In 2014, Killswitch Engage lead vocalist Jesse Leach told Prog the reasons why he loves Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson, and Mikael Åkerfeldt.
“When I was growing up my dad used to play me all the Rush, Yes and Pink Floyd albums. I didn’t know anything about the prog movement back then – I was more of a punk and hardcore kind of guy.
But if something has the right feeling then I like it; it doesn’t matter what genre it belongs to. I mean, Pink Floyd’s Money is a perfect example of hearing a song and loving it without realising how genius it is.
I think I first heard Porcupine Tree around 2002, when In Absentia came out, and I must have listened to it for about a year solid. All the different time signatures and the jazz influences made me go back and really pay attention to my dad’s record collection.
Steven Wilson is a genius. Opeth’s Blackwater Park is another of my favourites. I love Steven’s production and I have total respect for him.
I’ve never met Steven… I’d probably just embarrass myself
The Sound Of Muzak is my favourite Porcupine Tree song; it’s from In Absentia. When I first heard the lyrics they just blew my mind. They’re about how the music industry crushes your ideas and your creativity, and it really struck a chord with me. That song changed the way I write.
I think Steven’s lyrics are generally really poetic and they help you to escape from what’s going on around you. I like music that I can feel; I’m definitely more into that side of things than focusing on the technicalities of it.
I’ve seen Porcupine Tree a couple of times live, but my favourite show was when Opeth did an acoustic opening set for them – that was just incredible and I had goosebumps all the way through.
I’ve never met Steven, though – I wouldn’t even know what to say to him if I did! I’d probably just embarrass myself and come across like a complete fan boy. I feel the same way about Mikael Åkerfeldt. We were actually on the same boat at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards and I didn’t say a word to him the whole time!”
