PROGRESSIVE ROCK FANS, THE WAIT IS FINALLY COMING TO AN END! STEVEN WILSON has officially confirmed that work is underway on a second STORM CORROSION album with OPETH mastermind MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT, 14 years after the release of their extraordinary self-titled debut! The long-awaited follow-up is being created almost entirely using acoustic instruments, with Wilson describing the developing music as a massive, experimental composition. Even more excitingly, the pair have already spent two weeks recording in Stockholm, with a potential 2027 release now being discussed!
FOURTEEN YEARS. TWO MUSICAL VISIONARIES. AND ONE OF PROGRESSIVE MUSIC’S MOST MYSTERIOUS PROJECTS IS FINALLY RETURNING! 🎸🖤🔥
For years, fans have wondered whether Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt would ever record another STORM CORROSION album.
The original 2012 release was unlike almost anything either musician had previously created.
It wasn’t a conventional progressive metal album.
It wasn’t an OPETH record with Steven Wilson providing additional vocals.
And it certainly wasn’t another PORCUPINE TREE project.
Instead, the two musicians created a strange, atmospheric collection of psychedelic folk, experimental arrangements and unsettling musical textures.
It became one of the most intriguing releases in their respective catalogues.
And although both musicians frequently expressed enthusiasm about making another record, their demanding schedules meant the project remained on hold.
Until now.
Steven Wilson has confirmed that work on STORM CORROSION’s second album has officially begun – and the music sounds as unusual as ever!
🎤 STEVEN WILSON – “IT’S A MASSIVE CHUNK OF MUSIC!”
Speaking during a new interview with Anil Prasad of Innerviews, Steven Wilson confirmed that he and Mikael Åkerfeldt have started working on the long-awaited follow-up.
And his description suggests fans shouldn’t expect a conventional progressive rock or metal record.
Wilson explained:
“It’s very different, but you will recognize the aesthetic.”
The musician emphasised that considerable work remains before the album is finished.
However, he offered a fascinating description of the material recorded so far.
“It’s a massive chunk of music.”
Perhaps the most surprising revelation concerns the instruments being used.
Wilson confirmed:
“It’s almost entirely played on acoustic instruments.”
For listeners familiar with Wilson’s extensive catalogue of electronic experiments, progressive arrangements and elaborate production techniques, that represents an intriguing creative decision.
But for anyone who remembers the original STORM CORROSION album, it also makes perfect sense.
The project has always been about stepping away from conventional expectations.
And judging by Wilson’s comments, the second album will continue that tradition.
🎸 RECORDED IN STOCKHOLM – TWO WEEKS INSIDE ABBA LEGEND BENNY ANDERSSON’S STUDIO!
One of the most exciting developments is that the musicians have already completed a significant recording session.
During a separate interview published on 18 October 2026, Wilson revealed that he and Åkerfeldt spent two weeks together in Stockholm during May.
And the recording location was rather special.
They worked at the studio of ABBA legend Benny Andersson!
The musicians used the time to develop one extended piece of music.
Rather than approaching the sessions with a conventional collection of individual songs, they concentrated on creating a substantial composition.
According to Wilson, the instrumental material has already taken shape.
However, vocals have not yet been recorded.
He indicated that another recording session may take place towards the end of 2026 or early in 2027.
The musician also suggested that the album could potentially arrive during 2027.
That is encouraging news for fans who have waited more than a decade.
However, 2027 remains a provisional target rather than an officially confirmed release date.
Wilson has made it clear that the project is still developing and that plenty of work remains.
💿 STORM CORROSION – SECOND ALBUM DETAILS
Album information
Latest confirmed details
Artist
Storm Corrosion
Members
Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt
Album
Second studio album – title to be announced
Previous album
Storm Corrosion (2012)
Recording location
Benny Andersson’s studio, Stockholm
Initial recording sessions
May 2026
Time spent recording
Two weeks
Musical direction
Experimental, predominantly acoustic
Composition
One substantial piece recorded so far
Vocals
Still to be recorded
Potential release
2027
Record label
Not yet announced
Artwork and tracklist
Not yet revealed
There is currently no confirmed album title, single release date or complete list of contributing musicians.
