Porcupine Tree - 'Deadwing' (Lava) Released 04/04/05

Who would have thought it possible? In some strange Jurassic Park style experiment, in the murky corners of the underground music scene, Porcupine Tree has managed to re-animate everyone’s least favourite dinosaur.

Long after the Geneses and Floyds lay smothered of creativity in their amber-coated bank balances, Steven Wilson has led his group of prog rockers to almost half a million album sales on the way to this, their eighth album. The near ten minute opening title track is a great representation of what Porcupine Tree do so well. The production is pristine, the performance technically superb and who else can sound like Marilyn Manson and Pink Floyd battling over a lost Led Zep epic?

The strong opening continues with 'Shallow', which stands out thanks to some fantastic raging riffage. Things get interesting when the laid back 'Lazarus' standing out with an atmospheric pedal steel and Keane-like piano lines combination. 'Deadwing' reaches it’s mid point with the epic 'Arriving Somewhere But Not Here' and unfortunately things do seem to lose direction slightly after this, with a rocking 'Open Car' seeming out of place among the more laid back reflective mood. 'Deadwing' will certainly light up the dark bedrooms of fans of thoughtful, atmospheric rock everywhere.

Will it elevate them to the greater commercial heights inhabited by the likes of Radiohead? Only time will tell. Anyone curious enough for a taste of the PorcupineTree, won’t go wrong by starting here.