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{{Infobox artist
| Name = Storm Corrosion
| Img = StormCorrosion.jpg
| Img_capt =
| Img_size = 250
| Background = lightsteelblue
| Origin = International<br/ >Kingston Upon Thames, United Kingdom / Stockholm, Sweden
| Genre = [[Progressive rock]], [[psychedelic folk]], [[experimental rock]]
| Years_active = 2010–2012
| Label = [[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]]
| Associated_acts = [[Opeth]], [[Porcupine Tree]]
| URL = [http://stormcorrosion.com/ Storm Corrosion]
| Current_members =
| Past_members = [[Mikael Åkerfeldt]]<br>[[Steven Wilson]]
}}
'''Storm Corrosion''' was a musical collaboration between [[Mikael Åkerfeldt]] of Swedish [[progressive metal]] band [[Opeth]] and [[Steven Wilson]], an English [[solo artist]] and frontman of the [[progressive rock]] band [[Porcupine Tree]]. Åkerfeldt and Wilson began a longstanding musical partnership in 2001 when Wilson produced Opeth's fifth studio album ''[[Blackwater Park (album)|Blackwater Park]]''. The two began writing together for a new project in 2010, releasing their [[Storm Corrosion (album)|self-titled first studio album]] on May 8, 2012 through [[Roadrunner Records]].
A critical success, ''Storm Corrosion'' marks a paradigm shift for Åkerfeldt and Wilson. Not wanting the project to be a progressive metal supergroup, the two used it as an opportunity to explore their more esoteric tastes in music, including [[Comus]] and [[Scott Walker]]. Currently, there are no plans for a tour in support of the self-titled album or a follow-up.
==History==
===Formation===
Mikael Åkerfeldt became aware of Steven Wilson in the mid-1990s after Åkerfeldt's best friend [[Jonas Renkse]] played him the Porcupine Tree album ''[[The Sky Moves Sideways]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/opeth-porcupine-tree-storm-corrosion-exclusive-video/ |title=Opeth and Porcupine Tree Frontmen Unite As Storm Corrosion – Exclusive Video |publisher=Loudwire.com |date=2012-04-03 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=RoadrunnerRecords |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=O0_GvMyfd3A |title=Storm Corrosion - Interview Pt 4 - Hearing Each Other |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-04-02 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> Åkerfeldt instantly fell in love with the band, calling the experience "an awakening". He came to idolize Wilson, but was hesitant to contact him. Years later, Åkerfeldt received a surprise e-mail from Wilson who had been given a copy of the Opeth album ''[[Still Life (Opeth album)|Still Life]]'' by a French journalist.<ref name=DPRP>{{cite web|url=http://www.dprp.net/specials/porcupinetree/index.html |title=Specials - Steve Wilson Interview |publisher=Dprp.net |date= |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=OPETH: MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT MASTERCLASS|url=http://www.guitarmessenger.com/artist-masterclasses/opeth-mikael-akerfeldt-masterclass/|publisher=Guitar Messenger|accessdate=2012-05-06}}</ref> Wilson, a fan of extreme metal, played the album during a soundcheck and was blown away, calling it "amazing". The two ended up meeting for dinner in London where Åkerfeldt asked Wilson to produce the next Opeth album.<ref>[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/Video-Opeths-Mikael-kerfeldt-Interviewed-By-FaceCulture-23888.aspx VIDEO: OPETH'S MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT INTERVIEWED BY FACECULTURE]. Roadrunner Records Official Website. Retrieved 2012-01-28.</ref> It was also during this dinner that the two first spoke of a possible collaboration.
