I’ve been a fan of The Pineapple Thief since 2002. It has taken a while for the world to catch on to Bruce Soord and team but adding Gavin Harrison to the band has definitely helped with visibility. Initially Harrison was a hired gun but now he co-writes with Soord so this is a true collaboration. “It Leads to This” is the fifth album with Harrison (not including “8 Years Later”) and the fourth with him as a full member.

The biggest thing that I noticed was the length of the album and the songs. The album is 41 minutes long and the longest track is a second under 6 minutes. Neither the album nor the songs overstay their welcome. This means there is no overblown epics, not that the band do many of those. Rather this is an album about melody and atmosphere. Harrison adds his usual style to each, a more deceptive ease. But you know it’s him. The songs mix in some thick riffs now and then but they are offset by quieter moments.

The quieter moments are more like “Your Wilderness” while the riffs, though thick, never get too close to Porcupine Tree which I think many people expect. “The Frost” is one of those songs which mixes a pop sensibility with angular riffs. The main riff reminds me a little of Stone Temple Pilots. I don’t mind that because they don’t stick with the riff too long. The album starts with a mellow track which they never shy away from doing. “Put it Right” is a lean song with a fragile tone. I’d be curious if The Pineapple Thief will ever start off with a song that punches you in the face. I doubt it and that’s fine.

For example, “Rubicon” is heavier and quirky. When the song settles in to a groove for the chorus, it effortlessly slips back into the weird verse. This is definitely a favorite track thus far. The title track is VERY barren on the verses and fills in on the chorus. The dynamic is what really makes the song work and Soord has always been good at this style. And the next track does follow that same format. The difference with “All That’s Left” is that Harrison cuts loose in the middle and that section makes the song.

“Now It’s Yours” is more of the same. However, they find a way to make it work once again. The riffing and solos toward the end of the song once again saves the day. “Every Trace of Us” is a song that would fit on any album. More of the same? Not exactly. If you were to try to tell someone what The Pineapple Thief sounds like, this song makes for a good example. The album closes out with the partially acoustic “To Forget” which could be the calmest track on the album. It’s definitely not an epic.

I think there will be many that don’t like that the album holds back. No epics. Nothing over the top prog wise either. “It Leads To This” is a case study in dynamics. The brief heavier parts are at a premium so they do hit harder when they come. The key here is that the songs are solid. The Pineapple Thief honor the songs first. The arrangements are designed to benefit the music rather than wow the listener. I do think it’s perhaps a song or two short but that’s not my decision. The Pineapple Thief know their sound, know their niche and capitalize on both on “It Leads to This.”

Rating: 8.5/10
Label: Kscope Records
Release Date:9 February 2024