Blackfield
IV

To me, it all started to unravel for Blackfield as a one man show with the release of their third album in 2011 – “Welcome to My DNA” – where all songwriting duties had Geffen’s signature, which unfortunately was a huge disappointment of dull lyrics, bland melodies and the feeling of a rollercoaster going downwards.So here we are to this latest release – ‘Blackfield IV’. Is it a case of getting back to past glories?

‘Pills’ is really a promising start. ‘Springtime’ starts to worry me though with its bland beyond bland which sadly, becomes a theme throughout the whole album. Vincent Cavanagh of Anathema on ‘X-ray’ is pleasant enough, and this song having a nice refrain with a tuneful Anathema-lite feel to it, happens to be my personal “favourite” although nothing superb at all. ‘Sense of Insanity’ which follows is where the album gets to being a really average release. After a couple of pop melacholia comes next guest, Brett Anderson of Suede, who contributes vocals on ‘Firefly’ but has no chance of rescuing this one, as it sounds like a small –not that good- musical. Another couple of bland pop songs follow until we eventually get on last electro-pop “After the Rain”.

This album really ran fast through my ears, but all in all, nothing stayed inside my head. That’s the main reason I believe this release has to be the last one I personally had to repress myself in hearing, from this band. Nothing for any metalhead even us sensitives in this one. I wonder if there’s anything in there even for a pop fan.

Anyways, keep away from “Blackfield IV” and its mediocrity !Or a better advice would be “Keep away from Blackfield in general until Mastermind Steven Wilson gets super involved with this band again” !