STORM CORROSION

"Storm Corrosion" is the eponymous debut studio album of Storm Corrosion and that was released in 2012. "Storm Corrosion" is the result of the musical collaboration between Mikael Akerfeldt, the front man of Opeth and Steven Wilson, the front man of Porcupine Tree.

Having worked one with each other in the past, Akerfeldt and Wilson decided to start working on collaboration, on an intermittent basis, in 2010. There were rumours of plans to include Mike Portnoy, the ex-Dream Theater's drummer, on this album. However, Wilson later said that only 15% or 20% of the album would have drums on it, which turned out to be performed by Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison. The album was completed in 2011, but held back for an 2012 release so that Wilson could concentrate on release and promote his second solo studio album "Grace For Drowning", and Akerfeldt could concentrate on Opeth's tenth studio album "Heritage". Both albums were released in 2011.

Wilson also said that on the album, Akerfeldt did most of the guitar work, while Wilson concentrated on the keyboard parts and arranging the music. He said it contains a lot of orchestral parts, and as mellow, strange and disturbing parts.

The line up on the album is Mikael Akerfeldt (vocals and guitars) and Steven Wilson (vocals and keyboards). The album has also the additional participation of Gavin Harrison (drums and percussion), Ben Castle (woodwind) and the orchestral performance of the London Session Orchestra conducted by Dave Stewart. "Storm Corrosion" has six tracks. All lyrics were written by Steven Wilson except "Ljudet Innan" which was written by Steven Wilson and Mikael Akerfeldt, and all the music was composed by Steven Wilson and Mikael Akerfeldt. The first track "Drag Ropes" begins with a string arrangement with Akerfeldt singing creating an atmosphere of suspense which evolves dark guitar flutes and disturbing lyrics. The track continues with dark passages leading into a vocal harmony backed by Mellotron. There are recognisable shades of Opeth and Porcupine Tree all the way through the track. The second track is the title track "Storm Corrosion". It begins with the sound of distant rain, flutes and an acoustic guitar. A second guitar, vocals and percussion give the track some momentum with a solo guitar over the top. We also can hear some violins before a scary noise that changed the mood of the song. The violins return in the end of the track. The third track "Hag" begins with the simplicity of two piano notes, one guitar note and a Mellotron. A dark noise in the back and the amplifiers create a scary atmosphere. The following piano break takes the song into a different direction, reintroducing the bass and the Mellotron and a frantic drum piece, provides a sort of undefined confusion and chaos. The fourth track "Happy" commences with an acoustic guitar and Wilson's vocals, another set of vocals add to the depth of the piece scary bits. It then changes the mood with a bass sound leading to an acoustic guitar with more Wilson's vocal lines. This is another scary track. The fifth track "Lock Howl" is the only track with some metal style. It's backed by Mellotron and a shaker played by Harrison. It flows nicely and in the mid there is a hand clapping part with woodwind and Mellotron allowing to a xylophone and a guitar doubling a melody with voicing. The sixth track "Ljudet Innan" starts with Akerfeldt vocals backed by a piano accompanying for the first minute followed by a Mellotron that creates a massive ethereal space of nothingness in Tangerine Dream or Pink Floyd styles. Next a repeating solo note joins to start the rhythm that flows over the piece. Some light drum percussion combined with classic guitar work by Akerfeldt continues all over the song. This single note runs the whole way afterwards to keep the timing and tension.

Conclusion: For those who are familiar with the works of Wilson and Akerfeldt, it shouldn't take too much time to figure out who wrote the ideas. Each musician has a very particular music style and both sounds in equal proportion on the album. The string arrangements, melodies and song structures have the immediately distinctive signature of both musicians. "Storm Corrosion" passes me as a cross between jthe azz/fusion and the dissonance of the 20th century neoclassical music. It also reminds me very strongly the music style of King Crimson. I had hoped for a more natural mix of their two musical styles. However, the style of "Storm Corrosion" is very fresh and even unique. This isn't the ultimate masterpiece that we expected, but there's no disappointment here. "Storm Corrosion" represents a memorable ambient journey, taking Wilson and Akerfeldt down a darker path than either has been before. It's great to accompany these two great visionaries' musicians as they explore new and fresh territories with their music. "Storm Corrosion" represents more depth and challenge to the sound that the band's ambient frame would suggest, and if you're able to look past the disappointment of its context as an artistic combination of two of the progressive music's greatest forces, "Storm Corrosion" makes for a pleasant, while heady listening. All in all, "Storm Corrosion" is a very pleasant journey.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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