In becoming the first PT album to reach the UK Album Charts (it debuted at # 31) 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' looks set to be the album that gives the band the success that both fans and media alike have been predicting for some time now. It can be viewed as the third album in a trilogy, that began with 'In Absentia' in 2002 and continued with 'Deadwing' in 2005, that has seen the band re-define their sound into prog metal territories characterised by heavy riffing and decidedly dark lyrics whilst at the same time raising the bar with flawless production and consistently high levels of technical ability. 

The title track kicks off the album and whilst very strong musically the lyrics are, it has to be said, not Steven Wilson's finest hour. Written from the viewpoint of an angst-ridden and consumer driven youth it includes such lines as "My friend says he wants to die, He's in a band, They sound like Pearl Jam, The clothes are all black, The music is crap" and "X-box is a god to me, A finger on the switch, My mother is a bitch, My father gave up ever trying to talk to me". Whilst humour is clearly not what he had in mind when he wrote them, lines such as these end up coming across as faintly amusing when sung by someone who hits 40 later this year. Wilson's views on teenage alienation are a recurrent theme throughout 'FOABP', but surely life in 2007 can't be all this desperate? Maybe he should have gone out and asked a few of them. 

Far more effective is the subdued calm of 'My Ashes' where the feelings of loss and regret are conveyed with some emotion and this takes us into the centrepiece of the album, the seventeen minute plus 'Anesthetize'. Guest star Alex Lifeson of Rush provides a classy solo of some note but the whole track is PT doing what they do best. A moody, almost psychedelic opening gives way to chunky metal riffs with mood and tempo shifts throughout, reminding me at times of Pink Floyd's 'Animals' period. Time will tell whether this track turns out to the bands finest moment, but after listening to the track several times over the past week or two I think it will come pretty close.  

The difficulty then is where does the album go from such a musical peak? A gentle and solo piano leads into the ballad 'Sentimental' which is a close relative of 'Lazarus' from 'Deadwing' but doesn't quite come off and achieves little apart from maintaining the musical balance between light and shade. 'Way Out Of Here' starts with a soundscape from another special guest, King Crimson's Robert Fripp and gets the CD back on track with a hypnotic sense of power and atmosphere. Closing number 'Sleep Together' has a slow beginning before the catchy and heavy riff kicks in, giving the track a sinister-like quality and is a strong way to end the album. 

It's fair to say that Porcupine Tree are not breaking any new ground with this release and it will be interesting to see where they go next, particularly now that they are enjoying chart success and widespread visibility via the Roadrunner label (the band have just been confirmed for Download). Overall then, 'FOABP' is a good album but not a great album; and whilst for many bands this would be enough, by the standards PT have previously set themselves then it has to be considered something of a disappointment.

Let us know your views on 'Fear Of A Blank Planet'

Track Listing

Fear Of A Blank Planet
My Ashes
Anesthetize
Sentimental
Way Out Of Here
Sleep Together

 Line Up

Steve Wilson - Vocals/Guitar
Richard Barbieri - Keyboards
Colin Edwin - Bass
Gavin Harrison - Drums