Vol. 4: Slaves of Fear

Compared to the band's previous work, Slaves of Fear was described by critics as featuring more elements of industrial music, and being thematically more dismal. Vocalist Jake Duzsik called it "darker, heavier, [and] dirtier".{{cite web |last1=Lesuer |first1=Mike |title=As Always, the New HEALTH Record Is Darker, Heavier, and Dirtier |url=https://floodmagazine.com/56843/jake-duzsik-health-slaves-of-fear/ |website=FLOOD |access-date=24 July 2024 |language=en |date=31 January 2019}} Sputnikmusic described it as "Death Magic if Trent Reznor had gotten a hold of it", stating that its "sterile and cold simplicity" paralleled industrial bands during the 1980s and 90s.

Bassist John Famigletti described the album as being influenced by amateur artists on SoundCloud, stating that "NC-17" was derived from the "unfinished" work found on that platform, and Duzsik additionally stated it took inspiration from other artists Health had recently collaborated with.{{cite web |last1=Seppala |first1=Timothy J. |title=Health goes heavy on ‘Slaves of Fear’ |url=https://www.metrotimes.com/music/health-goes-heavy-on-slaves-of-fear-21405833 |website=Detroit Metro Times |access-date=24 July 2024 |language=en}} The tracks were produced by Lars Stalfors; Famigletti stated he enjoyed the collaboration, calling him "artist focused" but someone who "will get you to finish what you’re working on".{{cite web |last1=Fixell |first1=Ethan |title=The Underground Sounds of America: HEALTH |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-underground-sounds-of-america-health |website=Kerrang! |access-date=24 July 2024 |language=en |date=5 February 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Crudgington |first1=Kate |title=HEALTH return with a heavy album for heavy times |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/health-VOL-4-SLAVES-OF-FEAR-album-review |website=The Line of Best Fit |access-date=24 July 2024}}

After the album's initial completion in 2018, the band decided to take extra time to revisit and tweak the tracks, with Famigletti stating that he "[didn't] know if it's the best way to make a record, but it's really awesome".

{{Music ratings

|MC=70/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/vol-4-slaves-of-fear/health|title=Metacritic Review|website=Metacritic|access-date=June 1, 2019}}

|rev1=AllMusic

|rev1Score={{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/vol-4--slaves-of-fear-mw0003236903|title=Vol 4 :: Slaves of Fear - Health|website=AllMusic|last=Phares|first=Heather|access-date=June 1, 2019}}

|rev2=DIY

|rev2Score={{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2019/02/05/health-vol-4-slaves-of-fear|title=DIY Magazine Review|work=DIY|last=Lombardi|first=Matthew Davies|access-date=June 1, 2019}}

|rev3=Drowned in Sound

|rev3Score=8/10{{cite web|url=https://drownedinsound.com/releases/20526/reviews/4152218|title=Drowned in Sound Review|website=Drowned in Sound|last=Miller|first=Gavin|date=February 7, 2019|access-date=June 1, 2019}}

|rev4=Exclaim!

|rev4Score=7/10{{cite magazine|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/health-vol_4_slaves_of_fear|title=Exclaim! Review|magazine=Exclaim!|last=Rodgers|first=Ian|date=February 6, 2019|access-date=June 1, 2019}}

|rev5=NME

|rev5Score={{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/health-slaves-of-fear-review|title=NME Review|website=NME|last=Bassett|first=Jordan|date=February 7, 2019|access-date=June 1, 2019}}

|rev6=Pitchfork

|rev6Score=3.4/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/health-vol-4-slaves-of-fear/|title=Pitchfork Review|website=Pitchfork|last=Geffen|first=Sasha|date=February 11, 2019|access-date=June 1, 2019}}

|rev7=Sputnikmusic

|rev7Score={{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/78910/HEALTH-VOL.-4--SLAVES-OF-FEAR/|title=Sputnikmusic Review|website=Sputnikmusic|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=June 1, 2019}}

|rev8=Under the Radar

|rev8Score=7/10{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/health_vol._4_slaves_of_fear/|title=Under the Radar Review|work=Under the Radar|last=Gourlay|first=Dom|date=March 28, 2019|access-date=June 1, 2019}}

|noprose=yes

}}

Slaves of Fear received a score of 70 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on twelve critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. Under the Radar{{'}}s Dom Gourlay described it as making "despair and desolation the band’s calling card", and Exclaim! stated that the "grimness of the lyrics works". Heather Phares of AllMusic said that "there's something special about its empathy and honesty". Matthew Davies Lombardi of DIY described it as being "relentless, dramatic and cinematic as [the band] dare to be", and Simon K. of Sputnikmusic said it was "densely packed with eerie clouds that loom over the haunting melancholia", making it the band's "most cohesive album yet".

Although he called it a "good album", Jordan Bassett of NME described its "pounding sonic template" as being "diminished through its constancy", and Drowned in Sound{{'}}s Gavin Miller stated that the album "isn’t perfect, but then I’m not sure it’s trying to be". Pitchfork reviewer Sascha Geffen was more negative, perceiving the songs as having "no fight" and Health as seeming "content to throw up their hands and just die".

{{Track listing

|title1=Psychonaut

|length1=2:24

|title2=Feel Nothing

|length2=2:59

|title3=God Botherer

|length3=2:23

|title4=Black Static

|length4=3:05

|title5=Loss Deluxe

|length5=3:18

|title6=NC-17

|length6=3:08

|title7=The Message

|length7=2:32

|title8=Rat Wars

|length8=2:32

|title9=Strange Days (1999)

|length9=3:24

|title10=Wrong Bag

|length10=2:46

|title11=Slaves of Fear

|length11=4:53

|title12=Decimation

|length12=4:53

}}

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Category:2019 albums

Category:Health (band) albums

Category:Albums produced by Lars Stalfors

Category:Loma Vista Recordings albums