Panopticon's "On the Subject of Mortality - part one" are the most honest and revealing Panopticon recordings thus far. These songs are organic, stripped down, and uncompromising. A sorrowful - yet somehow hopeful - exploration of the theme of Death and the purpose of existence. Fueled by ferocious, driving drumming and percussion, raging and furious vocals, and the technical guitar shredding of A. Lundr. But this time expect a melancholy pervading that separates these works from Panopticon's usual message of "stand and fight for it". This time there is the feeling of questions unanswered and frustration at our very short time here on Earth. "When Bitter Spring Sleeps" offers their unique Black Metal nature worship as well. One vicious live ritual recorded in a nature preserve: A spell to conjure storms. The other tracks feature WBSS' first studio recordings blended with ambience captured at the same nature preserve but brimming with depth and thick instrumentation. One homage to the mystical powers of Fire and Water. And the final track closes the album concept with a tribute to the wonder and majesty of Almighty Death (a cover song written by etherial folk artist Arrowwood).
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"This record is in honor of the northern lights, which very few things in the world are more beautiful and awe inspiring than" and we can say the same of Panopticon's work. Even a EP with "leftover" songs carries so much beauty. Thetruebia
La rage est encore la principale source d'énergie d'Austin Lunn dans Collapse, son deuxième album, mais jamais il ne se laisse dominer par elle : elle permet une renaissance. Il actualise la mythologie nordique pour narrer une saga contemporaine au cours de laquelle les prolétaires se déchaînent : une nouvelle histoire, un nouveau folklore.
Le black metal a trop longtemps utilisé les mythes pour servir des idéologies toxiques et, à mon avis, c'est pour faire renaître le genre qu'il les reprend. Jordan Vauvert
Featuring members of Noothgrush, Graves at Sea, and more, the Oakland metal band juxtapose cavernous doom with spaced-out shoegaze. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 21, 2024
Possibly the best USBM album ever, which makes it Panopticon's best even in a discography full of classics. This is the album that reminds me that Austin is the best drummer black metal has ever seen. Ryan