10 Best Progressive Rock Albums Of The 2000s
7. Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet
The title's eery similarity to Public Enemy's 1990 classic 'Fear of a Black Planet' is no coincidence. Where Chuck D and co. used the power of hip hop to confront and tackle racism and social unrest, Porcupine Tree go after a host of modern, potentially damaging influences on mental health and development in younger generations.
Frontman Steven Wilson has confirmed that the title similarities are by design, with both LPs aggressively going after communal issues close to the respective artists' hearts.
Porcupine Tree's ninth LP steps into progressive metal territory often as the Hertfordshire crew unveil a surprisingly puritanical side of themselves. Gavin Harrison continued his hot streak of superlative drumming here, forming the high intensity backbone of this volatile but controlled nu-prog odyssey.
Like so many prog greats before them, Porcupine Tree show no fear in taking rock music to epic, expansive levels, both in length and scale. Look no further than 'Anesthetize', a 17-minute, three-part headspinner featuring Rush legend Alex Lifeson. Even King Crimson ace and prog founding father Robert Fripp gets in on the action in 'Way Out of Here'.
The endorsements from prog titans of yesteryear said it all at the time. Porcupine Tree were in a class of their own throughout the noughties. The cult favourites are a cornerstone in the genre's growth and survival in the 21st century.