Porcupine Tree
„Closure/Continuation“
Progressive Rock. Black Vinyl Double LP Album. 2022.

In 2021, PT announced a new album after 12 years of inactivity. "Closure/Continuation," a telling title, was finally released in June 2022. Following an extensive tour in 2023, the live edition "Closure/Continuation Live Amsterdam" was released. 

Somehow I only heard about my favorite band's planned "comeback" quite late. Good thing, I don't like to speculate. Some people are going from pure hysteria to pessimism. So, in short: Prog rock is back! But Porcupine Tree is so much more than that.

Everyone is there except for Colin Edwin. But who plays the excellent bass in the first song, "Harridan"? Steven Wilson did. Speaking of song one, it starts with a hard, rocking rhythm, only to transition to a quieter section at 2:32 with acoustic guitar and a gentle, unadulterated voice. The heavy instrumental part kicks in at 3:10. It lasts until 7:12, then suddenly drops back to gentle guitar and vocals, fading out slowly. The heart of the album? No, something's missing for me. And yet, it's a very good prog song.
With its beautiful melody, "Of The New Day" could have fit on Lightbulb Sun or even Blackfield I. But PT delivers a powerful punch in the middle, then flows smoothly again, before rising again towards the instrumental end and then fading out gently. On its own, "Of The New Day" might seem out of place, but in my opinion, it doesn't in the context of "Harridan."

Side B begins with "Rats Return", a beautifully psychedelic, hard-rocking art rock, prog rock and slightly spooky – in an ingenious mix. "Dignity" is a gorgeous song and I like it, but its very soft style doesn't quite fit with C/C. Too much of a ballad, too poppy. The song only really rocks towards the end. 

"Herd Culling" absolutely blows me away with its sheer power. A dynamic prog song. Lots of punch, some intricate details. It's so good that I wish there had been more tracks like this on C/C. 
"Walk the Plank" is spooky, playful, and psychedelic. For me, it's a highlight. I particularly like side C.

Side D contains the heart of the album, and it takes center stage at 9:40 on side D alone. "Chimera's Wreck" is a fine piece of retro-prog to close the album. Some compare it to works by Genesis or Yes. There have always been influences from Porcupine Tree, yet "Chimera's Wreck" sounds like PT. The song is simply good. And perhaps that's maybe the dilemma for PT and C/C.

My conclusion is mixed. The return to Porcupine Tree certainly isn't related to Steven Wilson's solo career, which, after "The Future Bites," was said to be stuck in a rut. Some fans always want to experience PT/Wilson's music through the same door, and they're perfectly served by this "cool" perfection. And I, too, can appreciate this album. Nevertheless, there's a slight sting. Anyone looking for further development from the band PT won't find it on C/C. They'll find it, however, in Steven Wilson's solo work, which is discussed far more controversially. So, I enjoy the perfection of Harrison, Barbieri, and Wilson. And yet, I would have liked more organic music, innovation, and daring. As it is, C/C remains a good album, and it fits into the long line of PT's work. Steven, you don't want to repeat yourself, do you? I hope the next PT album brings further development.  

On The Sunday Of Life 1992
Signify 1996
Coma Divine (Live) 1997
Stupid Dream 1999
Lightbulb Sun 2000
Recordings 2001
In Absentia 2002
Deadwing 2005
Fear Of A Blank Planet 2007
Nil Recurring 2007
Anesthetize – Live In Tilburg 2008
We Lost The Skyline Live 2008
The Incident 2009
Octane Twisted Live 2012
Closure/Continuation 2022
Closure/Continuation Live 2023

The photos are all from my LP. The rights to all motifs, logos, texts and fonts that can be seen in the photos are of course owned by the copyright holder.

No AI was used in the making of this Review.
©21.02.2026