The Nine Circles Audio Thing: Panopticon was November 2023’s Album of the Month!

ninecirclesadmin
The Nine Circles Audio Thing: Panopticon was November 2023’s Album of the Month!
,
, , , , , , , ,
Panopticon - The Rime of Memory

Welcome back one and all to the final AOTM (Album of the Month) pick discussion for 2023 with Panopticon’s The Rime of Memory. It’s safe to assume our regular readers, and listeners, know our feelings on Panopticon at this point but to cut to the chase, we love the project and everything that has come from it. And The Rime of Memory is no different, hence why it ended up here in this discussion. We won‘t spoil any of the actual chat though so hit that play button to hear all about it as well as a follow up discussion on everything else that stuck out during the month of November. All that and a ton more is covered so grab a drink – or twelve – and settle in for the long haul. Enjoy! Oh and we’ll see you next month…ish for the Best of 2023 chat.

Austin Lunn
Panopticon’s sole composer Austin Lunn

Wanna subscribe to The Nine Circles Audio Thing? Click here to find out how.

In the meantime, keep it heavy…keep it safe…and we’ll see you next time!

The Rime of Memory is available now on Bindrune Recordings. For more information on Panopticon, visit their Facebook page.

7 responses to “The Nine Circles Audio Thing: Panopticon was November 2023’s Album of the Month!”

  1. Best of 2023: Josh's List

    […] [Album of the Month Discussion] […]

    Reply
  2. Best of 2023: Colin's List

    […] Check out our Album of the Month podcast here. […]

    Reply
  3. Best of 2023: Chris’s List – Nine Circles

    […] 7. Panopticon – The Rime of Memory: I don’t know if there’s a more important (or at least looming) figure in USBM right now than Austin Lunn. Whether it’s his prevalent themes of nature and conservation, his preserving of his local history, his legendary (and rare) live events or even his love of brewing, the man is a towering figure in the metal community, and Panopticon has long been at the apex for that community. None of that kept me from being severely disappointed in how muddy the production has been on his last few albums, as if his care was for the more traditional bluegrass pieces (all of which sound beautiful) while his metal tracks felt like side thoughts with no care given to actually being able to distinguish his lyrical/thematic intent or discern the nuances in the playing. I have to call it as I see hear it, which also means I have to say The Rime of Memory is a monumental feat, potentially his best album (and I’ll go to Hell and back for the trifecta of Kentucky/Roads to the North/Autumn Eternal) because it feels like Lunn finally let his guard down, and opened up in a way he never had before. Maybe part of that is the collaboration with Charlie Anderson, doing a lot of the orchestration and composition of the strings, which are prominent throughout the entire album. On of the things I’ve learned in 2023 is how difficult it is to let people in, and how – when you do – it makes all the difference. That openess, that willingness to expose your heart is evident in the gorgeous lyrics for the two-part “Winter’s Ghost” as Lunn meditates on memory and nostalgia and how the past can break loose of its moorings. The openness of the lyrics expands to the production as well: Spenser Morris finally allowed a fraction of space to permeate the metal section of the music, and the results are revelatory, from the sprinkling of bells that haunt the swirling chaos of “An Autumn Storm” to the great harmonized guitars in “Enduring the Snow Draught”. I can now hear the fragments of light and optimism in Panopticon’s music again, and it warms my soul. You can hear the group’s thoughts since this was also a 9C AOTM pick. […]

    Reply
  4. Best of 2023: Ian’s List

    […] final regular Audio Thing of the year was a discussion on this album, featuring the glorious return of Anton “The Fighting Fin” […]

    Reply
  5. Best of 2023: Vincent's List

    […] left to say about The Rime of Memory that I haven’t already waxed poetic about on our recent podcast episode, but my word what an incredible addition to an already towering discography. Austin’s best […]

    Reply
  6. Best of 2023:  Angela’s List

    […] Check out our album of the month podcast episode here.  […]

    Reply
  7. Best of 2023: Corey’s List – Nine Circles

    […] [Album of the Month] […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Best of 2023: Ian’s ListCancel reply

Trending

Discover more from Nine Circles

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading