Two of the most revered names in modern prog, and old friends besides: Opeth vs Porcupine Tree. Opeth, led by Mikael Åkerfeldt, moved from crushing progressive extreme metal to gorgeous vintage prog rock; Porcupine Tree, the vehicle for Steven Wilson, ranged from atmospheric psychedelia to heavy, sophisticated prog. The two are famously intertwined — Wilson produced Opeth’s landmark Blackwater Park. So which titan wins? Round by round, here is the verdict.

The short version

The quick verdict: Opeth edge it — barely — on the strength of a more singular sound and a slightly deeper peak run. But Porcupine Tree hit back with Steven Wilson’s vast influence on modern prog. This is as close and as friendly a contest as these debates get.

Round 1: Origins and era

Porcupine Tree began in the UK in 1987 as Steven Wilson’s project; Opeth formed in Sweden in 1990. Both are pioneers of modern progressive music, arriving within a few years of each other and evolving in parallel. I call it a draw.

Round 2: Sound and style

Here Opeth have the more singular identity. Their signature — brutal death growls giving way to aching acoustic and prog passages, later blossoming into full vintage prog — is a sound nobody else owns. Porcupine Tree are gorgeous and varied, moving from ambient drift to real heaviness, but Opeth’s beauty-and-brutality contrast is the more distinctive. The edge goes to Opeth.

Round 3: The peak albums

Both offer landmark runs. Opeth offer Still Life, the masterpiece Blackwater Park, Ghost Reveries and Watershed; Porcupine Tree answer with In Absentia, Deadwing and Fear of a Blank Planet. Both are superb — and it was Steven Wilson who produced Blackwater Park — but Opeth’s peak run is a touch deeper and more consistently revered. A narrow edge to Opeth.

Round 4: Musicianship

A genuine toss-up between two extraordinary bands. Opeth boast Mikael Åkerfeldt’s command and a lineup of superb players; Porcupine Tree counter with Gavin Harrison, one of the great modern drummers, plus Wilson’s multi-instrumental gifts and Richard Barbieri’s textures. Dazzling on both sides, and impossible to separate. I call it a draw.

Round 5: Influence and legacy

Here Porcupine Tree edge it. Beyond the band, Steven Wilson has become one of the most influential figures in all of modern prog — through his solo work, his production for others, and his tireless championing of the genre. Opeth are hugely revered and foundational to extreme prog, but Wilson’s reach across the modern scene is wider still. Edge: Porcupine Tree.

The scorecard

Five rounds, tallied up.

The verdict: who wins

On the scorecard, Opeth edge it — just — the more singular of two intertwined giants, with a peak run few in modern prog can match. Guided throughout by Mikael Åkerfeldt, they built a body of work that moves from savagery to serenity like no one else. But Porcupine Tree lose nothing here. Built around Steven Wilson, one of the most influential figures modern prog has produced, they made music of rare beauty and craft. Opeth win on points; Porcupine Tree win the argument about who shaped the wider scene. Fittingly, the two remain kindred spirits.

Who is it for

Choose Opeth if you want extreme prog at its most beautiful and profound — the death-and-folk contrast of their classic era or the vintage prog of their later years. Choose Porcupine Tree if you want modern prog at its most crafted — melodic, atmospheric and immaculately produced. Savagery and serenity, or beauty and craft; two of the finest bands modern prog has produced.

Go deeper

Keep the debate going: see how Opeth fare against Dream Theater, or watch Porcupine Tree take on Tool and Steven Wilson, and browse every showdown at my prog rock band comparisons hub.

Go deeper on each band: rank every record with Opeth albums ranked and Porcupine Tree albums ranked, find the essentials in my best Opeth albums and best Porcupine Tree albums guides, or count down their finest tracks with the best Opeth songs and best Porcupine Tree songs.

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