Porcupine Tree - In Absentia review
| Band: | Porcupine Tree |
| Album: | In Absentia |
| Style: | Progressive rock |
| Release date: | September 24, 2002 |
| Guest review by: | Mindheist |
01. Blackest Eyes
02. Trains
03. Lips Of Ashes
04. The Sound Of Muzak
05. Gravity Eyelids
06. Wedding Nails
07. Prodigal
08. .3
09. The Creator Has A Mastertape
10. Heartattack In A Layby
11. Strip The Soul
12. Collapse The Light Into Earth
[European Special Version bonus disc]
01. Drown With Me
02. Chloroform
03. Strip The Soul [video edit]
The fact that Porcupine Tree caught my attention is that mainman Steven Wilson had helped Opeth on co-writing many songs on Damnation and Black Water Park, so I was sure I will not be deceived by this release "In Absentia," released in September 2002 via Lava/Atlantic Records. I was very excited to hear what an Opeth manager could offer and what "In Absentia" is all about.
Let's begin to say that this is no album for pure extreme metallers and even less for fans of the black influences, so if you are like that, stop reading and don't even think about purchasing it. Being a recent fan of Porcupine Tree, I can say with no doubt that this album is recommended for progressive/rock fans and for sure Black Water Park and Deliverance Fans. In Absentia generates an original musical structure similar to Opeth. Although, this album will always be considered as the band's best album ever, I fell in love with the band's progressive rock sound when getting this masterpiece. Progressive/darkened sound mixed with flawless drumming and guitar arrangements and great keyboard-driven passage work together with the affectionate vocal presence of S.Wislon.
There's this genuine sound of Opeth (Death Whispered A Lullaby) in Blackest Eyes, soothing uneasiness perfectly expressed with the song's chorus. Followed with Trains, starts with an acoustic passage then evokes a great progressive driven dark rock sound. Lips Of Ashes, Sound Of Muzak, Gravity Eyelids and Wedding Nails sound sad and evoke distressful atmosphere and remind you of the sad side of Atonement and Reverie/Harlequin Forest in Ghost reveries. Acoustic guitars swarming up with catchy vocals to create groovy melancholic character (it's merely what Ghost Reveries lacks).
The progressive path following the band since the re-entering on the scene has increased the chance to create a new sound completely different of the early career's albums. In Absentia sounds very well and has probably accelerated many heartbeats. It's not perfect but not either so far from perfection.
Album highlights: Blackest Eyes, Trains, Lips Of Ashes, The Sound Of Musak, Gravity Eyelids, Wedding Nails.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 10 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 10 |
| Production: | 10 |
Written by Mindheist | 17.09.2006
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Comments
Comments: 20
Visited by: 324 users
| ylside Staff Posts: 4745  |
This album is great, although it seems that it runs out of strengh after it's first half, like you mentioned in your album highlights. The first five or six songs are This album. The Sound Of Musak, Gravity Eyelids, Wedding Nails and my personal pick.
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| Damnated Churchburner Posts: 4943  |
this album is just not a 9.4. it's too pop influenced and defenetly not their strongest. it's a good album, though
---- Blessed is he that murders Christ in himself and in his fellow men.  Written by TheBigRossowski on 10.02.2009 at 16:01
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| Mindheist No Longer Human Posts: 618  |
Written by Damnated on 25.09.2006 at 20:50 :  , well i really want to know what's their strongest so, :.
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| Damnated Churchburner Posts: 4943 |
Written by Mindheist on 25.09.2006 at 22:47 The Sky Moves Sideways is their ultimate best, if you ask me, but on second place I say Up The Downstair, Signify and the live Coma Divine. listen to them 
---- Blessed is he that murders Christ in himself and in his fellow men. Written by TheBigRossowski on 10.02.2009 at 16:01
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| Spyroid Rosetta Stoned Posts: 1023  |
This album is awesome, and one of the reasons that this is my favourite band.
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| Bsquared Posts: 33 |
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| Mindheist No Longer Human Posts: 618 |
Written by Bsquared on 03.07.2007 at 17:15 It appeared in the 3rd place on Top 20 albums of 2003 according to MS awards, not bad at all.
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| Thryce Retired Staff Elite Posts: 4346  |
Written by Bsquared on 03.07.2007 at 17:15 Because, Top 100 albums require at least 80 votes. Top 20 albums of the year require 20 votes.
---- Your favorite band sucks.
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| Bsquared Posts: 33 |
Thanks, I see now, It used to be only 50 votes
---- http://www.last.fm/user/Hobflop
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| Mizer84 Account deleted |
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| Spyroid Rosetta Stoned Posts: 1023 |
Written by [user id=25589] on 31.08.2007 at 16:11 Everybody is overrating nowadays, 8.5-9 is still really close to perfection, I'd say that not many albums at all deserve that high ratings. Only albums by my favourite artists and a few others does. So if you just like half the album, 8.5-9 seems waaay to high. But since it's one of my favourite albums, 9.4 is not too much. A matter of taste, as you say
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| BloodTears ANA-thema Elite Posts: 11835  |
I disagree that this album cannot be appreciated by fans of extreme metal, whatever "pure" means in this sense. I think people underestimate people's taste in general. And I don't see the similarity between what Porcupine Tree does and what Opeth does, at all. And I am big fan of both bands, I know them pretty well. Also, unlike you, I would give a 10 to the songwriting, because that's what makes Porcupine Tree stand out as a band. Having said that, it's your opinion and it's how you see things, so this is really not a criticism.
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| Powerslavex Alexskywalker Posts: 777  |
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| Boxcar Willy yr a kook Posts: 9156  |
These guys look great goona check em out!
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| lord artan Posts: 297  |
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| SauradipGhosh Posts: 21 |
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| JCJen7 Posts: 423  |
This album and Queensryches Operation Mindcrime were the first albums I really got in to lyrically. Although not a concept album per sey (or w/e), it does have a common theme, DARK. From serial killers to child abusers, derailed trains and the grim future of music, lyrically this album is incredible.
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