Rypro 525

PORCUPINE TREE's Steven Wilson revealed to Chordstruck Magazine that he has begun work on material for his much-anticipated collaboration with Mikael Åkerfeldt from OPETH and Mike Portnoy from DREAM THEATER. "I started writing with Mikael last month, finally," he said. "It's still in the very early days.

"We wrote about 15 minutes of music last month in my studio near London and we're very excited about it.

"I think people are going to be very surprised by the direction.

"If they're expecting some kind of death-metal-progressive rock, they're going to be surprised [because] it's not like that."

He continued, "If you put the two of us together, the last thing we're going to do is something similar to what people already know from our most high-profile project.

"It's very arty, very ambitious; it's going to be epic.

"We're still writing.

"[It's going to be] very dark, very twisted, very experimental.

"It's still rock music, but we're trying to do something really, really special and really different with this."

In a September 2009 interview with Australia's PyroMusic.net, Mike Portnoy stated about the project, "The three of us each mentioned wanting to work with each other years ago, and since then it's kind of been this rumor that won't go away. I think all three of us regret ever mentioning it at this point, but I think the hype or anticipation around it has surpassed anything we possibly could realistically deliver. So I think now all three of us are kind of hesitant to do it, because there's been so much hype about it. (laughs)

"This is an example of where the Internet can somehow be a bad thing and I think... that's why I try to keep as tight of a lid on things as possible when we're making a record, because anything that is said or leaked or heard, it opens up this can of worms of discussion and once people start discussing and discussing and discussing and dissecting and anticipating, they build up such a level of hype and expectations in their head that it's impossible to ever satisfy it. So that's one of the bad things about the Internet.

"In answer to your question though, I think we'd love to work together, but at this point, we just don't know when."

This is like a dream come true, as 3 of prog rock/metal's 3 greatest minds working together

Mordred

Wow. This could be very cool. Hope it actually happens.

Ravenous

I remember hearing about this years ago, glad to see theyre getting the ball rolling.

mndtrp

That sounds pretty cool. Wilson hasn't led me wrong, yet. Well, Blackfield didn't really turn my crank.

Tenacious D

Yeah, I hope this comes to fruition. I'd be all over this.

Michael Corvin

On one hand I'd love to see Mikael Åkerfeldt in Damnation mode again. On the other hand I cannot stand Transatlantic, which is what this project sounds like.

It will be interesting to see what comes of this.

islandclaws

I'm immediately interested in anything featuring Mikael Åkerfeldt, though I'd rather see him do something with the defunct Sorskogen, featuring Dan Swano, than anything else.

bunkaroo

I expect as they said this won't sound like what we're expecting.

I'll tell you, I'd much rather have Gavin Harrison on drums than Portnoy. Portnoy has gotten worse and worse with overplaying this past decade. Just Wilson and Akerfeldt together is enough. Portnoy's name will be there to sell it to all the DT fans.

Either way I'm glad it's happening - it seemed it was dead in the water.

Michael Corvin

I wouldn't say he's gotten worse, but the overplaying is spot on. I've said it before, but DT really needs an outside producer on their next album to reign Portnoy and Petrucci in. They have both gotten too excessive to the point their recent albums seem are bloated.

bunkaroo

Agreed 100%.

I remember first hearing "Misunderstood" on 6DOIT and really loving the vibe. There's the slow mellow part after the 1st chorus, and all of a sudden here's Portnoy BS doodlings on the toms, hi-hats...it sounds like someone was having a seizure behind the kit. He couldn't just fucking layoff for a minute? And how many times do we need to hear the "Under a Glass Moon" fill? Portnoy seriously needs to freshen his playing. It's no wonder Harrison unseated him as best prog drummer in Modern Drummer.

Mordred

bunkaroo, I wasn't sure what exactly you were talking about in "Misunderstood" which is my favorite song on 6DOIT, so I just listened to it again. I think you might have ruined the beginning of that song for me.

bunkaroo

Sorry dude!

It's like someone was trying out a new drum kit in the next room or something.

Mordred

When I saw them on that tour, Portnoy played a song with his little kid sitting on his lap. I thought it was just for show, but it's possible the kid was out there to perform his part.

mndtrp

Portnoy is out.

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/bla...sitemID=145629

Michael Corvin

No drums? Interesting.

bunkaroo

Portnoy not being involved made me breathe a sigh of relief. It's not like I dislike him, but I didn't want to see his production tactics and current drumming style on this project. Wilson and Åkerfeldt are going to come up with something cool and listenable I have no doubt - drums or no drums.

neocheddar02

Up for preorder http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/new...order-20120309
Out May 8

asianxcore

Or a U.S tour for Bloodbath

bunkaroo

A word of caution: I have had nothing but bad experiences with RR pre-orders through The End as their affiliate. I didn't get my copy of Heritage until two weeks after release date. They also charge you in full at the time of the pre-order. I challenged them on this and they said it's to help cover shipping costs. WTF? You don't incur the shipping cost until, you know, SHIPPING.

It's too bad because a long time ago The End was kick ass.

mndtrp

I agree. The End is terrible. I don't remember what album finally made me give up on them, but it was over three weeks late. I ended up just going to Best Buy to get the album.

bunkaroo

I always pre-order the Steven Wilson related stuff from Burning Shed in the UK. Shipping price isn't bad and he's got a direct affiliation so I know it gets more $ in his pocket.

Apple Gooncha

I was about to order something else from Burning Shed, anyway, but was hoping to find the CD/Blu-ray cheaper somewhere else and without having to order the vinyl too.

rmorgan

The CD and Blu of Wilson's Grace For Drowning were available cheap from Amazon in the US - think I paid less than $30 for the pair. Hope to do the same for Storm Corrosion.

Apple Gooncha

The CD/Blu for this is only about $25-$26 after shipping from Burning Shed, so I may just go ahead and bite anyway.

islandclaws

I'll just order this off Amazon and save myself any potential headache.