Description
Porcupine Tree – Closure / Continuation – Double Vinyl Record
Porcupine Tree’s Closure / Continuation emerged in June 2022, marking the band’s first studio album since 2009’s The Incident. Recorded intermittently and in near secrecy between 2011 and September 2021, the core trio—Steven Wilson, Richard Barbieri, and Gavin Harrison—crafted an album that both reflects on their past and signals a creative rebirth. Without long‑time bassist Colin Edwin, Wilson stepped into that role, lending the album a distinctly collaborative spirit that departs from their usual song‑by‑song individual writing approach.
Opening with “Harridan,” the album immediately sets an unsettled tone through its jagged bass, complex rhythms, and unpredictable structure—a statement of intention rather than nostalgia. From there, tracks like the elegantly shifting “Of the New Day” and the politically tinged “Rats Return” delve into themes of personal introspection, social unease, and existential questioning, offering precisely what the album’s title implies: a tension between ending and ongoing journey.
At its core, the album embraces a balance between the meditative and the dynamic. Songs such as “Herd Culling” are built on rhythmic experimentation and brooding textures, while the nine‑minute closer “Chimera’s Wreck” finds the trio re‑engaging with their late‑2000s progressive peak through powerful contrasts and layered arrangements.
Critical reception has been generally positive. Reviewers acknowledging its confident blend of familiar Porcupine Tree motifs and fresh creative exploration. The album’s tension between closure and renewal, praising its volatile soundscapes and stylistic pivot away from the weighty darkness of previous albums .
Commercially, Closure / Continuation debuted impressively—landing at number two on the UK Albums Chart, and securing the top spot in Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. This success, paired with a well‑received international touring campaign, including the live set Closure/Continuation. Live., suggests that this release functions more as a powerful continuation than a mere swan song.
In essence, Closure / Continuation reconciles Porcupine Tree’s legacy with new creative direction. It balances introspective atmosphere with restless momentum, exploring unresolved emotional currents. Whether this album represents their final chapter or a prelude to more remains uncertain—yet it unmistakably reaffirms that this band still has something vital to express.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Harridan
Of The New Day
Rats Return
Dignity
Herd Culling
Walk The Plank
Chimera’s Wreck
