STORM CORROSION

"Storm Corrosion" is the self-titled debut full-length studio album by UK/Swedish progressive rock act Storm Corrosion. The album was released through Roadrunner Records in May 2012. Storm Corrosion is a project featuring Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree...among others) and Mikael Åkerfelt of Opeth. Two household names on today´s progressive rock and metal scene. They´ve long spoken of creating something together and apparently they found time in their incredibly busy scedules to get together to write and record this album. Well it´s been under way for a while, as the two musicians actually already starting writing material for the album in 2010.

It´s hard to know what to expect when two such prolific musicians and incredibly creative people put their heads together, but after listening to "Storm Corrosion", I think the pieces come together in a way, that leaves no doubt who are behind the project. There´s nothing remotely resembling metal on the album, but Mikael Åkerfelt´s presence and touch are still felt. The music is however closer in style to some of Steven Wilson´s more atmospheric and ambient projects, but with a folky acoustic guitar often popping up. There are few sections with percussion and even fewer with "real" drums (played by Gavin Harrison of Porcupine Tree). Mellotron and the above mentioned acoustic guitar are the prominent instruments on the album (and other analogue sounding keyboards). And of course vocals, which are predominantly delivered by Steven Wilson.

The sound production is warm, organic and detailed. As professional as you would expect when we´re dealing with these two guys.

The songwriting however is a bit patchy. Sometimes the different sections that are put together to form the tracks work well, but sometimes it does seem a bit forced. Like the two guys have been writing ideas on their own, and only put them together when they met up to record the album. I suspect I´m right at least some of the way. If you take into account under which circumstances the album was probably created, it´s still a really great and nicely atmospheric progressive rock album, definitely worth a listen now an again. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is fully deserved.