But unlike previous years, when both artists were simply discussing the possibility of another record, actual recording work has now taken place.
And that makes this announcement particularly significant.
💀 “TOTALLY FUCKED UP” – WILSON PROMISES AN EVEN STRANGER ALBUM!
Anyone expecting the second STORM CORROSION album to be more accessible than the first might be in for a surprise.
During his recent conversation about the recording sessions, Wilson described the music as extraordinarily unusual.
His assessment was characteristically straightforward.
He called it:
“Totally fucked up.”
And when asked how the new material compares with the debut, he suggested that the musicians are taking their experimental approach even further.
That’s quite a statement.
After all, the original Storm Corrosion was already an exceptionally unconventional record.
It featured sparse arrangements, dissonant musical passages, unsettling atmospheres and lengthy sections that deliberately avoided familiar song structures.
Some listeners adored it.
Others were completely baffled.
But for Wilson and Åkerfeldt, that unpredictability was an essential part of the attraction.
The musicians never wanted to make an album that simply fulfilled audience expectations.
They wanted to create something neither could comfortably produce within their established bands.
And it appears that philosophy remains central to the second record.
🌲 WHAT WILL AN ALMOST ENTIRELY ACOUSTIC STORM CORROSION ALBUM SOUND LIKE?
The emphasis on acoustic instrumentation is one of the most fascinating details revealed so far.
When rock and metal fans hear the word acoustic, they often imagine stripped-back guitars and gentle vocal melodies.
But in the world of STORM CORROSION, the possibilities are considerably broader.
Acoustic instruments can create an extraordinary range of sounds.
They can be beautiful.
Unsettling.
Delicate.
Harsh.
Atmospheric.
Or deeply experimental.
Wilson has explained that the musicians are approaching many instruments without being restricted by conventional playing techniques.
Rather than concentrating exclusively on technical perfection, they’re experimenting with unfamiliar textures and unexpected sounds.
That philosophy could allow the music to explore unusual territory.
Imagine the delicate intimacy of traditional British folk music combined with the mysterious atmosphere of experimental progressive rock.
Add dissonant arrangements, unconventional recording techniques and the musical imagination of Wilson and Åkerfeldt.
The possibilities are enormous.
Of course, the exact instrumentation has not yet been fully revealed, so individual instruments should not be treated as confirmed additions to the recording.
However, the creative direction suggests an album that prioritises atmosphere, texture and experimentation over conventional heaviness.
And that’s precisely what made STORM CORROSION so fascinating in the first place.
🎶 WHO ARE STORM CORROSION?
For anyone unfamiliar with the project, STORM CORROSION brings together two of progressive music’s most respected figures.
The collaboration features:
- Steven Wilson – British musician, producer and creative force behind PORCUPINE TREE, NO-MAN and an acclaimed solo career.
- Mikael Åkerfeldt – Swedish guitarist, vocalist and songwriter best known as the frontman of progressive metal legends OPETH.
Both musicians have developed reputations for refusing to remain confined within traditional musical boundaries.
Wilson’s work has embraced progressive rock, electronic music, ambient soundscapes, pop, experimental arrangements and cinematic compositions.
Åkerfeldt, meanwhile, helped transform OPETH from an extreme metal band into one of progressive music’s most adventurous acts.
Their friendship and creative relationship stretches back more than two decades.
And STORM CORROSION was born from their shared fascination with unusual music.
Rather than concentrating on the heavier elements of their established projects, they decided to explore something completely different.
The result was the extraordinary self-titled album released in 2012.
🎸 THE 2012 DEBUT – A CULT CLASSIC UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE!
Released in May 2012, Storm Corrosion was the result of a long-discussed musical partnership.
Wilson and Åkerfeldt had been talking about making an album together for years.
However, the project only began taking shape when they spent time recording at Wilson’s studio in 2011.
There was no rigid musical blueprint.
No pressure to create a commercial progressive rock album.
And no particular expectation that the recordings needed to resemble either musician’s established work.
Instead, they allowed the music to develop naturally.
