Porcupine Tree – In Absentia
I feel like I’m toeing the line a bit here but there are absolutely moments of metal on Porcupine Tree’s amazing 2002 album In Absentia. Previous albums were more in the progressive rock vein but it’s with this album that they really began to crank the distortion on songs, such as with “Blackest Eyes” and “Strip the Soul”.
But this album proves that metal can be nuanced and have moments of stunning beauty. When “Trains” roars at the end, there’s still a yearning wonder that is impossible to miss. The instrumental track “Wedding Nails” adds in mystery and uncertainty with strange dissonance lurking above and within.
And as you listen to this album, pay attention to how masterfully the instruments play off of each other. It’s the first album with drummer Gavin Harrison, who is widely recognized as one of the best in the industry.
