Panopticon (band)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Panopticon

| image =

| image_size =

| years_active = 2007–present

| origin = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

| genre = Black metal, art metal,{{Cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/the-top-10-arty-metal-bands/|title=The Top 10 Arty Metal Bands|date=11 April 2017|website=LA Weekly}} folk, Americana

| current_members = Austin Lunn

| website =

}}

Panopticon is an American black metal band founded by Austin Lunn in Louisville, Kentucky in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://decibelmagazine.com/blog/2015/9/1/exclusive-interview-austin-lunn-of-panopticon|title=Exclusive Interview: Austin Lunn of Panopticon |work=decibelmagazine.com|date=3 September 2015 |accessdate=31 March 2017}} Their most recent album The Rime Of Memory was released on November 29, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=November 29, 2023 |title=Stream Panopticon's Vast, Epic New Album The Rime Of Memory |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2244016/stream-panopticons-vast-epic-new-album-the-rime-of-memory/music/ |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} The band's music has been described as "wrenching in its intensity but also sweeping and spectacular"{{Cite web|date=2021-01-19|title=We Announce A New Panopticon Album And Premiere Its Closing Track 'Know Hope'|url=https://www.nocleansinging.com/2021/01/19/we-announce-a-new-panopticon-album-and-premiere-its-closing-track-know-hope-with-an-interview-of-austin-lunn/|access-date=2021-11-21|website=No Clean Singing|language=en-US}} and "ideologically open-minded and musically progressive, tackling issues around self-identity, ecology, religion and politics." Lunn's lyrical style has also been noted as "natural, organic, and methodical, masterful in its writing, fiery and alive in its execution."{{cite web|title=Panopticon – Autumn Eternal|url=http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2015/10/23/panopticon-autumn-eternal/|work=Heavy Blog Is Heavy|date=23 October 2015 |accessdate=31 March 2017}}

History

The project began as a studio-only effort with Lunn writing all the songs and playing all instruments. A self-titled debut album was released in 2008.{{Cite web|last=Hayes|first=Craig|date=2012-07-19|title=If It Ain't Got No Blastbeat, It's Not My Revolution: Panopticon, PopMatters|url=https://www.popmatters.com/161118-if-it-aint-got-no-blastbeat-its-not-my-revolution-panopticon-2495831478.html|access-date=2021-11-21|website=PopMatters|language=en-US}} While Lunn remains the sole songwriter and studio musician, Panopticon has since expanded to include a lineup of musicians for live performances.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/latest-news/panopticon-to-perform-live-at-migration-fest|title=Panopticon to Perform Live at Migration Fest |date=10 February 2016|work=Metal Injection|accessdate=31 March 2017}} The project's sound has been characterized as black metal with influences from bluegrass and Appalachian folk,{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Panopticon/Autumn_Eternal/522148/|title=Panopticon – Autumn Eternal – Reviews|encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives|accessdate=31 March 2017}} with the addition of Appalachian instruments such as banjo, fiddle, bells, and acoustic guitar.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21200-autumn-eternal/|title=Panopticon: Autumn Eternal Album Review |work=pitchfork.com|accessdate=31 March 2017}} Lunn's lyrics often include references to environmentalist philosophers{{Cite web|date=2018-04-10|title=Shadow of the Horns: Black metal healing through Panopticon's 'The Scars of Man'|url=https://www.treblezine.com/panopticon-scars-of-man-black-metal-healing-shadow-of-the-horns-april/|access-date=2021-11-21|website=Treble|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Panopticon streaming 'The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness'|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/panopticon-streaming-the-scars-of-man-on-the-once-nameless-wilderness/|access-date=2021-11-21|website=BrooklynVegan|date=4 April 2018|language=en}} and proponents of political anarchy. He has also tackled precise topics like the foster care system,{{Cite web|title=Panopticon - Social Disservices User Opinions - sputnikmusic|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/soundoff.php?albumid=83089|access-date=2021-11-21|website=www.sputnikmusic.com}} the subjugation of Native Americans,{{Cite news|title=First Listen: Panopticon, 'Roads To The North'|language=en|work=NPR.org|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/07/27/333726142/first-listen-panopticon-roads-to-the-north|access-date=2021-11-21}} and blue-collar labor policy.{{Cite web|title=Which Side Are You On?: Revisiting Classic Anthems from the Labor Movement|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/rgpqa3/workers-anthems|access-date=2021-11-21|website=www.vice.com|date=May 2015 |language=en}}

