Panopticon - Songs of Hiraeth (2025)
Songs of Hiraeth resurrects a collection of unreleased pieces from Panopticon’s early years, now re-forged with modern production, yielding a haunting yet hopeful sonic mosaic. It traverses burning black metal (“From Bergen to Jotunheimen”) to dreamy post-rock vistas (“The White Mountain View”) and frenetic thrash-tinged bursts (“The End is Growing Near”). The album’s dynamic shifts—from grim dissonance to ambient respite—feel both organically rooted and emotionally cathartic. While the material spans tracks originally written a decade and a half ago, the sequencing imbues them with renewed narrative unity and emotional clarity. It stands as a testament to Austin Lunn’s evolving artistry and his capacity to blend brutality with delicate atmosphere in ways few can match.
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: US
Final Verdict: 70% (Very Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 49th / 551
Highlight: The White Mountain View
Made me think of:
Wolves in the Throne Room
Agalloch
Falls of Rauros
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