THE INCIDENT

I was waiting to listen the album in a better quality to write my final review; however, my opinion hasn't changed so much? Well, a little: it sounds better than I expected, Such a great album has Steven Wilson brought to us!

So, what it is that makes The Incident so wonderful? : The whole album is so consistent and solid, more than 1:15 of music and there's no song that you want to skip; the sound-design and production are amazing and when the preview was released you already knew that it would be an awesome album, but it still surprised you and, of course, because Steven Wilson is a god.

What it sounds like? Let's see? It has many elements from their previous albums, a lot of Fear of a Blank Planet, but, in my opinion, it's something totally unique. Progressive rock? I don't think so? it's an unique mix of influences (Pink Floyd, Opeth, Meshuggah, Sigur Rós, ambient, pop, industrial, electronic, etc). Steven Wilson listens to all kind of good music and he knows how to combine these elements to his works.

You already know the basic information: it's a conceptual album, a double CD with a 55 minutes-song and a second disc featuring 4 independent songs from the cycle, like an EP. What happens? This second CD it's SO GOOD too!! Bonnie the Cat its AWESOME.

The highlights? The whole album? But if I have to choose songs, I would pick these: The Blind House (What a way to start an album, what a song, definitely in the PT's top 10), Drawing The Line, (Can be this song more catchy?), The Incident (another great chorus? I love the industrial-electronic sound on this song), Time Flies (the single is nothing compared with the full version and those guitars are wonderful, no words), Octane Twisted (for Opeth and Porcupine Tree fans there's no better song than this), I Drive The Hearse (a sublime closer for the first part of an amazing album, a beautiful chorus and a breathtaking solo) and of course, the already mentioned: Bonnie the Cat, it's just spectacular.

So, before The Incident, I felt that they needed a special album that it was completely mind-blowing, that you could put from the start to the end over and over again? if you want: their masterpiece, The Incident is that album to me.

I can't say anything bad about their performance; as a guitar lover, I just can't describe what Steven Wilson did to the guitars (The Blind House, Time Flies, for God's sake!). Richard Barbieri is always there doing his job as Colin Edwin in the bass? and to say Gavin Harrison are big words (Who has done a magnificent job on the new OSI's album). I would also like to mention Lasse Hoile. (who has already worked with Porcupine and other bands like Opeth) for all the amazing visual art he has done. (Perhaps cover of the year?)

I have nothing to say, in my opinion this is the album of the year, 10/10, a masterpiece in all senses and one of the best albums of the century.