The 2012 album Kentucky attracted the notice of several music publications,{{Citation|title=Kentucky - Panopticon {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/kentucky-mw0002521097|language=en|access-date=2021-11-21}}{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Rhys |date=August 13, 2012 |title=Review: Panopticon - Kentucky |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/panopticon-kentucky/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222210154/https://www.invisibleoranges.com/panopticon-kentucky/ |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |access-date=November 21, 2021 |website=Invisible Oranges |language=en}} and was noted for its unusual inclusion of musical traditions from Lunn's home state.{{Cite web |last=Dick |first=Jonathan |date=August 27, 2014 |title=Interview: Austin Lunn (Panopticon) |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-austin-lunn-panopticon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207222726/https://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-austin-lunn-panopticon/ |archive-date=February 7, 2016 |access-date=November 21, 2021 |website=Invisible Oranges |language=en}} The album also included lyrics based on the issues faced by that state's residents, such as the power of the coal industry.{{Cite web|title=Panopticon's Kentucky combined folk and black metal to take on the coal industry|url=https://www.avclub.com/panopticon-s-kentucky-combined-folk-and-black-metal-to-1831155844|access-date=2021-11-21|website=The A.V. Club|date=9 January 2019 |language=en-us}} The 2015 album Autumn Eternal included guest appearances by regional folk musicians.{{Cite web|date=2015-09-03|title=Exclusive Interview: Austin Lunn of Panopticon|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2015/09/03/exclusive-interview-austin-lunn-of-panopticon/|access-date=2021-11-21|website=Decibel Magazine|language=en-US}} That album was also informed by Lunn's interests as an avid outdoorsman and lover of nature,{{cite web|url=https://natureswithnoplagues.blogspot.com/2011/12/interviewpanopticon.html|title=Natures With No Plagues: Interview:Panopticon|date=22 December 2011|work=natureswithnoplagues.blogspot.com|accessdate=31 March 2017}} with Pitchfork noting that "one can easily imagine a Henry David Thoreau-like figure retreating to the woods to contemplate personal, spiritual, and environmental concerns." Pitchfork later named Autumn Eternal as one of the best heavy metal albums of 2015.{{Cite web|title=The Best Metal Albums of 2015|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9772-the-best-metal-albums-of-2015/|access-date=2021-11-21|website=Pitchfork|date=21 December 2015 |language=en}}

The band first played live in 2016, with Lunn on guitar and vocals, accompanied by drummer Ray Capizzo, bassist Andy Klokow, and guitarist Jake Quittschreiber.{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-08-23 |title=A Letter of Gratitude From Panopticon (And News A The Next Album And Future Performances) |url=https://www.nocleansinging.com/2016/08/23/a-letter-of-gratitude-from-panopticon-and-news-about-the-next-album-and-future-performances/ |access-date=2021-11-21 |website=No Clean Singing |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Migration Fest 2016 Highlighted the Best of the Underground and the Ties That Bind Us Together|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/4wxj89/migration-fest-2016-report|access-date=2021-11-21|website=www.vice.com|date=19 August 2016 |language=en}} The 2018 double album The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness received attention for the incorporation of elements from country and folk music, which were integrated with traditional black metal forms.{{Cite web|title=Panopticon: The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness (I and II)|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/panopticon-the-scars-of-man-on-the-once-nameless-wilderness-i-and-ii/|access-date=2021-11-21|website=Pitchfork|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Rothmund |first=Andrew |date=April 10, 2018 |title=Godless Omniscience: Panopticon's "The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness" |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/panopticon-the-scars-of-man/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412234337/https://www.invisibleoranges.com/panopticon-the-scars-of-man/ |archive-date=April 12, 2018 |access-date=November 21, 2021 |website=Invisible Oranges |language=en}} The 2021 album ...And Again into the Light was noted for integrating Lunn's many songwriting interests into a cohesive sound, with personal and family-oriented lyrics that are unusual for the black metal genre.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-23|title=Album Review: Panopticon - ...And Again Into The Light|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121032416/https://newnoisemagazine.com/album-review-panopticon-%e2%80%8b-%e2%80%8b-%e2%80%8band-again-into-the-light/|url-status=dead|archivedate=November 21, 2021|url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/album-review-panopticon-%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Band-again-into-the-light/|access-date=2021-11-21|website=New Noise Magazine|language=en-US}} Decibel ranked ...And Again into the Light at number five on its list of the "Top 40 Albums of 2021".{{cite news |author= |title=Decibel's Top 40 Albums of 2021 |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2021/11/18/spoiler-here-are-decibels-top-40-albums-of-2021/ |url-status=live |work=Decibel |date=2021-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119003843/https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2021/11/18/spoiler-here-are-decibels-top-40-albums-of-2021/ |archive-date=2021-11-19 |access-date=2021-11-26}} Rolling Stone named it the tenth best metal album of 2021.{{cite magazine |last1=Epstein |first1=Dan |last2=Grow |first2=Kory |last3=Shteamer |first3=Hank |date=December 14, 2021 |title=The 10 Best Metal Albums of 2021 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-metal-albums-2021-1264146/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211214222838/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-metal-albums-2021-1264146/panopticon-and-again-into-the-light-1264153/ |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |access-date=December 16, 2021}}