METALHEAD REACTS to Porcupine Tree - In Absentia // Part 2 

I like the way that you present yours comments, I think Porcupine is always "the calm before the tempest" and sometimes "the tempest take the first place before the silence" Porcupine and friends added, a personal touch of sounds effects and moments, always something new, that let us breathe or not, in fact they are themselve a master group together, old Pink Floyd, Genesis,... reborn and this is so wonderfull !

Discovering Porcupine Tree and classic Progressive bands like Yes are like discovering 3D after living in a 2D world.

I was amused when you said, "I wouldn't be surprised if I checked out another Porcupine Tree album and they were doing jazz or something". I thought to myself "Hi. Let me introduce you to Steven Wilson's solo work" 😁

Wilson has been 80 percent of my music listening and after multiple years i still find new songs that are just brilliant, .3 here is magnificent here

Thank you! Your reactions are genuine and you show how much you are falling in love with this band with each listen. Unless somebody has mentioned this already, "In Absentia" is an album that explores the concept of how normal people become serial killers. It's not apologetic of violence at all, it is just a description of a process that is not usually exposed in the media or treated in a non judgmental way. Songs like "Blackest Eyes," "Gravity Eyelids," "The Creator has a Mastertape," or "Strip the Soul" are clear examples of this concept. It's the first album to be recorded with drummer Gavin Harrison, and it was recorded and produced in Manhattan, NY. "Deadwing" (with more creative input of all members of the band and one of my favorite albums by Porcupine Tree) explores issues of death and the passing to another state of conscience. "Fear of a Blank Planet" (mindblowing, of course) explores issues of alienation and deprivation of feelings of due to dependence of computers, video games, and media. "The Incident" explores issues of obscured and untold stories that are hidden under the fast-pace media label of "incidents." If you enjoyed a song like "Lips of Ashes" and the heavy riffs, "Deadwing" is your album.

In Absentia is definitely a top-tier PT album. I'd say Wilson's best "solo" work rivals his best PT work. Definitely give Hand Cannot Erase and The Raven That Refused to Sing a spin, pretty much modern prog masterpieces.

Gravity Eyelids is my favourite from this album. Its buildup is so great. Going from that eerie sound, then exploding into the metal bridge, then calming down. It’s an experience for sure

As a huge PT fan, I'm very familiar with these songs, but I'm really enjoying this because I can see you little smiles, or shifts, or furrowed brows, at exactly the moments that I love the most, and your occasional comments point out some of my favorite bits. And you're "I'm not ready for what's about to happen" at 7:10 was genuine and awesome and accurate. Keep it up!

.3 is so good to just drive to.

Glad to see Part 2. I am thoroughly enjoying revisiting In Absentia along with you! Hoping you will continue this trend of reacting to albums and not just a song within an album. Your observation about not getting bored with PT is absolutely on point. Goodluck and cheers from India. 🇮🇳

Congratulations on your discovery of Steven Wilson! Your musical world will never be quite the same. PT didn't make a bad album so it really doesn't matter where you go from here. You'll see Deadwing mentioned a lot. Also, as others have said, check out his solo stuff. For me The Raven That Refused To Sing is his masterpiece, while others would say it's Hand Cannot Erase, and I wouldn't argue with them. I wish more people would do full album reviews, I'm really enjoying this reaction. Looking forward to the final part. Oh and as you have a stellar taste in music (QOTSA, PT) check out a band called Motorpsycho. Very much in the same vein as PT, creative, expansive, but with their own kind of twist. I think you'll dig them. Their album The All Is One would be a cool place to start.

I've listened to this album many times, but I never noticed until today that a lot of the strings such as at the end of .3 remind me of parts of Wide Angle by Hybrid.

Please do a reaction to their album 'Deadwing' next. Another incredible album. For their live performances i would suggest : Anesthetize (Live in Tilburg) Arriving somewhere but not here (Live in Chicago) Way out of here (Tilburg) Enjoy!!

Good taste in music my man! Judging by your reaction to this and the QOTSA reference I think you would really enjoy Karnivool. You need to give the Sound Awake album a run through. That album is incredible start to finish!

Part 2 also delivers the goods... I, too, think that listening "in album form / chronology" helps better understand the works as put down in purposeful order. Thanks for sharing again! Onward to Part 3!

You haven't heard or seen anything until you see them in Tillburg. They are so much better live. Millions of views on that concert. The best live concert I have ever seen. Bring Me The Horizon at Royal Albert Hall is the second best. I hope you get to these.

Haha, wasn't anticipating the mention.. 😂 By the way, if you're interested in reacting to SW's solo material sometime in the future.. highly recommended Hand.Cannot.Erase or "the Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)" They're even more highly regarded than In Absentia.. and more akin in sound to classic prog bands such as King Crimson, Jethro Tull, and Rush.

The Incident! Deadwing!

Enjoy the ride youre in good hands

Gravity eyelids has a John Barry feel to it for me, in terms of the chords used. I'm thinking the space station scenes in Moonraker.

Please listen next time to Riverside, the Polish Porcupine Tree. You will definitaly love the voive of Mariusz Duda, especially Second Life Syndrome is a breathtaking song.

Curious quote by Steven Wilson, the singer and the mastermind behind the band, because one of Porcupine's Tree's albums was centered around drug abuse, answering the question if he himself does drugs: "I’m fascinated by it. I mean, I’m fascinated by serial killers, too, but I’m obviously not a serial killer!"

Great Video!

would love to see your reaction to some nascar aloe or spider gang songs, keep up the quality content

Good review 🇬🇧

Listen to the Bass Part!

Great reactions! You'd love Hate Song by PT. Great guitar!

Please check out Katatonia ,awesome band! the lead singer is best friends of Steven Wilson😁

19:20 - No they are not. That is why they create ART. Art is .. difficult since art is what you as an viewer (listener) make out of it and to make a true piece of art one needs to .. challenge the viewer/listener.. :) (well that's my thought of it, your opinion may vary....)

Used to love this album - till I did a deep dive into the meanings. The music is beautiful, but do I want to listen to a mass murderer drugging then chopping his way thru his family? :( nope, alas.

Dude you should listen to some "Tool"

Lmao watching you get creeped out. This album focuses on a serial killer. Have another look at the lyrics of Blackest Eyes. 😬

26:54 - You really need to listen to TOOL since Maynard (lead singer) has said he is (or his voice) is just anohter instument..

All keyboard