The resulting album combined elements of psychedelic folk, experimental rock, orchestral arrangements and dark ambient music.
It drew inspiration from obscure recordings associated with the late 1960s and early 1970s.
And it embraced the kind of unusual musical ideas that traditional record labels might once have considered difficult to market.
💿 STORM CORROSION (2012)
Album information
Details
Album
Storm Corrosion
Release
May 2012
Artists
Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt
Record label
Roadrunner Records
Genre
Experimental Rock / Psychedelic Folk / Progressive Music
Main compositions
Six
UK Albums Chart
Number 45
US Billboard 200
Number 47
The record featured contributions from additional musicians, including PORCUPINE TREE drummer Gavin Harrison and woodwind player Ben Castle.
Orchestral arrangements also played an important role in shaping its distinctive atmosphere.
However, the album wasn’t built around conventional heavy metal arrangements.
In fact, some sections barely resembled rock music at all.
And that was entirely intentional.
🖤 THE DEBUT’S DARK, UNSETTLING MUSICAL WORLD
The original STORM CORROSION album featured six compositions.
🎶 Original Album Tracklist
Track
Song
1
Drag Ropes
2
Storm Corrosion
3
Hag
4
Happy
5
Lock Howl
6
Ljudet Innan
Each composition explored a different aspect of the musicians’ experimental approach.
💀 DRAG ROPES
The album’s opening track introduced listeners to the project’s dark, unsettling atmosphere.
Its strange arrangements and dramatic musical development immediately established that this wasn’t going to be a conventional progressive rock recording.
🌑 STORM CORROSION
The title track explored a more introspective musical direction.
Its atmospheric passages demonstrated the duo’s fascination with space, texture and emotional tension.
🎸 HAG
One of the record’s more unsettling compositions, Hag combined unusual vocal arrangements with experimental instrumental passages.
🖤 HAPPY
Despite its seemingly cheerful title, Happy continued exploring the album’s haunting musical atmosphere.
🌲 LOCK HOWL
Built around repetitive musical patterns and unusual textures, Lock Howl demonstrated the duo’s interest in experimental composition.
🌌 LJUDET INNAN
The closing track brought the album to an atmospheric conclusion.
Its Swedish title translates approximately as The Sound Before, reflecting the musicians’ fascination with mysterious musical imagery.
For fans willing to embrace its unconventional arrangements, Storm Corrosion became a deeply rewarding listening experience.
But it was never designed to appeal to everyone.
And Wilson has repeatedly made it clear that this was one of the reasons he loved creating it.
🔥 STEVEN WILSON AND MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR DECADES!
Although STORM CORROSION only released one album before the current sessions, Wilson and Åkerfeldt have enjoyed a longstanding creative partnership.
Their connection became particularly important during OPETH’s early development.
Wilson worked with Åkerfeldt on several influential OPETH recordings.
🎸 Their Major OPETH Collaborations
Album
Year
Blackwater Park
2001
Deliverance
2002
Damnation
2003
These albums helped establish OPETH as one of progressive metal’s most influential groups.
Blackwater Park combined extreme metal brutality with progressive arrangements and atmospheric passages.
Deliverance explored a heavier, more aggressive sound.
Meanwhile, Damnation moved in an almost completely different direction, concentrating on clean vocals, atmospheric arrangements and progressive rock influences.
For many fans, the latter album demonstrated the creative chemistry between Wilson and Åkerfeldt.
It also helped establish the foundations for their future experimental work.
However, STORM CORROSION wasn’t intended to be another version of Damnation.
The musicians wanted to push their shared musical interests even further.
And the result was something considerably stranger.
🎤 MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT HAS WANTED ANOTHER STORM CORROSION ALBUM FOR YEARS!
The possibility of a second album has been discussed repeatedly since 2012.
Both musicians have expressed affection for the original recording.
Åkerfeldt has described it as one of the rare records he can revisit simply for the pleasure of listening.
He has also acknowledged that the project produced some of the most experimental music of his career.
However, the two musicians were never interested in making another album simply because fans wanted one.
They needed to discover a new creative direction.
During an interview in June 2025, Åkerfeldt explained that the pair had frequently discussed returning to the project.
