"Storm Corrosion" is another of Steven Wilson's projects, this time a long-awaited collaboration between Wilson and his long time friend Mikael Åkerfeldt, front man of the Swedish progressive metal band Opeth.
At Åkerfeldt's request, Wilson produced a few of Opeth's albums, beginning with 2001's "Blackwater Park," on which he also added backing vocals and instruments. In the process, the two discovered a lot of common ground, which they have been exploring ever since.
Åkerfeldt returned the favor on Porcupine Tree's 2002 album "In Absentia," providing guitars and backing vocals, and the two had talked about doing a collaboration from that time forward. "In Absentia," notably, was the first of Porcupine Tree's albums to have a harder metal edge to their sound.
"Storm Corrosion" is the resulting collaboration, and both musicians told their fans that it would be a departure for them, and not to expect it to sound like anything they had done before. As Wilson said, with Åkerfeldt in the studio, he had no reason to play the guitar as Åkerfeldt is such a master. Wilson provides the soundscapes and most other instruments. They did not disappoint.
The album is a dark and lustrous journey, with lush melodies and arrangements, highlighted by Mikael Åkerfeldt's soaring guitars and Steven Wilson's multi-layered soundscapes, with both men lending their singular vocal styles to the mix.
Of all of Wilson's work, and I have literally dozens of albums between all of his various projects, this is my favorite, particularly the title track, which is the second track of six.
The album is lush and beyond gorgeous, albeit with occasionally disturbing lyrics, but well worth listening to, which for me, was on a continuous loop for the first couple of weeks at least.
And although this track is sung by Wilson, Åkerfeldt's voice on the tracks he sings is amazingly beautiful, which was a surprise to me, as I've mostly heard him doing the obligatory metal growl with Opeth.
Lyrics:
Storm Corrosion
Someone is calling her shorewards
Much like horses
Raising dogs will sing to me
Hold back the tears in my comfort
We move forwards
In these pauses the storm corrodes
Maps of a lift to the scaffold
On a nursery floor
Begs aloud not to stay
Cut from the stone in the quarry
This old friend of mine
In his silence the storm corrodes
Passed on the second hand slips outwards
Born in the curve the song drips endless
Thrown out the boy believes the secret
Grown up the dogs begin to reach it
All words, with the exception of Steven Wilson's and Mikael Åkerfeldt's lyrics, are my own.
The song and video are the intellectual property of Steven Wilson, Mikael Åkerfeldt and Storm Corrosion, and all rights remain with them, their producers and record companies. I claim no rights, but offer this video, as I offer all the music videos I post, in the hopes of promoting Steven Wilson, Mikael Åkerfeldt and Storm Corrosion, so that more people become familiar with their music, and with hopes that they grow their fan base in the process, as they so richly deserve.
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