Panopticon
Autumn Eternal


4.5
superb

Review

by Essence USER (30 Reviews)
October 21st, 2015 | 42 replies


Release Date: 2015 | Tracklist

Review Summary: a stellar black metal record that stands as some of Panopticon's finest work

Autumn Eternal is the sound of change, of unceasing progression. Never content to be rooted to one sound or idea, Panopticon has seen fit to redesign itself, for better or worse, on nearly every single release. Throughout these evolutions and maturations, each album has maintained a unifying character, clearly identifying it as the work of the same band, while each release builds from the old, forging onwards towards something new. This begets inevitable comparisons to old work, harkening for a “return to form”, whenever a new Panopticon album is released - while somewhat understandable, these are ultimately unreasonable and unrealistic. The band is clearly a very personal work (as Lunn does everything himself), so each release can reasonably be described as a snapshot of who he is and how he feels at that given time. To demand or expect that he should revisit an old version of himself is asking Lunn to betray his musical character. Like the transient season before us now, Autumn Eternal is a testament to his desire to continue to evolve, a sign of things that have been and things that will be. Among the pantheon of Lunn’s work, this album stands as some of his finest music to date.

The spirit of progression and reinvention is present through all of Autumn Eternal – it is the sound of a revitalized musical entity. The fury that drove past releases, fueled by political apathy or social injustice, has been reshaped and reborn into a new focused intensity. The range of styles present is vast and has been expanded even further than before, from the southern-tinged folk intro of Tamarack’s Gold Returns, to the classical interlude sandwiched between two of Panopticon’s most furious black metal passages on Sleep to the Sound of Waves Crashing, to the almost Agalloch-imitation clean-vocal bridge of A Superior Lament. Operatic choruses and layered synths can be found scattered through the album, never making their presence blunt, only subtly adding to songs when needed. Each new sound is given its time to be properly explored, but never overstays its welcome as new ideas are constantly brought to the forefront. The album is always building, shifting, then moving on, letting the leaves of where it has already been pave the way for where it is going. On top of being a stylistic chameleon, this may be the first time that Panopticon’s music has sounded optimistic, as songs like Autumn Eternal and the aforementioned Lament have an electric, positive vibe about them. In the past, there has been a dark overtone to most of Lunn’s work, but this album sounds almost luminous at times.

The album eschews the traditional cold aesthetics that defined the formative years of black metal (a sound that Lunn has never opted to employ), opting for an overwhelming atmosphere, an insistent loudness dotted with somber interludes. The overall stylistic focus of the album is firmly rooted in atmospheric black metal, but it is disingenuous to say that this is an atmospheric black metal record, much like how calling Saving Private Ryan a war movie doesn’t really convey the necessary minutiae. Rather, atmospheric black metal is the foundation that Autumn Eternal builds and expands from. Notable differences have been made in key areas for the overall sound. Lunn’s vocals have improved dramatically, the weak screams and yells from Kentucky and Social Disservices are now replaced with an absolutely ferocious roar, striking the listener as more powerful than angered. His songwriting has always focused on being a drummer first, and here it is no different, as the album features some of finest, most inventive drumming yet. The rhythm section forms the monstrous core that holds together and props up everything else on the album. Guitar work commonly sits between atmo-black inspired riffing and the black metal riffing of yore (think Emperor), coming to the forefront in the most intense parts of the album.

Tying all of this together is an absolute stellar production job courtesy of Spencer Morris and Gorguts’ Colin Marston. The album does not sound over produced, but has a much greater focus on clarity than the somewhat muddled approach taken on Roads to the North. Disparate parts are layered and balanced with a delicacy and purpose that previous Panopticon outings are not able to match up to. The ending of Autumn Eternal is one of the best climaxes that Lunn has ever put together, and works with each separate element seamlessly woven together to create a wall of noise that can still be distilled down to its individual composition. Altogether, Lunn sounds completely refreshed, maintaining a level of songwriting consistency that is the defining achievement of Autumn Eternal, as there is not a weak song to be found, and his performance is the most convincing it has been since his debut release. There is an ethereal sense of purpose on the record, a subtle, acute intent that carries weight throughout the whole listening, a distinctive sense that this is an exact presentation of Lunn’s vision.

Autumn Eternal is a stellar achievement, a clear, cohesive album brought together by a combination of resolute purpose and talent. It marks perhaps the beginning of a new chapter in Lunn’s music, representing as much of a dwelling on the past as it does a focus on the future. An album for fall, a time of transition and change, laying the groundwork for the spring and summer to come. It is powerfully evident that Lunn has no intention of revisiting his work of yesteryear, and his drive towards new sounds has given us his strongest work yet.



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user ratings (565)
4
excellent
other reviews of this album
Atari STAFF (4)
a victorious effort that celebrates the process of change...



Comments:Add a Comment 
Essence
October 21st 2015


6739 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

shoutout to my boys Hawks and Spirit for the proofreads

Hawks
October 21st 2015


94721 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Fuck yeah bro. Gonna jam this in full in a minute here.

TheSpirit
Emeritus
October 21st 2015


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

m/ m/ m/



Hard pos. I really enjoy this review. You touch on his past without lingering too heavily on it while still letting us know how this stands compared to them and its own merit. I actually haven't heard this yet (whoops!) but I'll definitely be checking it out tonight, thanks to this review.

MistaCrave
October 21st 2015


2559 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I think you'll dig this one hard Hawks. This is my favorite Panopticon album.

brainmelter
Contributing Reviewer
October 21st 2015


8436 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

pos for u bby

Hawks
October 21st 2015


94721 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

It's gonna be hard for anything to beat the s/t for me, but if it's on par with Roads I'll be happy.

MistaCrave
October 21st 2015


2559 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

So, so much better than Roads.

Hawks
October 22nd 2015


94721 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Idk bro I like Roads a lot.

17WordHaiku
October 22nd 2015


263 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

hey man great review. i've listened to this twice, need to give it another. i think i like roads a little more but this is still enjoyable. into the north woods is awesome stuff.

beefshoes
October 22nd 2015


8445 Comments


Yeah, this is way better than Roads for me but both are fantastic.
Great review btw.

Essence
October 22nd 2015


6739 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

thanks guys, might get back into a reviewing mood again, but probably not hahaha



sucks that another review was posted right before mine, but oh well

zaruyache
October 22nd 2015


27827 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

I'm actually not feeling this record.

CrimsonLies
October 22nd 2015


2579 Comments


ooh gotta jam

Essence
October 22nd 2015


6739 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Ahhh that's a bummer zaru, what would you say you don't enjoy about it?

Atari
Staff Reviewer
October 22nd 2015


28012 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

nice job on the review man. you covered a lot of ground I didn't, and you were pretty convincing. Don't recall reading any of your reviews in the past, but I'd say keep at it!

Essence
October 22nd 2015


6739 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

you may have seen my felony review at some point

TheSpirit
Emeritus
October 22nd 2015


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

It's a felony if he hasn't! AhahahahH







.......

Atari
Staff Reviewer
October 22nd 2015


28012 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

that would require me to actually click on something emmure related haha

TheSpirit
Emeritus
October 22nd 2015


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Incidentally, also a felony

PortalofPerfection
October 23rd 2015


3327 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I really must be missing something here. This sounds decidedly less unique and interesting than his last few albums. It's like too safe. I much prefer the more adventurous spirit of Roads.



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