But he also emphasised that neither musician wanted to repeat the original album.
Earlier in 2026, he confirmed that he and Wilson had continued discussing a collaboration while spending time together in Australia.
At that stage, the question wasn’t simply whether they would record again.
It was whether the music they created would genuinely belong under the STORM CORROSION name.
Now, with recording sessions completed in Stockholm and Wilson openly discussing the follow-up, that uncertainty has finally begun to disappear.
STORM CORROSION 2 is no longer just an idea. It’s an active recording project.
🎹 STEVEN WILSON’S NEW SOLO ALBUM ‘REQUIEM FOR A VILLAGE’ ARRIVES IN NOVEMBER!
The STORM CORROSION news comes during an especially productive period for Steven Wilson.
The musician is preparing to release his ninth solo studio album, Requiem For A Village, on Friday 6 November 2026 through Fiction Records.
The record follows 2025’s The Overview.
However, the two albums explore very different concepts.
The Overview examined humanity’s relationship with the universe through expansive progressive compositions.
Requiem For A Village, by contrast, explores a much smaller and more unsettling world.
The album centres around a fictional British village whose inhabitants exist within a mysterious, almost timeless environment.
Wilson has drawn inspiration from traditional folk horror, unusual British television programmes and the unsettling atmosphere of rural communities.
The music also incorporates acoustic and experimental instruments, creating a sound that shares certain characteristics with the original STORM CORROSION project.
Wilson has acknowledged that listeners attending advance playback events noticed those similarities.
And that connection is particularly interesting given the acoustic direction of the forthcoming STORM CORROSION album.
However, the two projects remain creatively separate.
Requiem For A Village is a Steven Wilson solo album.
The new STORM CORROSION recording is a collaboration with Mikael Åkerfeldt.
🎸 WILSON EXPLAINS WHY HE LOVES COLLABORATING WITH OTHER MUSICIANS
Another interesting aspect of Wilson’s recent comments concerns his attitude towards working with other artists.
Over the years, he has maintained several major musical projects.
He has worked with Richard Barbieri and Gavin Harrison in PORCUPINE TREE.
He has collaborated with Tim Bowness in NO-MAN.
And he has continued exploring experimental music through BASS COMMUNION.
Meanwhile, his solo career has allowed him to explore ideas that might not fit naturally within those partnerships.
Wilson believes that creative freedom has changed the way he approaches collaboration.
Rather than attempting to control every musical direction, he now finds considerable satisfaction in working with musicians whose ideas challenge his own.
That philosophy is particularly important for STORM CORROSION.
Both Wilson and Åkerfeldt are established composers with strong artistic identities.
Yet their friendship allows them to explore unusual ideas without being restricted by the expectations surrounding their main projects.
And judging by their latest recording sessions, that creative relationship remains extremely productive.
💿 THE 2024 STORM CORROSION REISSUE INTRODUCED THE ALBUM TO NEW LISTENERS
Interest in a second STORM CORROSION album also increased following the reissue of the original recording in September 2024.
Released through Kscope, the expanded edition included several new listening formats and additional material.
Among its most significant features was a new Dolby Atmos remix created by Steven Wilson.
The release was available on vinyl, CD and Blu-ray.
The Blu-ray edition included high-resolution audio, surround sound mixes, instrumental versions, documentary material and additional recordings.
The reissue also included a special live version of Drag Ropes.
The performance was recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall in September 2015, when Åkerfeldt joined Wilson and his band on stage.
It remains the only STORM CORROSION song the musicians have performed together live.
For longtime fans, the reissue was a welcome celebration of an overlooked recording.
For newer listeners, it provided an opportunity to discover one of progressive music’s most unusual collaborations.
And now, with a second album in development, it feels like the perfect moment to revisit the original.
🎧 EXPLORE STORM CORROSION – 2024 REISSUE
🤘 WILL STORM CORROSION EVER PERFORM LIVE?
One question fans will inevitably ask is whether the second album could lead to live performances.
Historically, STORM CORROSION has remained primarily a studio-based project.
The original album’s complex arrangements and unusual instrumentation were never designed around conventional concert performances.