After their meeting in London, Åkerfeldt and Wilson began a longstanding musical partnership. Wilson went on to produce three Opeth albums – ''[[Blackwater Park (album)|Blackwater Park]]'', ''[[Deliverance (Opeth album)|Deliverance]]'', and ''[[Damnation]]'' – and mixed one Opeth album, ''[[Heritage (Opeth album)|Heritage]]''. In 2005, Åkerfeldt contributed some guitar and vocals to ''[[Deadwing]]'', Porcupine Tree's eighth album. Porcupine Tree and Opeth also co-headlined a North American tour together in the summer of 2003.<ref>{{cite web|author=IGN Music |url=http://music.ign.com/articles/422/422233p1.html |title=Porcupine Tree and Opeth Tour - Music News at IGN |publisher=Music.ign.com |date=2003-06-03 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> Although the collaboration was announced as early as 2006,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=50411 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - OPETH Frontman Talks About Collaboration With MIKE PORTNOY, STEVEN WILSON |publisher=Legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com |date=2006-03-31 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> it was only in March 2010 that the two began writing music together, done on an on and off basis.<ref name="roadrunnerrecords1">{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=148615 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - STEVEN WILSON On Project With MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT: We Didn't Wanna Do A Prog-Metal Supergroup |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date=2010-10-31 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> Originally, ex-[[Dream Theater]] drummer [[Mike Portnoy]] was to be involved, but was excluded because Åkerfeldt and Wilson felt the music would have little room for drums.<ref name="roadrunnerrecords1"/> In early 2011, Storm Corrosion was announced as the project's title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=155866 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT, STEVEN WILSON Complete Work On Material For 'Storm Corrosion' Project |publisher=Legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com |date=2011-03-25 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref>
===''Storm Corrosion'' (2010 – 2012)===
After more than a year of writing, Storm Corrosion's first album was completed in September 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/mikael-akerfeldt-steven-wilson-finish-work-storm-corrosion-album |title=Mikael Akerfeldt, Steven Wilson Finish Work On Storm Corrosion Album |publisher=Guitar World |date=2011-09-26 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> In February 2012, it was announced that the collaboration had signed with [[Roadrunner Records]] and that their [[Storm Corrosion (album)|album]] would be self-titled and released on April 24.<ref name=RR>{{cite web|url=http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=169368 |title=Blabbermouth.net - Storm Corrosion Officially Signs With Roadrunner Records |publisher=Legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com |date=2012-02-07 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> This release date was eventually pushed back to May 8.<ref name="roadrunnerrecords2">{{cite web|url=http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=170937 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - ÅKERFELDT/WILSON Collaboration STORM CORROSION Pushed Back To May; Complete Details Revealed |publisher=Legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com |date=2012-03-09 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> The guitar work on the album was handled by Åkerfeldt while Wilson concentrated on the keyboards and song arrangement.<ref name="faceculture1">{{cite web|url=http://www.faceculture.tv/index.php?cnti_key=11846932 |title=Steven Wilson - 2011 - V |publisher=Faceculture.tv |date= |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> [[Gavin Harrison]] of Porcupine Tree played drums, although only 15 to 20 percent of the album needed them.<ref>http://www.hit-channel.com/steven-wilson-soloporcupine-treeblackfieldno-man/2517</ref> Reflecting back on their experience working together, Åkerfeldt and Wilson were largely positive, noting that they never had any artistic struggles over creative control and that each other's contributions were "exactly 50/50".<ref>{{cite web|author=RoadRunnerUK |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSXfc7mzBBc |title=Storm Corrosion - Fan Q&A: Working Together |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> Wilson has declared the album the completion of a trilogy, alongside Opeth's ''Heritage'' and Wilson's [[solo album]] ''[[Grace for Drowning]]'', all of which were released over a year-long period from 2011 to 2012.<ref name=Bio>{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://stormcorrosion.com/biography.html|publisher=Storm Corrosion Official Website|accessdate=4 July 2012}}</ref>
