest Eyes," highlights this new direction with a combination of heavy, metal-influenced guitar riffs and softer, melodic verse with Steven Wilson’s signature melancholic vocals. Harrison's addition to the lineup elevated the band’s sound, his complex yet fluid drumming style providing a solid foundation for the album’s heavier sections, particularly in tracks like "Wedding Nails" and "The Creator Has a Mastertape."
One of "In Absentia's" strongest aspects is its seamless blend of acoustic passages and powerful, metal-influenced riffs. Tracks like "Blackest Eyes," illustrate the band’s ability to shift between delicate, melodic acoustic segments and heavy-riffing, more dissonant sections without losing emotional impact.
"Trains" which comes right after is one of the album’s standout tracks where you can feel this dinamics, mixing acoustic guitar work with intricate fingerpicking and emotional, soaring vocals with powerful guitar bursts. The song starts gently but builds into a driving rhythm with subtle layers of banjo and mellotron, showcasing the band’s folk and progressive rock roots.
"The Sound of Muzak" explore the complexity of rhythm, showing how the band’s progressive tendencies are enhanced by their embrace of heavier elements. It features a 7/4 time signature, adding a progressive touch, with Aviv Geffen singing backing vocals. The clean guitar tones and rhythmic complexity are highlights of the track, with Gavin Harrison’s drumming providing a tight and complex foundation.
"Gravity Eyelids" slowly unfolds from atmospheric, electronic-tinged soundscapes into heavier guitar sections. The shift from ambient to heavier passages exemplifies the album’s dual nature.
"Wedding Nails" is an instrumental track that leans heavily into progressive metal territory, with Harrison’s intricate drumming driving the song’s rapid tempo shifts and odd time signatures.
"Heartattack in a Layby," for instance, captures a moment of quiet desperation. It is one of the more somber, emotional tracks, featuring minimal instrumentation, allowing Steven Wilson’s delicate vocals to take center stage. On the other hand, "Strip the Soul" delivers unsettling narratives underscored by raw, driving energy, with its down-tuned, menacing riffs and complex rhythm changes. It’s one of the heaviest tracks on the album, pushing the band further into progressive metal territory.
As the first step into their progressive metal era, "In Absentia" stands as one of "Porcupine Tree's" most defining releases. It bridges the gap between their earlier, more psychedelic work and the darker, more aggressive direction that would follow in albums like "Deadwing" and "Fear of a Blank Planet".
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
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