Ask most people what they know
about black metal, and you'll probably get a blank stare in response, along
with some BS about how it is evil, nasty music that no one should listen to.
Its true, the genre started out as very violent protest music. The protest was
against Christianity and in favor of returning the Scandinavian countries to
the old, pagan ways. Over time, however, as the genre has grown and matured,
there have been some very different flavors of black metal popping up. There
are many bands within the genre who look to nature for inspiration, and who
attempt to render their love of nature in the form of black metal.
Panopticon are one of
those bands, and this latest album, “Autumn Eternal”, is a master work in the
genre. Austin Lunn, who pretty much is Panopticon, has written and
performed this album single-handedly. You might think this is no big deal given
the number of one man black metal bands that exist, until you listen to the
album and hear the diversity of instruments used in these songs. It is not
uncommon to hear folk metal bands from Europe using instruments that are
traditional and “non-metal”, but to hear an American artist do the same using
American folk instruments is not at all common, and one of the thing that sets
this album apart from the crowd.
This the third and thus final
album in a trilogy that began with “Kentucky”
and continued on in “Roads To The North”. The trilogy traces his journey moving
from Kentucky to the northern climes of Minnesota, and reflects
his love of nature. At least, in listening to this music, I have to assume that
he loves nature, because it shows through in his music. Lunn is able to write
music that is truly evocative, so that when you see a song title such as “Oaks
Ablaze”, that's kind of the picture that the music paints for you. If you can
imagine black metal that is lush and beautiful and captivating, this is what it
would be. Better yet, you don't have to imagine it, just put this CD on with
some headphones and drift away. I guarantee you will have an idea of what the
songs are about even if you don't know the song titles.
This is a brilliant combination
of very traditional sounding black metal with folk instruments such as
resonator guitars and lap steel guitars, and it flows so seamlessly between
quieter acoustic moments to all out raging black metal that it is a wonder to
behold. The music is forceful when it needs to be, and at times delicate and
fanciful when those moods are called for. To think that this is the work of
just one musician, to write and play and sing all of this is almost mind
boggling.
If you are in need of something
a little different and something that will open your mind to all the
possibilities of metal, this is truly an album that you need to check out. Each
album in the Panopticon discography seems to top the last one, and it is
a pleasure to hear the progression of this musician. Make a point to check this
one out as soon as you can and listen to what metal can be as it progresses and
becomes a vibrant form of musical expression.
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