The first song used in promotion of ''Storm Corrosion'' was "Drag Ropes", released via YouTube on April 24.<ref name=DR>{{cite web|author=RoadrunnerRecords |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=manW5v-AR7U |title=Storm Corrosion - Drag Ropes |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-04-24 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> Upon its release, the album was critically well received,<ref name=Meta>{{cite web|title=Critic Reviews for Storm Corrosion|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/storm-corrosion/critic-reviews|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=4 July 2012}}</ref> and was nominated for the Album of the Year Award by ''Prog'', presented by ''Classic Rock Magazine'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Album of the Year|url=http://awards.progrockmag.com/album-of-the-year/storm-corrosion-storm-corrosion|publisher=Prog|accessdate=7 July 2012}}</ref> and Best Surround Sound Album at the 2012 Grammy Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title=55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees?genre=54|publisher=The 55th Grammys|accessdate=24 December 2012}}</ref> Currently, Åkerfeldt and Wilson have no plans to tour in support of the album.<ref name="innerviews1">{{cite web|last=Prasad |first=Anil |url=http://www.innerviews.org/inner/wilson.html |title=Steven Wilson - Art as a mirror |publisher=Innerviews |date= |accessdate=2012-05-06}}</ref> While the two have expressed interest in working together again, they have not committed to writing another album for Storm Corrosion in particular.<ref name=RM>{{cite web|last=Phil|first=Metal'O|title=Storm Corrosion: Soul Mates|url=http://www.radiometal.com/en/article/storm-corrosion-soul-mates,71733|publisher=Radio Metal|accessdate=4 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=album>{{cite web|title=Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt Talks Pale Communion Album, Possibility of a Second Storm Corrosion Album|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/opeths-mikael-akerfeldt-talks-pale-communion-album-possibility-of-second-storm-corrosion-cd-audio/|accessdate=24 June 2014}}</ref>
==Musical style==
Despite their reputations as frontmen in the heavy metal and progressive rock genres, Mikael Åkerfeldt and Steven Wilson did not want Storm Corrosion to be a progressive metal supergroup.<ref name=Gun>{{cite web|url=http://gunshyassassin.com/news/steven-wilson-talks-storm-corrosion-working-with-akerfeldt/ |title=Steven Wilson Talks Storm Corrosion, Working With Mikael Åkerfeldt |publisher=Gun Shy Assassin |date=2010-11-01 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> In an early interview regarding the project, Wilson went so far as to say that the music sounded unlike anything he or Åkerfeldt had done to that point, including ''Damnation'', which a lot of fans assumed would be the case. Instead, the two used the project as an opportunity to explore their more esoteric tastes in music, such as [[Comus]], [[Popol Vuh (German band)|Popol Vuh]], [[Univers Zero]], [[Steve Reich]], [[David Crosby]], [[Talk Talk]], and [[Scott Walker]].<ref name="innerviews1"/><ref>{{cite web|author=RoadrunnerRecords |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veteEJJRzas |title=Storm Corrosion - Fan Q&A - Making Something Different |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-04-19 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref>
Storm Corrosion's sound can best be described as ambient, epic, enchanting, and orchestral.<ref name="roadrunnerrecords2"/> In the press release for the self-titled first album, Åkerfeldt described the music as "a bit frightening, exhausting, profound and rather intense".<ref name=RR /> In an interview with Face Culture, Wilson described the album as "mellow, strange, and disturbing".<ref name="faceculture1"/> Critics have described the album's sound as having "an eerie gloom about the music that harks back to the drug-fuelled experimental avant-gardism of the 70s",<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|last=Rauf|first=Raziq|title=BBC Review|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/bpb6|publisher=BBC Music|accessdate=4 July 2012}}</ref> "unhinged" and "experimental",<ref name=Guard>{{cite news|last=Lawson|first=Dom|title=Storm Corrosion: Storm Corrosion – review|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/may/10/storm-corrosion-storm-corrosion-review|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=4 July 2012|location=London|date=2012-05-10}}</ref> and with a "flowing and expansive folk-touched sound".<ref name=All>{{cite web|last=Heaney|first=Gregory|title=Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/storm-corrosion-mw0002325271|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=4 July 2012}}</ref>
==Discography==
* ''[[Storm Corrosion (album)|Storm Corrosion]]'' (2012)
** UK #45,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/storm%20corrosion/|title=Storm Corrosion - Albums|publisher=officialcharts.com|accessdate=20 February 2013}}</ref> US #47<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/storm-corrosion-mw0002325271/awards|title=Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion - Awards|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=20 February 2013}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:Musical duos]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2010]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:Progressive rock groups]]