Wilson previously explained that recreating the music live would require careful planning.
And with both musicians maintaining busy careers, organising a dedicated tour would present additional challenges.
However, their 2015 performance of Drag Ropes demonstrated that at least some of the material could be adapted for the stage.
Whether the second album will change that situation remains uncertain.
No STORM CORROSION concerts or tour dates have been announced for 2027.
The current priority appears to be completing the recordings.
Nevertheless, the possibility of eventually seeing Wilson and Åkerfeldt perform together again is an exciting one for progressive music fans.
🖤 WHY STORM CORROSION MATTERS TO PROGRESSIVE MUSIC
STORM CORROSION occupies an unusual position within the wider progressive rock and metal scene.
When two musicians associated with major progressive bands collaborate, audiences often expect something enormous.
Technical guitar solos.
Complicated time signatures.
Extended instrumental passages.
And arrangements designed to demonstrate extraordinary musical ability.
But Wilson and Åkerfeldt approached their first collaboration from a completely different direction.
They deliberately avoided creating an obvious progressive metal supergroup.
Instead, they explored quieter, stranger and more unsettling musical ideas.
The results challenged expectations.
And that willingness to experiment is arguably one of the most important characteristics of progressive music.
After all, being progressive shouldn’t simply mean playing complicated arrangements.
It should mean exploring unfamiliar territory.
Trying new approaches.
And creating something that wouldn’t otherwise exist.
For STORM CORROSION, that philosophy has always been central.
And the announcement that their next album will be almost entirely acoustic suggests the musicians remain committed to exploring those possibilities.
📅 WHEN WILL STORM CORROSION’S SECOND ALBUM BE RELEASED?
At present, a release sometime during 2027 is being discussed, but no official date has been confirmed.
The musicians have already completed an initial two-week recording session in Stockholm.
A substantial piece of music has been developed.
However, additional recording remains necessary, including vocal performances.
The album also requires whatever further production, mixing and mastering the musicians decide is appropriate.
There is currently no confirmed title, artwork, single or touring announcement.
And given Wilson and Åkerfeldt’s determination not to rush the creative process, fans should avoid assuming that a 2027 release is guaranteed.
But the most important development is already clear.
For the first time in 14 years, STORM CORROSION are actively making another album together.
🤘 THE RIFF REPORT VERDICT – FOURTEEN YEARS LATER, THE STORM IS FINALLY RETURNING!
Steven Wilson confirming that a second STORM CORROSION album is underway is fantastic news for fans of adventurous progressive music.
For years, the possibility of another collaboration with Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained one of the most intriguing unanswered questions in progressive rock.
The original Storm Corrosion was an extraordinary recording.
Dark.
Atmospheric.
Experimental.
And completely uninterested in following conventional musical expectations.
It demonstrated that two musicians best known for ambitious progressive rock and metal could create something entirely different when given complete artistic freedom.
Now, 14 years later, they’re finally exploring that creative relationship again.
And the early details are fascinating.
Two weeks recording in Stockholm.
One substantial composition.
Almost entirely acoustic instrumentation.
And an even more experimental musical direction than before.
For anyone hoping that STORM CORROSION would eventually record another album, this is the most encouraging development in years.
Of course, there is still plenty of work to be done.
The vocals haven’t been completed.
An official release date remains unconfirmed.
And nobody outside the recording process knows exactly what the finished music will sound like.
But perhaps that’s part of the excitement.
With Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt, unpredictability has always been one of the greatest attractions.
They don’t appear interested in recording the same album twice.
And judging by Wilson’s latest comments, the second STORM CORROSION album could be even stranger than the first.
FOURTEEN YEARS OF WAITING. TWO PROGRESSIVE MUSIC VISIONARIES. ONE MASSIVE ACOUSTIC EXPERIMENT.
STORM CORROSION ARE BACK IN THE STUDIO – AND THE NEXT CHAPTER PROMISES TO BE BEAUTIFULLY WEIRD! 🎸🌑🖤🔥🤘
THE RIFF REPORT BLOG – MUSIC JOURNALISM WITH BOOTS AT THE BARRICADE!
