by John D. Luerssen
Porcupine Tree have always been pigeonholed with the modern prog movement, but the reality is that they're both a riff-addicted metal band and a troupe obsessed with rich harmonies and memorable refrains. Take the grinding guitar work of &Shallow& which dukes it out with frontman Steve Wilson's undeniably melodic chorus before easing into the delicate, beautifully crafted &Lazarus.& Few bands exhibit this kind of depth, be it the dreamy, Pink Floyd-inspired hallucination &Halo& or the Queensrÿche echoes of &Open Car.& If the 12-minute sonic meander known as &Arriving Somewhere but Not Here& is as head-trippy as rock music gets anymore, it is reassuring to know that this Tree is still growing. Ideal for headphones, Deadwing -- despite its title -- takes flight nonetheless.