PANOPTICON — Kentucky (review)

Album · 2012 · Atmospheric Black Metal

1.5/5 · 2016-05-01
Unitron

MMA Reviewer's Challenge: May 2016

Panopticon - Kentucky

"Kentucky" is the fourth studio album from one-man black metal band Panopticon. "Kentucky" is an interesting album and quite the oddity in the black metal genre. Why? Well it's the only black metal album, and only metal album for that matter, that combines metal with bluegrass that I know of. I know next to nothing about bluegrass, but I have a basic understanding of the genre to tell that this does indeed combine the two genres and each genre isn't exactly easy to combine.

"Kentucky", while combining two genres that are pretty much polar opposites, doesn't really play the two styles in unison as you may first expect. Instead the album has 10+ minute songs that feature atmospheric black metal segments, as well as bluegrass passages. There are also shorter songs which are pure bluegrass songs, most of which being covers of traditional folk songs. The black metal parts are pretty standard atmospheric black metal, you have frantic drumming, shredding guitar, and an atmosphere invoking the feeling of being stuck in the cold.

The shorter folk songs are easily my favorites from the album, they have a dark feeling to them yet are also pretty relaxing to listen to. Austin Lunn's vocals are also really emotive in these songs as well, helping the songs sound very beautiful. 'Which Side are You on?' is especially really nice, it reminds me a bit of the folk band Rusted Root. Unfortunately, the same thing can't be said for the black metal sections. All of the black metal passages sound the same to my ears, with not much variety to differentiate them from each other. They aren't bad, just boring and not engaging like the folk songs. While I find the lengthy songs boring for the most part, I must say that the guitar work around the five minute mark in 'Killing the Giants as They Sleep' is really nice. However, the transition from the ambiance back to black metal isn't clean at all. It just kind of startles you as you start relaxing to the peaceful melancholic ambiance.

Overall, while it's an interesting and unique idea, I just don't think the execution of it here works very well. I'm glad the bluegrass and black metal was separated for the most part, so I could enjoy the pure bluegrass tunes. Personally I prefer my black metal with strong memorable riffs, only enjoying a few atmospheric bands/artists, so maybe it's just not my kind of music. I'm just not sure how bluegrass and metal could be combined in any way other than in atmospheric styles. While not too enjoyable for me, I must applaud the unique idea. Hope you found this review helpful.

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more than 2 years ago
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Nightfly wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I'm of a similar opinion though I prefer the black metal aspects.

TheHeavyMetalCat wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I'm not surprised that there's another metal/bluegrass combo out there, but I don't personally find the idea of metalcore bluegrass as appealing as black metal bluegrass.

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I'll have to give that metalcore album a listen sometime, maybe I'll do that today.

Bosh66 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

It's a tough job to complete Nicole. I'm still firmly in the update metalcore / deathcore phase with a long way to go. I guess in a few months or a year or so we'll have the most comprehensive database of metalcore (deathcore) bands on the web, although it will always be far from complete. Can then start on sludge. This site is still very much a work in progress, although we do have the best format in my opinion and some top drawer reviewers.

666sharon666 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

It's okay, thanks for saving me a job. ;) I still have a long list of speed metal bands that EM has that we don't anyway.

Bosh66 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

And in terms of links to the artist under review, Blood & Banjos does cite Panopticon as a band they enjoy on the band's Facebook. I suspect Kentucky was the inspiration for this crowd-funded album.

Bosh66 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I'd have left them if I'd known ;-)
I've downloaded the album but don't have time to listen now. Another site does have these tagged as folk metal, but most (including the band) has them as bluegrass-infused metalcore. We can move them if people think differently.

666sharon666 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Blimey you're fast. I had planned to add them myself when I saw they weren't on here yet.

Bosh66 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Indeed http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/artist/blood-and-banjos
Music can be streamed / downloaded here - http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/artist/blood-and-banjos

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Yeah I saw that in my travels while doing my review too. Metalcore doesn't interest me too much but I'll probably check them out. Their album is free after all: https://bloodandbanjos.bandcamp.com/

666sharon666 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I did discover that there is actually also a metalcore band that uses bluegrass, but I haven't heard them play. They're called Blood & Banjos.

https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/blood_and_banjos/blood_and_banjos/