Released: 2007

Genres: Progressive Metal, Alternative Metal

The Musiquarium’s Fear of a Blank Planet Review Score: 5/5

Fear of a Blank Planet finds Porcupine Tree at the height of their powers, with their most concise and effective album yet, and their third classic in a row, following In Absentia and Deadwing. A concept flows throughout Fear of a Blank Planet about kids growing up in the technological age, and the effects that constant stimulation (technology, sex, drugs) have on their developing minds.

The title track has some of Steven Wilson’s best guitar work, along with lyrics about parental resentment, video game addiction, and anxiety meds. My Ashes is a ballad with symphonic elements. Anesthetize is the album’s pièce de résistance and the band’s towering achievement — a nearly 18 minute, melodious epic with three distinct sections, some of the band’s heaviest riffs, and a nearly minute-long guitar solo from Rush guitarist, Alex Lifeson.

If it wasn’t enough to have one prog rock legend making a cameo, there’s also Robert Fripp of King Crimson working on soundscapes for Way Out of Here, which has the band sounding a bit like Tool, along with an impressive Wilson vocal. Sentimental has some of the band’s best hooks (“Stoned in the mall the kids play and in this way, I wish away each day”). Sleep Together sounds out of this world, with Richard Barbieri’s ominous keyboards making the band sound as dark and moody as ever.

Fear of a Blank Planet rounds off a perfect trilogy of albums from Porcurpine Tree and is not only one of the greatest progressive rock albums of the modern age, but in the genre’s entire history.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Porcupine Tree on Discogs.

Back to the 2007 Album Guide or the Porcupine Tree Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard