It would be ignored by a great many people, but also reviewed by the best as one of most eagerly awaited follow up albums in decades. The weight of critical pressure would kill it, tbh.
Unless it was a 27 star rated album (out of 5 stars, obvs), it would get trashed by the music press.
Similarly, if it wasn’t FALAA mk 2, many people would hate it.
And it if wasn’t Floodland mk 2, many other people would hate it.
Etc
He’s in a no win situation with it.
Their sound hasn’t evolved as much since VT as it did between the other albums so a new album now, using their current live sound/style would not be seen as revolutionary, so he wouldn’t get the slack cut him that he did for example with VT
It’s a no win situation for him, critically, and possibly a career and business damaging move. As well as an ego damaging move.
As it stands he has a hardcore following and a reputation that, while slightly diminishing year upon year, is still intact enough to sell gig tickets and keep him in pot noodles.
Releasing anything less than The Best Album Ever (as judged by lots and lots of people, all using different criteria) could be a very bad move for The Sisters’ reputation.
It’s a bad move for his ego and for his business.
At least, that’s what I strongly suspect he thinks. Even though he’s never admit it.
(That was all typed on a phone. Apologies if it doesn’t quite scan!)